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I searched the board and there are individual threads for each Pink Panther score by itself, but no great overview discussion of the series. I thought that since we continue to get definitive issues for these wonderful scores, it was high time one was started.
I recently listened to all five Pink Panther albums that have come out from our beloved specialty labels in the past few years, so I'll start with those (in chronological order):
1. Inspector Clouseau (Ken Thorne, 1968) -- Kritzerland. This is the only title on this list not written by Mancini, and it's also the only one not expanded beyond its LP presentation (I can't recall if it was said whether the LP was a new recording or the original film recording). It also has the typical Kritzerland liner notes, meaning there sadly isn't much information about the film, composer, or music. HOWEVER (and I may get some flak for saying this) it was actually the MOST enjoyable to listen to of all! I'm shocked to be saying this, because I'm usually the one calling for complete releases of everything, but I enjoyed this 35 minute album noticeably more than any of the Mancini albums, even if nothing is quite as awesome as Mancini's theme. This score *does* have a great and memorable theme which gets quite a bit if development despite the short run time, plus *every* track is fun, even the song (though it was probably my least favorite track). It also sounds GREAT -- fairly typical for Kritzerland, but worth mentioning and giving them kudos. The LP program was licensed from EMI and I'm not sure how much unreleased music there is or whether it's worthwhile (or even survives) for another label like Quartet to expand. I'd probably buy it again if it was expanded, but I'd just like to recommend to people that this album is totally awesome and worth owning, even if it isn't complete.
2. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) -- Quartet. This is the one that just came out for us this past Christmas, sounding amazing (much better than the previous Ryko issue) and bearing the most wonderful and detailed liner notes (by Daniel Schweiger) of any Pink Panther release. It is also my favorite Mancini score in the series, barring perhaps the first two (which of course remain unreleased in their film versions, though Jose at Quartet confirmed that a mono music-only source exists for A Shot in the Dark, if Intrada or LLL is willing and able to negotiate with RCA for the album rights). It features a goofy main title sequence with a lot of references, but the body of the score itself has a lot of substance and fun to it, with a great workout for the "Inspector Clouseau" theme. I do admit I skip the Julie Andrews number....best enjoyed just in the film context.
3. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) -- Quartet. This was a disappointment to me. I enjoy the film more than its predecessor, but, while effective in-film, the score has many tracks that just don't work very well on CD. I don't recall any use of the "Inspector Clouseau" theme which I enjoyed so much from the previous entry, and really the score comes off as a bunch of barely related fragments with a few highlights. There are also a lot of dated 70s aspects that intrude at times and really turn me off (60s style music I feel has aged much better). Quartet's release does feature excellent packaging and liner notes by John Takis (maybe not quite as impressive as those for Strikes Again).
4. Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) -- Intrada. The shortest Mancini score but a very enjoyable one (though there are a few more annoying tracks that I typically skip). The main title is great and less "gimmicky" than both of its two immediate predecessors, there are some new themes that are a lot of fun, and the "Inspector Clouseau" theme makes a brief but enjoyable return for one track. Intrada provides great sound quality, nice packaging and notes (by Daniel Schweiger, sadly not as extensive as his recent amazing notes for Strikes Again or Takis's for Revenge). This sold out the fastest of all Pink Panther titles so at some point maybe someone will take a chance on reissuing it for those who missed out...
5. Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) -- Quartet. The first that Quartet tackled because it was previously completely unreleased, this is actually a really wonderful score. The new detective may have been lame, but his theme is really good and gets a lot of variation in this score. There are only two things that really bothered me musically: the main title with its electronic sounds -- perfectly appropriate to match the film -- I found very unpleasant on album (the alternate provided after the end credits is far more listenable) and the sequence of "Spanish" music was really just plain obnoxious. I think Jose Benitez in his liner notes was far too kind towards it as I imagine if I was Spanish I'd find it rather racist. (ethnic-ist?) I totally skip those bunch of tracks. Oh...sound quality and packaging are great, liner notes are good but the least extensive barring Kritzerland.
So what did everyone else think of these releases, and what Pink Panther score would you like to have (re)done next by one of our labels?
Yavar
P.S. When I have more time I'll come back and post my thoughts on the other scores in the series as well (all the way up to Son of Pink Panther, at least), plus what labels we might reasonable expect to tackle complete versions of them.
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Posted: |
Jan 14, 2015 - 7:10 AM
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By: |
JB Fan
(Member)
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Great post!
As for me, I sadly own Quartet's Strikes Again & Revenge (only virtually - they still not arrive to me  ). So I'm among those, who will be happy if someone will re-release Trail & Curse one more time. If you ask me why I missed them, I can answered - low-paid job at that time + at that time I didn't discover Mancini's music...
