The Inspector is an American series of 34 theatrical cartoon shorts produced between 1965 and 1969 by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released through United Artists. The cartoons are dedicated to an animated version of Inspector Clouseau comically battling against a rogues' gallery of internationally styled villains.
Outside of the episode titles, much of the humor in these shorts is derived in part from the surreality of the villains and situations, and also from the stylized animated slapstick, the brunt of which is endured by the Inspector, who is often bested by his nemeses, forcing him to face the wrath of his supervisor, the blustery and ill-tempered Commissioner (based on Herbert Lom's portrayal of Commissioner Dreyfus, if somewhat more violent) who holds him in well-deserved contempt.
Characters
The Inspector The Inspector is a senior detective for the Sûreté and assisted in most earlier episodes by Sergeant Deux-Deux, who is voiced by Pat Harrington Jr.; In The Pink Panther Show bumpers, he is instead voiced by Marvin Miller. Though his actual name is never mentioned, the character is clearly based on Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther films (to the point its design was later reused in the opening credits of the 1968 Inspector Clouseau film, establishing that both inspectors are, in fact, one and the same). But in slight contrast to the completely inept live-action Clouseau, the animated unnamed Inspector is more competent, though still prone to bad luck and poor judgment.
Sergeant Deux-Deux The Inspector's young and timid assistant, Sergeant Deux-Deux (pronounced "Doo-Doo"), is a slow-talking Spaniard and gendarme. Like the Inspector, he is voiced by Pat Harrington Jr., and in bumpers for The Pink Panther Show, he is voiced by Marvin Miller; in "La Feet's Defeat", he is instead voiced by Don Messick, and the character is given a younger appearance and more naive personality. He frequently utters the exclamation "Jole Frijoles" ("Holy Beans") in exciting or extreme situations, and often replies to the Inspector in his native tongue, saying "Sí", only to be admonished by the Inspector who often tells him, "Don't say 'sí', say 'oui'", which sometimes leads to confusing situations between the two. Deux Deux usually responded afterwards by intoning: "Sí, I mean oui, Inspector." In one cartoon, Deux Deux said "ouisick" instead of "seasick". On a couple of occasions, when the Inspector is incapacitated, Deux-Deux himself almost effortlessly manages to apprehend the culprit. He thinks of the Inspector as his hero.
The Commissioner The Commissioner, as his name implies, is the commissioner of the French police force and the boss of the Inspector and Sgt. Deux-Deux. The Commissioner is a heavily built, blustery, ill-tempered, bullying, bald man dressed in a suit and a black tie. He was voiced by Larry Storch in his first two appearances, then by Paul Frees from 1966 to 1967 (sans 1967's "Canadian Can-Can", where he is voiced by Mark Skor), and by Marvin Miller in all remaining appearances. He is usually angry in his interactions with the Inspector, for instance because of the Inspector's failure to complete his missions or because the Inspector has inadvertently caused him physical harm. The short "That's No Lady - That's Notre Dame" introduces his wife (voiced by Diana Maddox) who refers to him as 'Henri'. Despite the Inspector's general incompetence (which the Commissioner acknowledges) the Commissioner never actually fires him, or at least not permanently.
Production Pat Harrington Jr. provided voices for both the Inspector and Deux-Deux; (in "La Feet's Defeat", Deux-Deux is voiced by Don Messick and sports a younger, more naive appearance.) The Commissioner was voiced by Larry Storch for his first two appearances, before Paul Frees took on the role up until "Bomb Voyage", and voiced the character one last time in "Le Escape Goat". In "Canadian Can-Can", the Commissioner is voiced by Mark Skor, who also voiced the evil face of Two-Faced Harry, the short's antagonist. The Commissioner was then voiced by Marvin Miller for his remaining appearances. Miller also assumed the role of both the Inspector and Sgt. Deux-Deux in the wraparound bumpers produced for the inaugural season of The Pink Panther Show.
The first entry in the series, The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation, preceded screenings of the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball.
The Inspector character design remained basically the same throughout the DePatie–Freleng shorts, and was used in the opening credit sequence of the 1968 live-action film Inspector Clouseau (with Alan Arkin as Clouseau), but in the opening titles of later Pink Panther features beginning in the 1970s, his look is changed dramatically to resemble Sellers, and then Steve Martin in the 2006 reboot of the series.
The theme music heard during the titles of the cartoon was the instrumental "A Shot in the Dark" by Henry Mancini, from the 1964 feature film of the same name (the second entry in the Pink Panther live-action film series). Additional music in the cartoons was composed initially by William Lava, then Walter Greene. Two shorts had their own unique arrangement of the theme music during the opening sequence, Napoleon Blown-Aparte and Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux.
17 entries made their television debut during the inaugural season (1969–1970) of The Pink Panther Show, featuring shorter opening titles (minus credits). The remaining 17 entries appeared during the show's second season with complete theatrical opening titles.
