The 17 Nov 1981 HR announced that writer-director-producer Blake Edwards would begin production on Curse of the Pink Panther at Pinewood Studios in England, sometime in spring 1982. Ted Wass, a “virtually unknown American actor,” was cast in the lead role. British comedian Dudley Moore had also been considered for the part. On 25 Jan 1982, HR reported that principal photography would begin Feb 1982, with actors Robert Wagner and David Niven reprising their characters from the The Pink Panther (1964, see entry). British actress Joanna Lumley joined the cast, receiving “her first star billing” in a theatrical release. The 24 Feb 1982 Var announced that Edwards was directing another “Pink Panther” sequel, Trail of the Pink Panther, concurrently with Curse of the Pink Panther. The former was scheduled for a 10 Dec 1982 release, the latter for summer 1983.
       According to the 25 Apr 1982 LAT, Edwards was offered the opportunity to continue the series, and decided to introduce the blundering detective “Officer Clifton Sleigh,” as its new protagonist, rather than recast “Inspector Clouseau,” the character created by the late actor, Peter Sellers. Although Edwards considered British actor Rowan Atkinson, as well as Dudley Moore, he chose Wass based on his performances in the television comedy series, Soap (ABC, 1977-1981). Edwards collaborated with his son, Geoffrey, on the screenplay, which was written at the same time as Trail of the Pink Panther, to create a seamless transition between “Clouseau” and “Sleigh.” The two films were made on a $17 million budget, sharing many of the same sets, the same locations, and several cast members, in an effort to contain expenses. The sets were to be placed in storage for future “Pink Panther” sequels, which Edwards intended to make “every three years.”
       The 3 Mar 1982 HR reported that American actress Patricia Davis, daughter of then-President Ronald Reagan, was barred from entering England due to British Equity’s quota on foreign actors. According to the 13 Apr 1982 HR, she joined the production in Valencia during the festival known as “Las Fallas,” accompanied by a security force of twenty U.S. Treasury Department agents and members of the Spanish Policia Nacional. No reporters were allowed on set, nor were any interviews granted. Once Valencia photography was completed, the production returned to Pinewood Studios while the second unit filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza. The twenty-two-week schedule also included locations in Nice, France, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Production notes in AMPAS library files stated that the city of Nice cordoned off “about 10 percent of the town” to accommodate a car chase sequence.
       The 3 Jun 1982 DV reported that principal photography was completed 2 Jun 1982 in Brooklyn Heights, NY. The final scenes on the schedule introduced Wass as “Officer Clifton Sleigh,” whom the actor was expected to play in five ensuing films. Also in the cast was Edwards’ physician, Herb Tanney, credited as “Sidi Bin Tanney.”
       Articles in the 10 Aug 1983 DV and the 13 Aug 1983 LAT revealed that impressionist Rich Little supplied much of Niven’s dialogue for both Curse of the Pink Panther and Trail of the Pink Panther. Niven’s speech was impaired by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In order to prevent a lapse in demand for the actor’s services, Little’s participation was kept secret until after Niven’s death on 29 Jul 1983.
       The 17 Aug 1983 Var review stated that the character, “Inspector Clouseau,” was played by actor Roger Moore, but he was credited onscreen with the pseudonym “Turk Thrust II.” The alias was a reference to the first “Pink Panther” sequel, A Shot in the Dark (1964, see entry), in which actor Bryan Forbes was credited onscreen as “Turk Thrust.” The 14 Jul 1982 DV stated that Henry Bricusse was to write lyrics for composer Henry Mancini’s film score, but his name does not appear in onscreen credits.
       Advertising campaigns for Curse of the Pink Panther included a promotional contest sponsored by Whoppers candy and the Los Angeles, CA, radio station KROQ FM, advertised in the 23 Jun 1983 LAT. Prizes consisted of a five-day trip to New York City for two, and tickets to a special preview screening. Another promotion, reported in the 18 Jun 1983 LAHExam, was sponsored by the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, which introduced “Pink Panther ice cream on a stick.” A news item in the 29 Mar 1983 HR announced the picture’s “Royal Premiere” in London, England, on 21 Jul 1983.
       Critics were divided on Curse of the Pink Panther. Although the 13 Aug 1983 LAT called the film “simple, unadulterated fun,” the 13 Aug 1983 NYT suggested that it had “very little reason to exist.” However, several reviews favorably compared Wass to the late comedian, Harold Lloyd. The review in the Oct 1983 Box blamed the film’s modest opening weekend on producer-distributor MGM/UA Entertainment Company, citing an inadequate advertising campaign.
       On 28 Sep 1983, DV reported that Edwards filed a $180 million lawsuit against MGM/UA and its chairman-chief executive officer, Frank Rothman, for conspiring to “frustrate and prevent” the film’s commercial success. The suit was filed through Britain’s Jewel Productions and Edwards’ Geoffrey Productions. The suit charged the defendants with violating a verbal agreement to allot $3.5 million for advertising after Edwards “and agents of his related companies” gave testimony in a contested arbitration between MGM/UA and its former chief executive officer, David Begelman, that contradicted testimony given by Rothman. Edwards alleged that the advertising budget was reduced by half as an act of retribution by the studio. The plaintiffs sought a new distributor after learning of the smaller budget, but MGM/UA would not relinquish its distribution rights. The studio was also charged with not advertising the picture during “the final two or three weeks of release,” in addition to issuing it as a second feature on a double bill at some venues, and removing it entirely from others. According to the article, the picture earned $1,641,182 from 812 theaters in its opening weekend. By the following weekend, seventy theaters had cancelled the film, and gross earnings were reduced by almost fifty percent. No further effort was made by the studio to track receipts by the third week.
       In the 29 Sep 1983 HR, Rothman described the charges as “ludicrous,” asserting that MGM/UA would never sabotage the success of a film that it financed. The 30 Sep 1983 LAT stated that Rothman considered the promotion and distribution of the picture to be suited to its “anticipated level of performance.” The article suggested that this was a reference to the disappointing receipts generated by Trail of the Pink Panther, and concluded that the studio had little faith in the production from the outset.
       On 18 May 1984, LAT reported that Edwards filed a $400 million libel suit against MGM/UA, in response to an action filed by the studio on 16 Apr 1983. MGM/UA brought a $340 million suit against the filmmaker, which alleged “fraudulent overspending” on the production of the last two “Pink Panther” films, and on Victor/Victoria (1982, see entry). The details of the suit appeared in the 17 Apr 1983 NYT, triggering the allegation of libel from Edwards. The outcome of this case has not been determined.
      End credits conclude with the statements: “The producers wish to thank the following companies and organizations for their collaboration in the making of this film: Trans World Airlines, Hitachi Corporation, Renault/American Motors, Paris-Sheraton Hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotel-Nice, H. Stern Jewelry, Budget Rent-A-Car, Aeroport de Paris, Mairie de Nice, Mairie d'Antibes, Animal Action”; “Home video games starring the Pink Panther are now available in stores everywhere"; and, “Made by Jewel Productions Limited at Pinewood Studios, Iver, Bucks, England, and on location in New York; Ibiza and Valencia, Spain; Paris and the South of France.”
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