Inspector Clouseau Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Inspector Clouseau" on Blu-ray delivers an impressive AVC encoded image, adhering faithfully to the original Panavision 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The overall sharpness, while uniform, is particularly good post-opening credits. Facial features, clothing textures, and the production design benefit from this clarity, ensuring that even the subtle nuances, like facial responses in physical comedy or the makeup variations on Arkin’s five o’clock shadow, are appreciably detailed. Colors are notably rich, with bright primaries enhancing the visual aesthetics—reds stand out prominently without bleeding into pink hues, and skin tones display a natural and healthy hue throughout.

Black levels exhibit a strong, inky quality that enhances the picture's depth, while contrast generally remains consistent, albeit occasionally fluctuating slightly. The source material has been preserved well, exhibiting only minimal speckling and occasional dust specks that do not distract significantly. The presentation also demonstrates excellent delineation with no signs of solidification, ensuring the integrity of fine details. This 1080p transfer showcases the film's vivid costuming and set design, emphasizing the solid state of both the print condition and the mastering process.

The transfer quality indicates a relatively recent HD master, with the film divided into eight chapters for convenient navigation. Despite some minor imperfections within individual scenes, including sporadic debris and contrast variations, the overall visual experience remains robust and engaging. This Blu-ray release offers a substantial upgrade in terms of visual fidelity for this classic Inspector Clouseau film.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track accompanying "Inspector Clouseau" on Blu-ray provides a serviceable audio experience, tailored towards the film's comedic elements. The mix efficiently emphasizes slapstick sound effects, boosting their volume to enhance the humor. Dialogue is prominently featured and remains clear, handling the varied and often exaggerated accents with ease. Ken Thorne’s lively score is well-integrated, offering decent instrumentation that punctuates the comedic timing effectively. However, there is a constant presence of hiss throughout, most noticeable during quieter scenes, though it generally does not detract significantly from the overall audio experience.

While not groundbreaking, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix remains faithful to the movie's light-hearted tone. Dialogue clarity is a standout, ensuring that the comedic exchanges are delivered without issue. Background sounds and atmospheric effects are minimally used, creating an immersive yet non-intrusive setting. Notably, sound effects tied to specific gags, such as scenes involving a laser and a tape recorder, are highlighted to enhance their comedic impact. Despite exhibiting some minor age-related hiss and lacking significant depth in background noise, the audio presentation retains a generally clean and focused quality.

Overall, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio mix might not offer substantial innovation but performs its duty well by prioritizing dialogue clarity and accentuating slapstick elements essential for comedy. The orchestration of sound effects and background score complements the quirky humor, despite the persistent hiss that slightly tempers the experience. Given its straightforward approach to sound design, this track ensures that the humor of "Inspector Clouseau" is consistently and effectively conveyed.

The Blu-ray release of "Inspector Clouseau" offers a solid package of extras, highlighted by an enriching and detailed audio commentary by film historian William Patrick Maynard. Maynard's commentary delivers both praise and critical observations while drawing interesting parallels to other entries in the Pink Panther series. Despite some lulls, his insights make for a worthwhile listen. Supplementing the commentary is a selection of engaging trailers that provide a nostalgic look back at related films from different eras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Film historian William Patrick Maynard discusses the film’s strengths, weaknesses, and its connections to the Pink Panther series.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer presented in SD (2:12).
• Son of the Pink Panther: Trailer in SD (1:09).
• Curse of the Pink Panther: Trailer in HD (1:32).
• After the Fox: Trailer in HD (2:49).
• The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming: Trailer in SD (4:29).

"Inspector Clouseau," the 1968 installment in the iconic detective series, grapples with the unenviable task of following up the successful exploits of Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards. Here, Alan Arkin steps into the formidable shoes of Sellers, with Bud Yorkin taking over directorial duties. The film rotates around a familiar plotline: Scotland Yard enlists the eccentric French inspector to aid in a convoluted case involving a grand bank robbery orchestrated by a mysterious Mr. Big. Arkin's Clouseau is tasked with rooting out a mole within the police ranks, setting off a cascade of slapstick situations and comedic misfires.

While Arkin does his best to emulate Sellers’ unique portrayal, his version of Clouseau lacks the quintessential nonsensical bumbling that endeared Sellers' portrayal to audiences. Director Yorkin's insistence on maintaining heavy slapstick parallels to Edwards' original style results in scenes brimming with overt, sometimes tiresome, physical comedy. The screenplay by Tom and Frank Waldman offers bursts of humor but often veers into predictability and sprawling convolution. Noteworthy moments include Clouseau's struggle to reclaim his shoes at an airport—a gag layered with simplistic, yet memorable, comedy. However, stretches without laughter are frequent, highlighting missteps in pacing and joke setup.

Supporting characters add some texture, but they do little to offset the film’s shortcomings. Frank Finlay as Superintendent Weaver brings a slight edge of deception; however, no character matches Sellers' Dreyfus dynamic for Clouseau’s bumbling antics to play off effectively. Although Arkin demonstrates comedic prowess in isolated scenes—such as a well-executed game of jacks on a train—he occasionally exudes an awareness that diffuses the character’s intended cluelessness. Despite these efforts, "Inspector Clouseau" remains a middling imitation, offering diverting moments but falling short of the inspired madness synonymous with its revered predecessors.

Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release of "Inspector Clouseau" serves as a remarkable technical achievement, even if the film itself struggles to step out from the shadow of its predecessors. The video transfer maintains a strong, crisp visual quality that enhances the viewing experience, and the audio mix is commendably clear and balanced. The included audio commentary adds a layer of depth for enthusiasts looking for further insights into the film’s production.

As an independent effort, Bud Yorkin’s take on the Clouseau character is not without merit. Alan Arkin delivers a spirited performance, embracing the physical comedy and exaggerated mannerisms that define Inspector Clouseau. However, the film’s inherent flaw lies in its inevitable comparison to the iconic Peter Sellers’ films. Arkin’s rendition, while earnest, fails to capture the unique charm and wit that Sellers brought to the role.

Taken in isolation, "Inspector Clouseau" offers sporadic laughs and moments of comic inspiration. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Blake Edwards’ classic instalments, it’s a watchable piece offering sufficient entertainment value. Fans of the franchise or those intrigued by this forgotten chapter will find Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray a worthwhile addition, owing to its superior technical presentation. However, casual viewers may want to consider a rental before committing to a purchase.

It’s tough to blame Arkin for this misfire. He gives the role his all, keeping the mustache and cartoon French accent, trying to live up to the standard of wackiness set by Sellers. He's simply miscast, embarrassing himself with material that's out of his range, flailing mightily as Inspector Clouseau endures a slow, painful comedy death -- the victim of a producer who only wanted to keep his cash cow grazing.