List of shorts 1965 # Title Date Director Story Synopsis Notes 01 The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation December 21, 1965 Friz Freleng; Gerry Chiniquy(co-director John W. Dunn The Inspector is assigned to guard a valuable diamond known as the De Gaulle Stone, but must retrieve it when he inadvertently lets it get stolen by the three-headed jewel thief, the Matzoriley Brothers: Weft (voiced by Paul Frees), Wight (voiced by Pat Harrington, Jr.), and Wong (also voiced by Frees). This is the first cartoon in the Inspector series. This cartoon was originally released in theaters with the fourth James Bond film Thunderball during its original theatrical run.
1966 # Title Date Director Story Synopsis Notes 02 Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat February 1, 1966 Gerry Chiniquy John W. Dunn The Inspector is after the notorious smuggler Captain Clamity and his first mate Crab Louie (both voiced by Paul Frees). In their various attempts to board Clamity's ship, the pair's rowboats are broken in two by the criminals in various ways, causing the Inspector's portion of the boat to sink into the ocean along with him, while Deux-Deux's half stays afloat. The Commissioner does not appear. 03 Napoleon Blown-Aparte February 2, 1966 Gerry Chiniquy John W. Dunn The Mad Bomber (laughter provided by Larry Storch) escapes from Le Prison and swears vengeance on the Commissioner for imprisoning him there. The Commissioner assigns the Inspector to protect him, but the Inspector's incompetence results in him continually failing to prevent his boss from being blown up with an endless number of bombs at the Mad Bomber's disposal. An alternative rendition of The Inspector theme, "A Shot in the Dark", is featured during the credits. Final cartoon to feature Larry Storch as the voice of the Commissioner. 04 Cirrhosis of the Louvre March 9, 1966 Gerry Chiniquy John W. Dunn The insidious criminal known as the Blotch plans to steal all the paintings from the Louvre and the Inspector and Deux-Deux arrive in an attempt to foil his plot. First cartoon to feature Paul Frees as the voice of the Commissioner. 05 Plastered in Paris April 5, 1966 Gerry Chiniquy John W. Dunn The Inspector and Deux-Deux are assigned to chase a supposed fugitive known as "X" across the globe. 06 Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux June 15, 1966 Robert McKimson Michael O'Connor The largest diamond in the world, the Plymouth Rock, has been stolen from Madame Marquise de Poule Bon (voiced by Helen Gerald) at her chateau and the Inspector is assigned to solve the case. After finding that Madame de Poule Bon was a chicken plucker in her past, he investigates the chateau, only to find out that Madame's servants are all chickens and he must deduce which one could have pulled off the theft. An alternative rendition of The Inspector theme "A Shot in the Dark" is featured during the credits. Final cartoon to be fully scored by William Lava. 07 Ape Suzette June 24, 1966 Gerry Chiniquy John W. Dunn While training Sergeant Deux-Deux in self-defense, the Inspector gets a phone call from the Commissioner, who assigns them both to investigate the theft of a shipment of bananas. The Inspector interrogates a diminutive sailor (voiced by Paul Frees) who pleads innocence, but when the Inspector attempts to fight him, the scrawny sailor's gorilla accomplice Judy gets in all the punches. First cartoon to be scored by Walter Greene. The Commissioner does not appear. 08 The Pique Poquette of Paris August 25, 1966 George Singer John W. Dunn The Inspector and Sergeant Deux-Deux attempt to apprehend the notorious multi-armed pickpocket Spider Pierre (voiced by Paul Frees). The Commissioner does not appear. 09 Sicque! Sicque! Sicque! September 23, 1966 George Singer John W. Dunn After the Sûreté apprehend a mad scientist in Rue Morgue, who is carted off to an insane asylum, the Inspector and Sergeant Deux-Deux are assigned to inspect the scientist's mansion. Deux-Deux clumsily drinks a swig of a strange potion, and, from then on, transforms at infrequent intervals into a Mr. Hyde-type monster who, in routines, torments and attacks the Inspector (who has no idea that the creature is actually Deux-Deux) upon every transformation. The Commissioner does not appear. 10 That's No Lady — That's Notre Dame! October 26, 1966 George Singer John W. Dunn The Inspector is assigned to apprehend a particular purse snatcher who is operating in the Hotel D'Hote - where the Commissioner lives. He sets up a sting operation by disguising himself as a woman, but catches the eye of the Commissioner, who thinks the Inspector is a woman, and attempts to have an affair with him, with the Inspector soon falling afoul of the Commissioner's jealous wife (voiced by Diana Maddox). 11 Unsafe and Seine November 9, 1966 George Singer John W. Dunn The Inspector and Deux-Deux travel across the world on an undercover search for an agent, getting into all sorts of accidents along the way. 12 Toulouse La Trick December 30, 1966 Robert McKimson John W. Dunn After notorious desperado Toulouse le Moose jumps bail, he escapes to Cherbourg, where he is apprehended, and the Inspector is tasked with returning him to Paris; he handcuffs himself to Toulouse to prevent him from escaping and disposes of the keys, which causes problems on the way to the station. Sgt. Deux-Deux and the Commissioner do not appear.
1967