According to samples, both are fine scores. Of course I love Strikes Again bit more - it's #3 in my "favorite PP movie-list" (after original one & Shot in The Dark). Great songs (both of them), great main titles (who didn't laugh during it?!). And final and most important element in whole movie is Inspector's theme. I even created my own cover version of it (it was very close to "pop"-version from Ultimate PP CD)!
I also think that Revenge is not so bad - some time ago I suddenly discovered, that I really enjoy that "disco"-sound, so I hope I'll not be disappointed, when I'll listen the whole CD 
And now I hope for this:
- someone will re-release OOP Trail & Curse (I think there is no problems - only labels interest);
- someone will release original Pink Panther & Shot in The Dark (first one is TOO popular, so maybe some problems could happen);
- someone will release Return Of the PP (but who knows, is it not possible, as it's not MGM title? They even couldn't release the movie in Pink Panther DVD collection, so who knows, maybe there will be problems with score too?);
- someone will release Son of the PP (I don't know, is there some problems or no).
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Thanks guys. I thought it was a thread this board was distinctly missing. We have tons of threads on the Star Trek series so why can't The Pink Panther get a little love? 
By the way, I have no problem with people discussing the modern Panther film scores here as well; I'm just not as familiar with them myself, though I have liked Christophe Beck since his Buffy the Vampire Slayer days.
Briefly my thoughts on the other classic scores: I think the first two display the greatest amount of invention from Mancini and also I suspect the best "listenability" away from the film, though I can't be sure until they are actually released! This has been said to be a tricky, even impossible, prospect in the past because of RCA's rights (probably even an issue with A Shot in the Dark because of the single release) but if anyone can pull it off it would be Intrada, since they've put out Hatari!, Days of Wine and Roses, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, etc. most of which had also been thought to be impossible for a while.
I like Return quite a bit but perhaps not as much as the first two and Strikes Again (less interesting new material). I'd probably rate it just above Trail and Curse, both of which (as I've noted) I like much better than Revenge, which just doesn't gel for me. Return *might* be the most complicated to release complete, because of the complicated rights ownership of the film, so that it frustratingly couldn't even be included on MGM's big Pink Panther movie series set, though other non-Sellers films were! *If* that carries over to the score rights (it doesn't necessarily) then I'm sure Intrada would be the only ones that might figure it out (plus RCA put out the album again).
The only one I'm unfamiliar with is Son of the Pink Panther. Caught a few minutes of the film once and wasn't impressed and foolishly never bought the Milan album (was it Mancini's last?). LLL has expanded Milan albums several times so maybe they'd be the ones to look to for a complete edition of this, assuming they'd be interested? I'll certainly buy it no matter who puts it out.
So that just leaves a potential complete release of Inspector Clouseau. Since the album is EMI owned and film MGM owned, I think it just depends on whether tapes survive for the full score. Does anyone know how much unreleased material there is and if it's worthwhile? If it is, perhaps it could be another Quartet release since they've worked with both licensors in the past and seem interested in both the franchise and Ken Thorne.
Yavar
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Posted: |
Jan 14, 2015 - 5:07 PM
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By: |
OnyaBirri
(Member)
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As much as I love Mancini, I have NEVER seen a Pink Panther film, although I liked the cartoon as a kid, had the 45, and have seen bits and pieces of the films channel surfing.
Also, much as I love Mancini, his 70s stuff runs hot and cold for me. While I have all the sequels on LP, they're not in heavy rotation here, and they did not inspire me to buy the expanded CDs. So, if Mancini botched these LPs the way he did with the "Charade" LP, then I suppose that is my loss, but such is life.
I would love CDs of both "A Shot in the Dark" and the film version of "The Pink Panther," though I'm not holding my breath.
I love both the theme for "A Shot in the Dark" and also the LP of "The Pink Panther."
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Posted: |
Jan 23, 2015 - 12:19 AM
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By: |
SchiffyM
(Member)
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Since you asked…
"The Pink Panther" premieres that fantastic theme -- it's almost a parody of coolness, with the impossibly slinky saxophone line and the brass crescendos that deflate into nothingness -- but while I enjoy some of the easy listening pieces (especially "It Had Better Be Tonight"), the only other part of the album that plays as a film score is "Shades of Sennett," which is pretty corny comedy music.
"The Return of the Pink Panther" has another great reading of the theme, and I enjoy the "Summer in Gstaad" theme and the jewel heist cue (I believe the only time the main theme is used to actually score a non-title sequence), but the rest of the light source cues don't hold up for me.
"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" has the best overall shape to me. The source cues are based on two parody songs, and I like both melodies (especially the hilariously overblown "Come to Me"). The dramatic (comedic) scoring features the great Clouseau theme, a terrific musical depiction of Clouseau's simple frustration. The Quasimodo and "evil" themes are equally fun, and the German source cues are bouncy.
