As a kid in the 70's, I discovered this series with the fourth film, 1975's The Return of the Pink Panther and have been a fan since. Something about this style of comedy combined with the flair for international espionage is just such a joy.

Books like this one pull back the curtain behind the film industry, providing a detailed glimpse into the making of the movies and the people involved in the process. I remembered this franchise being popular, but the details provided here point out how important it was to the United Artists studio and how rich it made both Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards (despite how contested their working relationship continued to become as each film was made).

Even after Sellers' death in July of 1980, the film franchise continued on. The first (1982's Trail of the Pink Panther was a framework of a story built to utilize former footage of Sellers as Clouseau and to bring back former side characters to fill out the narrative. The storyline of this one led into the next (1983's The Curse of the Pink Panther) with Ted Wass (known then for his role of "Danny" on the sitcom Soap) taking the lead as a new detective named Clifton Sleigh. I remember these two movies and the derailing effect, as the author rightly points out, they had on things. Unlike a James Bond or a Doctor Who, sometimes moving on with a change in the lead just isn't possible.

The included photo-gallery with the book is also a very nice touch.

NetGalley, Martin Maenza