Opening credits feature Bobby McFerrin and Henry Mancini performing Mancini’s musical theme, accompanied by animated sequences of “Jacques Gambrelli” chasing the cartoon character, the “Pink Panther.” A 20 Aug 1993 LAT article reported that Desert Music Pictures acquired the project in a bidding war against several digital effects firms, including Industrial Light & Magic, after Blake Edwards’s son, Desert Music video director Geoffrey Edwards, suggested the company make a demo reel. The elder Edwards spent more than $1 million on the sequence, which updated the series’ former analog cartoons with a combination of animation, live action, and computer graphics.
       According to a 1993 HR “Craft Series” article, filmmaker Blake Edwards decided to revive the “Pink Panther” detective series in 1989, several years after the release of Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983, see entries). These films, produced after actor Peter Sellers’ death in 1980, were not well received, and Edwards opted to pick up the story with a new character: Jacques Gambrelli, the illegitimate son of inspector “Jacques Clouseau.” As co-owner of the franchise rights with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Edwards received positive encouragement until the studio was overtaken by Italian financier Giancarlo Parretti. During MGM’s brief time as MGM-Pathé, Inc., the 23 Feb 1991 Long Beach Press-Telegram reported that Edwards filed a $25 million lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that the studio reneged an offer to finance the sequel. However, Alan Ladd, Jr. regained control of MGM that same year, and the project was once again greenlit for production.
       A 26 Jun 1991 HR item indicated that Edwards originally considered casting Gérard Depardieu in the leading role, and production notes in AMPAS library files state that several “obvious” British and American comedians were included in their search. According to the 1993 HR, Roberto Benigni was initially cast in an unknown supporting role, but was not considered for Gambrelli until his lawyer, John Dellaverson, began “lobbying on his behalf” by sending Edwards and producer Tony Adams tapes of his previous work, including Down by Law (1986, see entry) and the Italian picture, Johnny Stecchino (1991). Son of the Pink Panther also marked the return of Claudia Cardinale, who appeared in the first “Pink Panther” film (1964, see entry); Herbert Lom as “Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus”; Burt Kwouk as “Cato”; and Graham Stark as “Dr. Auguste Balls.”
       The 11 Aug 1992 HR confirmed that principal photography began 8 Jun 1992 at a villa near St. Paul de Vence outside Nice, France, and a high road street crossing near the French-Italian border, where the car crash scene was filmed. Production then moved to Marseilles and Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco. Additional locations included a dormant casino in Beaulieu-sur-Mer; the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer; and the Church of St. Devote. After five weeks in the south of France, the 17 Jul 1992 Screen International announced that the production was shooting for several days at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, before relocating to Petra and Amman in the country of Jordan. For the climactic battle sequence, the Royal Jordanian Army loaned fifty Special Forces paratroopers and two helicopters. Although they were not paid for their participation in the film, the six paratroopers who performed a rigorous helicopter jump were compensated with autographed videotapes of The Sound of Music (1965, see entry), starring Edwards’ wife, Julie Andrews. Due to the extreme summer heat in the region, cast and crew were forced to break for three hours each afternoon. Production returned to Pinewood on 25 Jul 1992 for the remainder of the fourteen-week schedule, and concluded on 12 Sep 1992, as reported by the 2 Nov 1992 HR. Although the 28 Aug 1992 DV claimed that production was delayed five days when Roberto Benigni sprained his ankle, the film came in on schedule and roughly $700,000 under the $25 million budget.
       Before filming began, the 25 May 1992 Var reported that independent Italian film company, Filmauro, outbid Penta Pictures for Italian distribution rights. The company reportedly paid $7—$8 million, plus an “unspecified amount” for a co-production credit. Items in the 1 Jun 1992 Var and 22 Oct 1992 DV estimated the company’s total contribution to be $12.5—$13.8 million.
       Producer Tony Adams told the 2 Nov 1992 HR that MGM would likely change the title before release, hoping the film would garner interest in additional “Pink Panther” films starring Benigni, and likened the series to the James Bond franchise, in which each installment had its own unique title. However, Son of the Pink Panther retained its working title, and no additional sequels starring Benigni were produced following its negative reception from both critics and audiences.
       End credits include the following acknowledgments: “Marx Brothers – ‘Day at the Races’ clip courtesy of Turner Entertainment Co.”; "The Producers would like to thank: Alfred Dunhill Ltd.; Laurent Perrier Champagne; Land Rover; Avis; Sea Ray (Arie de Boom); Corporate Jets Ltd.; Bang & Olufsen; Swatch; Tiffany & Co."; "Special Thanks to: George Martin; Prof. Seif W. Romahi, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan"; and, "Made on location in France, Victorine Cote D'Azur, Monaco, Jordan and at Pinewood Studios, London, England."