Who Was The Pink Panther?

 The year, 1963. The Subject, The Pink Panther Diamond, the largest diamond in the world, was supposed to go on public exhibition in Paris, but disappeared just before the showing.  And who do we have to investigate the theft, non other than that world re-nouned detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau. 

 Princes Dala's gift from her father the Maharaja is loosely based on the Nur-Ul-Ain, the 60 carat centerpiece of the tiara worn by Empress Farah, after she wed the last Shaw of Iran in 1958. The Shaw and his wife were know world wide for their flamboyant extravagances, one of the main reasons he was exiled from the throne and his eventual death from cancer.  

Also in 1963 The Pink Panther, and animated series about a pink panther, was introduced to the little screen.  The panther replaced the diamond from the movie comedy, and the Pink Panther himself was a little bit of a Cat Burglar.  The animated Inspector Clouseau was foiled at every turn in his attempted to thwart and capture the Pink Panther.  

Mr. Panther only spoke one line through out his career, that was in the 140th episode of The Pink Panther when he climbs into bed and in David Niven's best high classed voice says, "Good night, Goldie..."??? No one knew who the hell Goldie was.  Is it possible Blake Edwards was making a reference to Golda Meir, the Israeli Prime Minister?  One may never know. 

Peter Sellers was a fantastic choice for Detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the Blake Edwards movie, "The Pink Panther."  With his iconic very thick phony French accent, "That's whet I said, Yew Fooool!" In his trench coat and hat, fighting his man servant Kato off at any given moment during the film, Detective Inspector Clouseau exudes Sellers style of humor capturing the audience in laughter and chortles in any given phrase.  Sellers was the master of making stupid funny. 

Peter Sellers had a career that spanned some 60 films, appearances on BBC, and other radio forums, as well as public television,  most of which where comedies.  He was Oscar nominated three times starting in 1959 with his short film, "The Running And Jumping And Standing Still Film".  The name itself should receive some sort of award, and was awarded an Academy Award posthumously for "Dr. Strangelove", and "Being There" both released after his death in 1980.  

Peter Sellers died of a Heart Attack in 1980, and as a last joke had Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" played at his funeral.  I googled his death and this is what is listed, in this order, not an exaggeration. Peter Sellers' cause of death, "Mr. Sellers was Married 4 times and had 3 children from the first two marriages, he died of a heart attack."  A joke from the beyond.

You're wondering why I'm re-visiting the, "Pink Panther"?  Because at heart we all have a little Cat Burglar in us just waiting to get out.  

Peace and Balance,

John