Slapstick comedy, jewel heists, espionage, and talented acting characterized the rollicking Pink Panther film franchise. Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers made the movies memorable over a few decades from the 60s-80s and they remain entertaining classics. When I spotted this look behind the scenes to the films and stories of the principal people involved, I had to give Robert Sellers (no relation) latest book a go.

As a kid, I enjoyed the Pink Panther cartoon and Henry Mancini’s musical score more than the live action movies, but a revisit to them as a teen, enjoying the fun of VHS movie rentals, caught me when I was better able to appreciate Peter Sellers’ screwball antics and the sheer entertainment value of the original film and its successors. I recognized the big name acting talent filling the roles and the genius of Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers movie making.

I’d heard rumors at the time that Peter Sellers was not an easy actor to work with and there were big clashes between him and Blake Edwards over the films and this was confirmed here. Their explosive encounters were pretty epic and it was amazing the films even got made. It was hard on everyone involved, especially the other actors and the crew, but all admitted that both Edwards and Sellers were great talents and for all the problems, they made good movies.

I think I’ve personally watched only the first four in the series and I learned something I was unaware of. After Peter Sellers’ death, the company went on to make two more Pink Panther movies with other actors. Unfortunately, this attempt didn’t take and the Pink Panther movies fizzled out until a couple decades later when a remake was attempted and had decent success with Steve Martin in the Clouseau role.

I appreciated that Robert Sellers is a pro writer already in the area of films and film industry for years so he had been able to catch up with the actors and crew in the films before they passed away, getting their perspectives on working with Edwards and Sellers and on making these movies.

These were big moneymakers even beyond the movies to the extras like toys, collectibles, even cereal. It made the people involved rich and also showed what the movies were like on the inside, but film industry at the time.

There were slow points in the book and matters that were more interesting than others, but I liked the organization and style of the writing.

So, The Real Pink Panther made me nostalgic for watching the movies again, but also gave me a less rose-colored view of the people involved in making the films. A balanced view and easy reading experience, satisfying curiosity and film-fandom interest.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Pen & Sword, and author Robert Sellers for the advanced reader copy of this book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Having grown up in the 1970s, my parents took me to see the Pink Panther films from that era in theaters. For the most part, they were family-friendly movies with a lot of laughs. I learned to appreciate the comedy magic of Peter Sellers. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. At first, I thought the author might be a relative of Sellers, but the names are a coincidence and Robert Sellers is not related to the man who portrayed Inspector Clouseau.

The Real Pink Panther provides the background on how the series of movies was made, as well as glimpses into what went on behind the scenes. Although both Director Blake Edwards and his star, Peter Sellers, were comedic geniuses, there was a lot of friction during the making of these movies. Both would swear time and again that they would never work together again, only to have the lure of money bring them back together.

I did not know that the first Pink Panther film, released in 1963, was not intended to feature Inspector Clouseau as the lead character. The idea was to focus on a notorious jewel thief known as “The Phantom” (portrayed by David Niven). The Phantom was plotting to steal a priceless diamond known as “The Pink Panther” and is having an affair with the wife of the detective assigned to investigate his string of jewel heists. Sellers’ acting as Inspector Clouseau took over the movie. Even Niven admitted that as they were filming, he could tell that Clouseau was going to be the star of the film.

There are details about how some of the funnier moments came to be in the films. Robert Sellers interviewed surviving cast members to learn about the experience of working with both Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers. Blake Edwards was a director with whom people seemed to either love or hate working. Edwards preferred to let the comedy happen on the set and let his actors improvise quite a bit. For actors who need direction and stability, this was hard to work with. His sets were a lot of fun, but apparently very undisciplined.

Peter Sellers, meanwhile, was a comedic genius who suffered from a mental illness. Back then, it wasn’t diagnosed, but it sounds like he was bipolar from the way people describe working with him. He was prone to depression, often thinking the work he did was horrible. More than once, after a movie was finished being filmed, he’d beg the studio to shelve it and not release it. At one point, he even promised to reimburse the studio for all of the costs associated with the film if they would just not release it.

