The Pink Panther

Inspector Clouseau was merely a supporting character in the original 1963 "The Pink Panther," a comic heist film starring David Niven as a legendary jewel thief out to steal a priceless diamond (called "The Pink Panther"), but Sellers' bent-French accent and oblivious intensity stole the comedy scenes. Blake Edwards' mix of elegance and slapstick, set to an easy-going light jazz score by Henri Mancini, was a hit and Clouseau returned in "A Shot in the Dark" (1964), which introduces the essential supporting characters of the ensuing sequels: martial arts wielding manservant Kato (Burt Kwouk) and tormented Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), who takes center stage in the 1976 "The Pink Panther Strikes Again." (The set is missing the 1975 "The Return of the Pink Panther," available separately from Universal). The Sellars series winds down with "Revenge of the Pink Panther" (1978), which sends Clouseau in Hong Kong, and ends with a whimper with "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982) patched together from outtakes and deleted scenes after Sellers' death. "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983) attempted to revive the series with Ted Waas in the lead, "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993) tried out Roberto Benigni as Clouseau's offspring. The set is bookended with 2006 revival "The Pink Panther" with Steve Martin as Clouseau and Kevin Kline as Dreyfus.

This 18-disc set, collected in a giant pink album, also includes all 124 cartoons inspired by the playful credits sequence of the original film plus spin-off four discs of spin-off cartoons and the oddball 1968 live-action feature "Inspector Clouseau," made without Edwards or Sellars and starring Alan Arkin in the title role. Blake Edwards contributes commentary on the first film and the collection includes bonus featurettes and other supplements.