It was also the last installment in the series that was distributed solely by United Artists; the company was absorbed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer three years after the film's release.

To demonstrate otherwise, Douvier's aide Guy Algo suggests a show of strength by assassinating the famous Jacques Clouseau, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté.

Clouseau's death is erroneously reported by the media, prompting his former boss, former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus, to instantly regain his sanity and be released from the psychiatric hospital to conduct the investigation.

[N 1] Dressed in Russo's women's clothing and protesting his true identity, Clouseau is himself taken to the psychiatric hospital where Dreyfus is packing to leave.

Clouseau attends the burial disguised as a priest, and surreptitiously reveals himself to Dreyfus, who again faints and falls into the open grave.

Because his wife holds evidence of his criminal activities, Douvier breaks off his affair with his secretary Simone, who reacts angrily.

Clouseau impersonates Scallini, wearing a ridiculous stereotypical gangster disguise, while Simone distracts the real godfather.

A frenzied chase ensues with Clouseau and Cato pursued by the gangsters, Simone, Dreyfus and the Hong Kong Police.

All run into a darkened warehouse where Dreyfus accidentally ignites the fireworks stored inside, catching everyone in the resulting chaos.

[3] It was the first time since Inspector Clouseau in 1968 that DePatie-Freleng animated the opening titles of a Pink Panther film (Return and Strikes Again having been done by Richard Williams' Studio).

[8] Variety wrote, "Revenge of the Pink Panther isn't the best of the continuing film series, but Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers on a slow day are still well ahead of most other comedic filmmakers.

[16] Composed by Henry Mancini in his fifth Pink Panther film, its theme music and much of the soundtrack draw heavily from the disco trends of the late 1970s.