These two personalities managed to create the greatest series of films based on physical comedy. I went back and watched the first film after reading this book, and I’d forgotten just how funny it is. Robert Sellers has done a great deal of research and talked to as many people as he could find who are still alive who worked on the films. He details how the animated sequence Edwards wanted for the title sequence of the first film spawned its own animated series, along with unexpected merchandising. Robert Sellers details the attempts to continue the series after the death of Peter Sellers, but the selection of Ted Wass as a substitute for Peter Sellers wasn’t a good fit with Blake’s style of directing. The later reboot with Steve Martin fared better, but only the first film in that series could actually be considered a hit.

The Real Pink Panther is not that long, nor is it a difficult read. I enjoyed this look into how Hollywood operates and the anecdotes surrounding the making of this film series. The author has talked with numerous people involved in the films, and the resulting book is very interesting and fun to read. If you grew up with these films, as I did, I think you’ll enjoy the book quite a bit.

4 Stars!

I was introduced to Peter Sellers' Pink Panther movie franchise as a little girl, and ever since those movies became one of my favorite comfort-movies to watch.

I was so glad receiving an arc of this book and reading in-depth about one of my most favorite movie trilogies of all time!

Thank you Pen and Sword for access to this arc.

Reading this book is really an indulgence for me. I have decades worth of very fond memories of the first three Panther films (The Pink Panther, A Shot in the Dark, Return of the Pink Panther) and sentimental "just because it's a Panther move" of The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Sadly at that point, I could see that the best days were behind the series.


But I was intrigued by the chance to get behind the scenes information about (mainly) Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers - the two main geniuses behind the franchises' best days. There is a great deal of interesting stuff to delve into with candid memories of the stars and behind the scenes production crews. There is, sadly, a lot of the darker side of these films with Blake and Peter often being on the outs with each other as well as Peter Sellers' mental and physical health issues.


As I had never seen any of the post Sellers' death entries to the franchise, I wanted to see if perhaps I needed to give them a look, even after all these years. Frankly, I've decided no, as these films seem to be little more than money grabs by most involved. One chapter here is even titled "Flogging a Dead Panther." Enough said.


I did learn some neat facts such as the impetus for "All in the Family" probably came from someone being in London at the time the original British show aired and making a call to a pal in the US about this great show. The recollections of people involved in the Panther franchise were (mainly) good and interesting to read. Given the issues and struggles that lurked in the background, I'll remain thankful for the films I enjoy and, yes, skip the rest. B-

My thanks to NetGalley and Pen And Sword publishers for an honest review.

I was a real fan of the Pink Panther series of films , and reading this book has made me want to watch them all again.
I love books that give you a look behind the scenes of film making , and an insight into the lives of the actors and people involved in the production of them .
Peter Sellers, obviously, was a tortured genius and it’s sad that while we got so much enjoyment from his performances in these films , he doesn’t seem to have found happiness for himself

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a very fun and informative read on one of the most loved animated franchise in the world. I will definitely recommend this for anyone who is fan of the Pink Panther movies.

The Real Pink Panther by Robert Sellers is a lively and well-researched biography of Maurice Foster, the real-life jewel thief who inspired the famous Pink Panther films. Sellers blends true crime with cinematic history, crafting an engaging narrative that reads like a thrilling caper. While some parts feel slightly dramatised, the book remains a fascinating look at a charismatic criminal and the legacy he left behind.

I have recently read books about Blake Edwards (A Splurch in the Kisser; Julie Andrews´ biography) so some of the information in Robert Sellers´ book was a little bit redundant. But for people who love the Pink Panther movies, this is a rich collection of stories about the makings of all the PP movies, from Peter Sellers to Steve Martin, with stops on the way for Alan Arkin, Robero Benigni and Ted Wass.
Sellers (no relation to Peter) talked to several people before and behind the camera - e. g. Dyan Cannon, Catherine Schell, Burt Kwouk, Wass, producer Eric Pleskow and writer Maurice Richlin.
Fascinating reads especially about the Sellers´ years - some people had good things to say about him, a lot didn´t, and it seems like a miracle that he and Blake Edwards were able to coexist for five movies.
A very breezy read which makes you want to re-watch at least the early movies...
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.

While The Pink Panther movies are series wasn’t from my generation, I grew up watching them with my father. Anything jewel thief/ treasure related so this was a bit nostalgic to read.

