There's a tinge of sadness associated with Curse of the Pink Panther. Peter Sellers had died before the last two films of the series were made, and while The Trail of the Pink Panther used leftover footage from previous movies, this second to last installment didn't use his image at all. Also, this was David Niven's final film. He was very ill and died before its release.But, if you can get past those upsets, and you like silly, slapstick Pink Panther movies, give this one a try and see if you like it. Yes, it's not the same without Peter Sellers, but Blake Edwards tried to give Ted Wass similar gags to those used in previous films. Still, since the premise revolves around an ongoing search for Inspector Clouseau, the audience is always keenly aware of why Clouseau is really missing. In addition to David Niven, others from the original films appear in this sixth part of the series: Herbert Lom, Capucine, Robert Wagner, and Burt Kwouk. And keep an eye out for a surprise cameo from Roger Moore!

Filmed right after Trail of the Pink Panther, Curse of the Pink Panther continues the storyline of finding both Chief Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther diamond. Since Dreyfus, however, would rather Clouseau was never found, he has someone from jail tell him how to fix it so a HAL-like computer finds the opposite of best detective in the world. That opposite would be Clifton Sleigh (Ted Wass) from New York City. Meanwhile, a Countess Chandra (Joanna Lumley in her second consecutive Panther role) has the diamond and, it seems, an affair with a certain police detective...All right, I'll just say this right now: I didn't like the way Clouseau ended up in this movie being an accomplice to the Pink Panther theft and changing his face as well. I can't believe this is the way he would have behaved considering his sworn oath to upload the law (or luw). Having said that, I was very amused when he ended up looking like Roger Moore and how perfect was he when he did the Clouseau voice! Okay, moving on-I wasn't crazy about Sleigh when they first showed him disguising as a hooker in New York. Then he showed up at a Chicago airport during a windy storm with his umbrella almost swept up in it and I laughed a little. What got me on his side was that hilarious scene with an inflatable woman provided by Balls (Harvey Korman again) taking place at an outside French restaurant with once again another hilarious performance by the versatile Graham Stark as a bored waiter who can't keep his eyes off of the doll and Sleigh's attempts at blowing her up. There was also a hilarious fight scene between Clifton, some gangsters led by Robert Loggia, and a woman he just met named Juleta Shane-real name Julie Morgan (Leslie Ash) who later tries to bed Sleigh. Oh, and Korman was only fitfully amusing as Balls here though I did like the way he said "ca-ca". And besides David Niven and Capucine, it was nice to see Robert Wagner also show up as Niven's nephew George Lytton who's also from The original Pink Panther. One more appearance I was pleasantly surprised by was that of Pat Corley-best known to me as Phil the bartender on "Murphy Brown"-as Sleigh's frustrated superior in New York. He sounded different here but I recognized him just the same. Herbert Lom as Dreyfus still provides some laughs but Burt Kwouk as Cato was mostly wasted here especially when he wrestles with the American Sleigh at the now-Clouseau Museum apartment. So I guess overall, I really enjoyed Curse of the Pink Panther despite the absence of Sellers and what Edwards did with his character. Oh, and I wasn't crazy about the animated beginning credit sequence from Marvel Productions this time around though as always, the Henry Mancini theme is way cool. One more note: This was Niven's final film appearance as well as the final Panther stint for Andre Maranne as Sgt. Francois Duval. Since this movie bombed (or buumbed), you'd think Edwards was through with the Pink Panther series once and for all. Once again, you'd be wrong. P.S. Edwards' stepdaughter Emma Walton is an angry hooker here and his son Geoffrey (who also co-wrote the screenplay) is the voice of the computer Aldous. Next up, Son of the Pink Panther...

This following to popular series is a new attempt to maintain the slapstick franchise in spite of Peter Sellers death by substituting in American actor Ted Wass . He's investigating bungling Clouseau disappearance and is on the trail of the jewel known as the Pink Panther and during his first scenes Ted appears in drag . Clouseau's previous chief (Herbert Lom) threatens to destroy the new detective . At the same time Ted Wass like Clouseau is making life intolerable for Inspector Dreyfuss . He then goes to Clouseau museum where he meets Kato (Burt Kwouk) , to the French Riveira and Valencia (Spain) where encounters mobsters (Robert Loggia) who wish to kill him . Later on , aboard a yacht (along with the habitual David Niven , Capucine , Robert Wagner) he goes to Mallorca . There he attempts to track down the Clouseau trail but he meets a suspect Countess Chandra (Joanna Lumley). This is arguably one of the most average of the series about the botcher Inspector and being the eight ¨Pink Panther¨ movie in the known film franchise . In this slapdash as well as disconcerting comedy , Wass attempts to investigate whether or no Clouseau is living somewhere . This fun release has some hilarious moments here and there . The film continues where Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) leaves off . Though uncredited, late Peter Sellers can still be heard in various scenes through archival sound . Starring Ted Wass as Sleigh is sympathetic imitating to Sellers , outdoing his botcher and diverting character . Actors considered for the role of Clifton Sleigh included John Ritter, John Cleese, Dudley Moore and Rowan Atkinson ; in the end , the part went to Ted Wass . The actors seem to enjoy immensely themselves but they are supposedly spending some amusing holidays in Riveira , Mallorca, Valencia . Players appearing in this movie who had appeared in the original Pink Panther (1963), the first film in the series , were Capucine, David Niven, and Robert Wagner . In the film appears the usual series as Herbert Lom (chief Inspector Dreyfuss), Andre Maranne (Sergeant Francois Duval), Grahame Stark (as a bored waiter) and the ordinary professor (Harvey Korman) . The movie was simultaneously filmed along with ¨Trail to the Pink Panther¨ where equally the protagonist (Joanna Lumley) is looking for Inspector Clouseau . Writer, producer , director Blake Edwards gets some inspired bits penned by himself ; however he attempts to alive his classic personage with no much success . Rating : Mediocre but entertaining .

Ted Wass? Of all the people to replace Peter Sellers, they came up with the star of "Soap"? A guy who is basically one of the most standard actors in Hollywood. This movie is painfully bad. Ted Wass plays a bumbling cop sent out to find Clouseau. Horrible scenes follow more horrible scenes. It's hard to keep count of them. Herbert Lom's character goes through the motions, as does the "Cato" character. David Niven and Robert Wagner seemed as though they were led out onto the set with cash hanging from a fishing line. There is no reason for this movie. Trying to have a mediocre guy like Wass replace Peter Sellers would be like replacing Billy Crystal for Woody Allen, or something of the like. Tom Hanks perhaps, or anyone, anyone but Wass. He seems, at times, as if he's stuck in this film, and doesn't know what to do. I feel for him. I have no idea who cast this poor guy. This is a lousy movie. Lousy. And so is TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER, which was made to set this movie up.