7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The bumbling Inspector Clouseau is on the trail of a famous jewel thief whose eyes are set on stealing the famous "Pink Panther" gem worn by a Middle-Eastern Princess.
Starring: David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine (I), Brenda de BanzieRomance | 100% |
Heist | 20% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
5.1: 2752 kbps; Stereo: 1647 kbps; Mono: 1570 kbps
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The Pink Panther (1963) is being released as part of The Pink Panther Film Collection.
The swinging beats of a tenor saxophone that are synchronized with animated images of a farouche pink panther is among the most memorable sound/picture pairings in cinema's history. Composer Henry Mancini enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration with director Blake Edwards and it is inconceivable to think that The Pink Panther would have been as effective or successful were it not for Mancini's jazzy score. Equally unforgettable and iconic to the film (and the series) is the comedic genius Peter Sellers imbues his character of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It is important to recall that Sellers was a relative unknown in 1963 and Peter Ustinov was initially considered for the role. In addition, Ava Gardner was courted to play Clouseau's wife, Simone. Not to mention that Edwards sought his Breakfast at Tiffany's star Audrey Hepburn to portray the Indian Princess. But for a variety of reasons, those casting calls did not consummate and Edwards as well as United Artists were forced to look elsewhere. The director and his studio did have David Niven locked in to play British playboy Sir Charles Lytton and also signed Robert Wagner to occupy the part of Lytton's nephew, George.
For fifteen years, Inspector Clouseau has been in the hunt for a notorious international jewel thief known as the Phantom. Clouseau and his spouse Simone (played by Capucine) are joined by dapper Charles Lytton and the Eastern Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale) at the Cortina d'Ampezzo where Clouseau suspects the Phantom will show up in pursuit of the Pink Panther, the precious jewel bequeathed to Dala by her father. Intrigue abounds upon the arrival of handsome George Lytton (Robert Wagner) to the Cortina after the young man's college commencement ceremony in California. Like his uncle Sir Charles, George is trained in the family tradition of sly and felonious acts to snatch valuable artifacts.
Inspector Clouseau of the French S๛ret้ in his customary police uniform.
Shout Select's MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 marks the second time The Pink Panther has been released on Blu-ray. Eight years ago, MGM unveiled a Collector's Edition of the 1963 film that Greg Maltz reviewed on this site. Shout seems to have struck the same print that MGM used as both transfers share similar characteristics. The Pink Panther appears in its Technirama screen ratio of about 2.35:1, which approximates its theatrical exhibition. Video streams carry an average bitrate of 29997 kbps, while the total bitrate clocks in at 40.37 Mbps. Greg noted the presence of "strobing and flickering, moderate dust specs, small grain and signs of digital enhancement" during the main titles and first few reels. Unfortunately, these issues are also prevalent early in the film, though perhaps not to the same degree. The flickering and grain are a bit distracting but the transfer improves as the movie progresses. Color levels are nicely saturated without any bleeding. Check out David Niven's red and yellow sweaters in Screenshot #s 10 and 14, as well as Claudia Cardinale's pink hat/sweater in #15. Colors also impress inside the Indian palace during the prologue (#8) and the costume ball (#s 5, 12, and 13). The print contains some specks but they are infrequent. The transfer is every bit as good, if not better, than MGM's.
Shout has provided twelve chapter breaks for the main feature.
Shout supplies three audio options: a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (2752 kbps, 24-bit), a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo (1509 kbps, 24-bit), and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Dual Mono (1570 kbps, 24-bit). The MGM lacked mono and stereo options. The master is in excellent shape as there is no audible tape hiss, distortions, or dropouts. Dialogue is usually clear and intelligible with ample vocal registers that don't require the disc's optional English SDH. There is some Italian spoken in the film and that is automatically subtitled in English. Much of the film is front heavy but the surrounds do bring out some of the orchestrations in Mancini's score. The cabaret ballad, "Meglio Stasera" (It Had Better Be Tonight), sung by Fran Jeffries, sounds crisp.
Shout Select has ported over all the supplements from the 2009 MGM CE, added its own photo galleries, and filmed a very good (albeit brief) interview with Claudia Cardinale. The transfer remains imperfect but is sharp with colors that shine in the film's various locales. Shout has generously provided three audio options and this includes the coveted original monaural track. Currently, Shout's The Pink Panther is only available in the label's The Pink Panther Film Collection set. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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