This book gives us a more in depth look behind the series and the people who created the franchise. It was nice to revisit some things and learn new things about a beloved show/ character. My only complaint is that it’s written very academic like in terms of writing style. It’s a worthy read if you’re looking for a touch of nostalgic cinema history.

I love the Pink Panther films, they were films of my childhood, and even now I can still recite some of them word for word! I was interested to read this book and reminisce over stories from these films. As per the blurb, I was looking forward to the untold story and secrets from the films. Whilst I loved reading about how the films were made and the featured actors and actresses, I felt there weren't enough stories from the films. I wanted, and thought I was getting, behind the scenes secrets and gossips, but found there was an awful lot of the book dedicated to the tensions between Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers. Don't get me wrong, I love Peter Sellers as Clouseau - there couldn't have been a better person to play him - but I wasn't necessarily interested in so much of the backstage tensions, but more interested in the films themselves. It also felt that the more popular films of the franchise were skimmed over, leaving the bigger parts of the book to the less popular (and non-Sellers) films. I did enjoy it on the whole, but would really have liked more laughs from it, because lets face it that's one thing the Pink Panther films weren't lacking in!

WoW, Wishes do come true.............Now, who didn't just love The Real Pink Panther films when you were younger! WoW, I am showing my age.

The Real Pink Panther by Robert Sellers was a brilliant book and I loved reading this, so many memories of me and my grandad sitting watching these films and laughing out loud. These were one of the best films you could sit and watch on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when its cold and raining outside! They don't make films like this any more.

The Pink Panther films were one of the most enduring and financially successful franchises in movie history, beginning with 1963’s The Pink Panther, which introduced audiences to the iconic Inspector Clouseau, unforgettably played by Peter Sellers. Drawing on previously unseen material and ‘exclusive’ interviews with stars of the films and crew members, along with friends and colleagues of Peter Sellers, Robert Sellers presents, for the very first time, the untold story and some of the secrets behind the Pink Panther films. The original Pink Panther movie proved popular enough to spawn eight sequels. The films also inspired a popular animated TV series based on the pink panther cartoon character that appeared in the film’s credit sequences.

There were also spin-off toys, games, clothes, even breakfast cereal. In the 2000s, comedy legend Steve Martin twice stepped into the role of Inspector Clouseau. - He did not have the charm of Peter Sellers!

Peter Sellers was a comedic genius No one can take his place in these films! He was the Best!

I highly recommend this book if you are a fam of The New Pink Panther or new fans of it.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and especially Pen and Sword for my ARC.

The Pink Panther. inspector Clouseau. Cato.. Hysterically funny movies that still make us laugh.
Peter Sellers achieved great fame and recognition as the bumbling Inspector Closeau. He also starred in many succesful movies. What was he really like? He was funny and mercurial too. He was a flawed human with a comic genius and he made us laugh. Even today, we giggle just thinking about him.
The Real Pink Panther, written by Sellers’ son, is a very enjoyable read that shows Peter Sellers’ serious side. The tales about the making of the Pink Panther films are precious and memorable. Genius comes with its own reactions and personality quirks. Who amongst us can be funny 24/ 7?
All in all, Peter Sellers pleased generations. This book reminds us what a great actor he was. There are lots of laughs in it, including many quotes from Clouseau himself, such as my personal favorite referencing “ Sir Charles Phantom, the notorious Lytton.“ I laughed through the whole book, and understand the changes in disposition , moods and personality.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Exceptional book on the genius/madness of Peter Sellers and the difficultiesin producing a legacy of successful slapstick

Fast and "surface level" but that's the trade off to doing all instead of each individual movie/relationship

Very Well Done

I am a huge fan of Peter Sellers and the Pink Panther movies and this book gave me so much background information. I enjoyed all the quotes from actors, movie people, and others that knew Peter Sellers. A very well researched book that I honestly couldn’t put down. Peter Sellers was such a comedic genius and I truly hope he is resting in peace.

For Pink Panther fans everywhere. This excellent sneak peek into the world famous and beloved character is a great and insightful read.

