In London, Sir Charles Braithwaite, Commissioner for Scotland Yard, struggles to solve an organized crime case involving a gang which has been performing robberies across Europe.

After realizing his own food has been poisoned, Clouseau finds a matchbook from a nearby inn called Tudor Arms on Frenchie's body.

Rainbow's plan is for the gang to rob thirteen Swiss banks simultaneously, while Clouseau takes the fall for the crime.

Two of Rainbow's men, Bomber LeBec and Stockton follow Clouseau and attempt to kidnap him, but Weaver arrives and foils this.

Weaver, who is actually the mole, slips a train ticket from Le Havre, France to Zurich, Switzerland in Clouseau’s pocket and walks away.

Weaver and Rainbow feed the Swiss authorities false information about the robberies and order the bank presidents to put all their funds into the waiting armored cars outside for "safekeeping."

In addition to the title role, Arkin also played the members of the gang whenever they were disguised as Clouseau, with the other actors' voices dubbed onto the soundtrack.

[2] Producer Walter Mirisch was interested in making a third Pink Panther film, but Sellers repeatedly refused the role.

Just prior to the beginning of production, Sellers contacted Mirisch stating that only he could play Clouseau and would appear in the film if he was given script approval.

(DePatie Freleng also animated the Pink Panther cartoon shorts, as well as the opening credit sequences for most of the Edwards-Sellers Clouseau films).

Renata Adler of The New York Times was negative, calling the film "one of those episodic, all-purpose arbitrary comedies in which anything goes—and nothing works.

For most of the time, events move pretty slowly, and the camera lingers on Arkin, waiting for moments of inspiration that never come.

"[7] Time magazine wrote, "Arkin follows meticulously in his predecessor's flatfootsteps, but the result is only a parody of a parody," adding, "Bud Yorkin's slovenly direction makes the film look as if every expense had been spared, trapping Arkin in a farce of habit that will probably retire Clouseau to oblivion — one picture too late.

"[8] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "a dull comedy ... that deflates faster than a leaky balloon.

That it works at all is largely due to Alan Arkin's performance as Clouseau, which emerges as a hilarious blend of Keaton and Sellers.