"Revenge of the Pink Panther" isn't as sustained as its predecessor, but I find the disco version of the main theme (de rigueur at the time) surprisingly fun and full of bravado. I like the easy listening source cues in this one better than in "Return," and they're supported by amusingly goofy specialty pieces like faux light classical of "Balls Caprice" and the fake shanty "Thar She Blows!" The Hong Kong theme is catchy, even if in its chase variation it's a little cutesy.
"Trail of the Pink Panther" seemed to me, from the time I saw the movie until now, to have a wisp of melancholy about it, coming as it did after the death of Peter Sellers. Maybe I'm just reading into that. The Clouseau theme returns (the first time a theme other than the main title appears in two movies!), and the "Easy Life in Paris" theme has a nice breezy quality. "Bruno's Theme" also adds flavor. But overall, this is a minor score for a misguided movie.
"Curse of the Pink Panther" brings a new theme for the new lead, Clifton Sleigh. It's a very weird, off-kilter melody that stuck with me from the moment I saw the (horrible) film, and I was delighted to finally get it on CD. That's a a major plus in its several settings, and Bruno's theme from the previous film returns as the "Mafia theme." But by now, the Pink Panther theme has somehow lost its swagger. It goes through the paces (this time with too-mechanical synths offering support), but if feels like Mancini's heart isn't in it.
"Son of the Pink Panther" is mostly scoring and not source pieces, but it's the dullest of the scores to me. The Gambrelli theme, for the newest useless Clouseau replacement, has none of the interest of the previous Clouseau and Sleigh themes. It's a standard pseudo-classical piece, and there's absolutely nothing special about it. The Bobby McFerrin treatment of the main theme is a nice try, but it feels strained and thin. I find this album to be something that would seem unthinkable: A boring Mancini Panther score.
Aren't you glad you asked?
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Yes! Thanks for answering! Any thoughts on A Shot in the Dark or Inspector Clouseau (if you count it)?
Yavar
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As much as I love Mancini, I have NEVER seen a Pink Panther film, although I liked the cartoon as a kid, had the 45, and have seen bits and pieces of the films channel surfing.
Something I've been wondering: did Mancini provide the 60s and 70s animated theatrical shorts with original music, or were they tracked or scored by someone else using his theme?
Yavar
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4. Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) -- Intrada. The shortest Mancini score but a very enjoyable one (though there are a few more annoying tracks that I typically skip). The main title is great and less "gimmicky" than both of its two immediate predecessors, there are some new themes that are a lot of fun, and the "Inspector Clouseau" theme makes a brief but enjoyable return for one track. Intrada provides great sound quality, nice packaging and notes (by Daniel Schweiger, sadly not as extensive as his recent amazing notes for Strikes Again or Takis's for Revenge). This sold out the fastest of all Pink Panther titles so at some point maybe someone will take a chance on reissuing it for those who missed out...
THE TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER has hands down my favorite "stand alone" version of the Pink Panther theme of any of the Pink Panther scores.
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Posted: |
Jan 30, 2015 - 2:49 AM
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By: |
Wedge
(Member)
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Something I've been wondering: did Mancini provide the 60s and 70s animated theatrical shorts with original music, or were they tracked or scored by someone else using his theme?
Yavar
There's a YouTube video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FE1Ze6ELhM) whose uploader purports to answer this question. From his commentary:
"In late '66, when Walter Greene took over as the background score musician for Depatie-Freleng Enterprises, he produced all new score for the first seven films credited to him. The first, Pink Plunk Plink, was about a symphony orchestra trying to play Beethoven (but Pink Panther kept breaking out his own theme), so did not have much new score. Next was one last film scored by the former musician, Bill Lava; Smile Pretty Say Pink. Next, Greene took over for good, with Pink-A-Boo, Genie With the Light Pink Fur, Super Pink, Rocky Bye Pinky, Pinknic and Pink Panic. After that, (beginning with "Pink Posies") they began reusing the score from these six films.
It was the Rocky Bye Pinky score that would be used on the majority of the films produced from 1967-1974 (the next two years after that, they used the other ones more, and even threw in some Lava pieces at times, and after that, you had the 1978 made for TV series that replaced it all with all new score by Steve Depatie)."
Assuming this guy knows his stuff, the early shorts were done by Lava, followed by Greene, with lots of reused material over the subsequent years. I'm not enough of an expert on the shorts to know if this is completely correct, however, so I can't corroborate.
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ASitD isn't likely any time soon; as Quartet posted in December of last year:
Mono tapes with the original recordings of A Shot in the Dark are vaulted at the Mancini Estate, but the rights are holder[held] by Sony Music on[in] perpetuity. Maybe La-La Land or Intrada can do something with this. I hope so!
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Ever since the complete Sellers PP films were released to Blu-ray (thanks again, Shout Factory), I have hoped someone -eg LaLaLnd, FSM, or Shout themselves via their music label - might pick up full sndtrk rights and finally bring us a comprehensive collection on CD. I've not given up hope for such a collection for the series' 55th anniversary.
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I would so love a CD of A Shot In the Dark… alas…
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