Since it is 2022, this update will be a little more “underground” than I’d like. During the Internet’s infancy, there was far more discussion of this particular little flick, and I suspect it is because the scenes within perhaps… awakened something? Well, “suspect” is not the correct term, “was claimed explicitly” is probably more accurate. Today, The Pink Panther Strikes Again is not quite such a hot topic, so let’s change that.
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The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Widescreen, Subtitled
The Pink Panther Strikes Again – The Film
This is the fifth Pink Panther movie, but don’t worry; you don’t need to see the previous ones to catch up. Though doing so is not a bad idea if you’re looking for more fur fashion. Bumbling Inspector Clouseau’s former boss escapes the mental institution Clouseau’s actions in previous films sent him to. He tries to kill Clouseau, but failing that; he has a kidnapped scientist create a doomsday machine to blackmail every nation into assassinating Clouseau for him.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again – The Fur
The film’s assassination section is where things “heat up.” Or rather, we are introduced to the very warm Russian agent Olga Bariosova (Lesley-Anne Down), who enters wearing a full-length coyote fur coat and hat.
Sexy Russian secret agent ladies wear fur. Again, TV Tropes is letting us down here, but trust me, it’s a trope. Also, fair warning, if this coat isn’t your thing, just jump out now; it’s all you get.
Olga’s annual KGB review may have some room for improvement. She mistakes another assassin disguised as Clouseau for the target and seduces him.
The impostor is killed, and the unsuspecting Clouseau takes his place. Again, Olga’s sense of object permanence may be questionable. She has fallen head over heels for Clouseau thanks to the talented lovemaking of the imposter. Also, the KGB wardrobe department will be asking where her hat went. (I’m the KGB wardrobe department.)
Despite discovering the deceased impostor, Ogla’s infatuation with Clouseau is undeterred. She declares her devotion to him while pulling him into her big coyote fur coat. This better not have awakened anything in you…
There is a point to all this in advancing the plot, but sadly it means we leave Olga and her fur coat behind.
Until the end, that is, when she returns to Clouseau in her signature coyote coat and makes up for her failings as an assassin with pretty impressive carpentry skills, building an oversized fold-down bed in Clouseau’s apartment.
Huh, really don’t understand what people are seeing in this movie….
Between the first and second scenes, Olga’s coyote fur coat receives about five-and-half minutes of screen time. While this is not an overwhelming amount, this one has a quality over quantity vibe, particularly should one enjoy the depiction of an “amorous lady in fur” on the silver screen. I’m going to quibble; sure, I’d have preferred they went with a fox (blue), but the early ’70s are just getting a feel for the decades to come.
Fur Runtime: approx 5:40 minutes
Film Runtime: 103 minutes
On-Screen Fur Ratio: 5.5%
Find-a-Fur: The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1973
(all times are approximate and are affected by the cut of the film)
- 1:07:00 – 1:12:50 – the coyote coat
- 1:14:40 – 1:17:50 – ”
- 1:37:20 – ”
Fur Fashion Gallery – The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1973
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