I recently bought a boxed set of Pink Panther films; I saw a couple years ago and wondered how they’ve fared years later. Surprisingly well is the answer. They’re timeless and the insight into the films and stories behind all the titles in The Real Pink Panther is a really timely bonus. I’ve enjoyed every page of Robert Sellers book ( he’s no relation to Peter, as far as I’m aware,, but he has written film industry related books and biographies). Meticulous research, with resources noted and a short bibliography are helpful for further reading. At the end of the book there’s a stunning montage of photo clips, all of which were new to me. I suspect on paper in colour they’d be even more amazing; I read the book on kindle.

I’m not a big Sellers fan. I think he had moments of genius but he was clearly a troubled individual and had a darker side. The book details how the association between Blake Edward’s and Sellers came about along with quite a detailed history of his other studio works. I found it interesting that Sellers was not first choice for the role; days before the first shoot, Ustinov walked away from the production and Edward’s had to find a replacement at short notice. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else playing the Clouseau role which was almost written for Sellars offbeat interpretation and delivery. He inhabited the role of the hapless detective and the working relationship between Edward’s and Sellars got off to a good start. Both loved slapstick and initially, there was a lot of improvisation during filming. These insights prove invaluable when looking at early and later films, where the Clouseau character subtly develops and changes.

Each film is detailed in full along with on and off set stories about actors, incidents and how filming was conducted. This is a book that will appeal to any film fan as there’s a mountain of film and production related trivia. Really well written, I’d say this is the definitive Pink Panther guide. The author is even handed in his observations and comments about Sellars and doesn’t flinch from showing a more difficult side. Really enjoyed this.

Robert Sellers, whose book the Secret Life of Ealing Studios book I really liked, is a prolific author of film books, and they are packed with first-hand interviews and a lots of secondary-research. With such a long career behind him he's been able to enjoy the privilege of interviewing series regulars like Herbert Lom, Bert Kwouk and Graham Stark before they passed away, and also spent time with other crew and cast members - Robert Wagner, Dyan Cannon, Catherine Schell, Mike Grady, etc - to get a really vivid and personal sense of what it was like to work with two such mercurial personalities as Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers.

Having bonded well during the shooting of the first film in 1963, their relationship became a rocky, ultimately toxic, one, each feeling that the success of the films was due to their individual genius. Exhausting, exhilarating and frustrating by turns, we really get an idea of what it's like to work on a film where you never know whether the star or the director are going to turn up, or stay around if they do, but that the magic which they can spin when in sync is worth the pain.

The Pink Panther franchise ran for so long, weathering (or not) the loss of its star, with attempted reboots in the 80s and 90s, and full-blown remakes in the early 2000s that it is really stands as a microcosm of Hollywood movie making over a forty year period. The passion, the greed, the madness, the joy, it's all here.

The narrative does lose some energy towards the end simply because when it comes to the Steve Martin remakes everyone was lovely, and there were no troubles; tea and biscuits all round, thank you vicar.

The Peter Sellers years, and the immediate aftermath of his death are where the real story lies.

As an homage/background to the Pink Panther series, the book was informative and entertaining. While there were elements I knew already, there was quite a bit of extensive behind-the-scenes material that was new to me and eye opening. These aspects of the book I really enjoyed. However, I did have a few issues with the book. First off, for a seasoned writer, the author was surprisingly poor at some basic grammatical elements, such as sentence structure, proper use of commas and marking people's quotes with quotation marks. Secondly, so much of the book was annotated and obviously just pulled from other sources with a seemingly never-ending series of end notes, at time it felt more like a thesis or term paper than published book. And there was an inconsistency throughout the narrative - the first two films, arguably the most important since they began the whole series, felt rushed through and glossed over; in the middle of talking about a movie and its important players, mildly interesting, but otherwise irrelevant tangents frequently cropped up; and while Peter Sellers was the very heart of the movies, the book didn't balance itself well, seeming to waver between being a Sellers biography and history of the Pink Panther film legacy.
While I have many criticisms, I did like the book, and anyone interested in the Pink Panther history likely will too, but it really could have used some editing to tighten things up. 3.5/5*

I loved this book; a fitting tribute to a franchise I very much enjoyed. The writing was great and well-paced. I thought that the content was very even-handed and fair, showing the high points and the low, including personalities and business issues. Thank you to Netgalley and White Owl for the advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the book almost as much as I enjoyed watching the movies. Anyone who liked the Pink Panther movies will love this book