Introducing his bumbling Inspector Clouseau character, Peter Sellers is pretty damn funny in the 1964 series opener to the Panther series, which got much worse in a hurry. David Niven and Capucine make some arch, elegant foils to the ever uncouth Clouseau, and Sellers has some astonishing moments of physical comedyeven when hes not torturing his Gallic vowels. Today, its hard to believe director Blake Edwards was ever this good. And let’s not even discuss the Steve Martin remakes. (PG) BRIAN MILLER
Sept. 29-Oct. 7, 6:45 & 9:30 p.m., 2009
