It is not only music that takes you back to a time and place. Film has a powerful ability to do the same. In some ways Hollywood has an advantage over the soundtrack of our lives because it comes in a video form. The pictures that are indelible in our minds are real; never imagined, but here it must be stated that in the background there is always a score that elevates what our eyes are taking in.
Many times, it is a film’s theme song that is most memorable because it becomes positively associated with the whole production. This is the premise of today’s edition of Ted Tocks Covers.
When I was a kid there were movies that my parents described to me as ‘for grown-ups’. I had this vision in my mind about what sort of revelations would occur in this world that was just out of my reach. I walked and talked among adults, but it seemed they were in possession of knowledge and information that I was not quite ready for. I waited patiently; anticipating the day when I would be deemed mature enough to consume this content.
Among the first ‘grown up’ films, which in Ontario, used to be rated ‘adult accompaniment’ or ‘parental guidance’ was ‘The Return of the Pink Panther’ starring Peter Sellers. Looking back, I am sure a lot of it went completely over my head, but the slapstick humour was brilliant and Sellers’ acting ability in portraying the bumbling Inspector Clouseau was the perfect bridge from cartoons to feature films. For good measure there was even a cartoon.
Today’s feature is ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ which is one of several signature pieces by the legendary composer, conductor and arranger, Enrico Nicola Mancini; better known as Henry.
He may have hated the sound of his own voice, but when he let his music do the talking few were better. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. Enjoy this fun clip from ‘Frasier’ in 1994 (Go to 11:00, or watch the entire piece for some fun TV memories)
For ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ we need to go all the way back to 1963. Henry Mancini and his wife Ginny happened to be on the same luxury liner; the SS France, as director Blake Edwards and his writing partner Maurice Richlin. Edwards and Richlin were planning on writing the script for a new film while onboard. Each day the writers would isolate themselves in their cabin and write, only to come out for dinner, which they frequently enjoyed with the Mancinis. By the time the SS France got to Italy the script was complete in its draft form. Blake Edwards had gathered an impressive cast which included Peter Ustinov as a bumbling detective named Jacques Clouseau, and David Niven as a cagey diamond thief. Soon after work began on the film, Peter Ustinov backed out, leaving Edwards clamouring for a replacement. To everyone’s good fortune, he managed to connect with Peter Sellers who agreed to fly from London to Rome on short notice. Not only did Sellers capably embody the role, he famously became Inspector Clouseau, adding numerous slapstick measures and hilarious idiosyncrasies.
Here is one funny scene which although it lasts only 48 seconds, employs several brilliant techniques. This is what Peter Sellers brought to ‘The Pink Panther’ film series.
While the filming was going on, Henry and Ginny Mancini were enjoying their Italian vacation before heading back to Los Angeles. When Blake Edwards was done filming, he too returned to L.A. to handle the editing. Based in part on their recent connection and more likely on Mancini’s stellar reputation, Edwards offered Henry Mancini the opportunity to write the music for ‘The Pink Panther’. Because Mancini was somewhat familiar with the project, he was eager to accept. He was also very intrigued by Blake Edward’s plan to use a cartoon to present the credits at the beginning of the film. While Henry Mancini familiarized himself with the script, he paid close attention to how David Niven’s character was described.
There were a number of scenes in which David would be slinking around on tippy-toes. I started to write a theme for him — one of the few times I wrote a theme before seeing the actual picture. The music was designed as the phantom-thief music, not to be ‘The Pink Panther Theme.’”
It seemed everyone involved were somewhat in tune because at the same time Edwards was editing and Mancini was composing his music, an animation team was hard at work developing a Pink Panther character that would become the movie’s primary brand. ‘Pink Panther’ enthusiasts will be quick to tell you that the name came from the fictitious diamond that became the target of would-be thieves due to its size and value. The flaw at the centre of the jewel was thought to resemble a pink panther in the process of leaping toward its prey.
The fact that Henry Mancini wrote ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ without actually seeing the film or any of its early edits becomes even more remarkable upon closer inspection to the nuance of the presentation. Here, Mancini expands on the previous quote.
I realized that the theme I had written for David Niven’s character, the jewel thief, was also perfect for the opening credits and the cartoon of the little Pink Panther character. I used it for both.”
The films animators needed a tune for the associated cartoon character, the ‘Pink Panther’ and Mancini gave them a tempo they could animate to. Famously, ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ features a series of timed musical accents that coincide with the actions of the vibrant feline. This technique is known as chromaticism. The fact that this piece happened to mesh nicely with the composition he had initially written was a happy accident.
One of Henry Mancini’s most distinctive traits is that he was very particular about the musicians who would play on his compositions. He is known to have written his music with specific players in mind.
This is where tenor sax player Plas Johnson enters the story. You can hear his playing on ‘Theme from Peter Gunn’. Here is Henry Mancini’s recollection that appeared in his autobiography ‘Did They Mention the Music’. He speaks to his thought process on writing ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ and who he had in mind for the saxophone part.
I told [the animators] that I would give them a tempo they could animate to, so that any time there were striking motions, someone getting hit, I could score to it. [The animators] finished the sequence and I looked at it. All the accents in the music were timed to actions on the screen. I had a specific saxophone player in mind—Plas Johnson. I nearly always precast my players and write for them and around them, and Plas had the sound and the style I wanted. “
Clearly, Henry Mancini chose well, but how did Plas Johnson feel about his performance? Here, he shares a combination of satisfaction along with a nod to those he shared the stage with during this session.
We only did two takes, I think… When we finished, everyone applauded — even the string players. And that’s saying something… They never applaud for anything.”
These are the moments that help those of us who have enjoyed this recording for six decades understand how the musicians who recorded it felt in the studio.
Just like the composition itself, the moment transcends time and space. For the record, the Blake Edwards, Henry Mancini friendship would continue for the rest of Henry Mancini’s life and include 25 film scores.
For over 60 years, the Pink Panther theme has become synonymous with the animated character and of course David Niven and Peter Sellers who played the thief and Inspector Jacques Clouseau, respectively.
Everybody knows ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ but did you know that Henry Mancini also wrote ‘The Inspector Clouseau Theme’ which was a tribute to Peter Sellers himself.
Here is one more clip that captures the comedy genius of Peter Sellers.
Sadly, Peter Sellers died in 1980 at the age of only 54. He had been battling a handful of health issues, which when combined with drug and alcohol addiction and mental health struggles took a massive toll on the actor. Sellers was planning to attend a reunion dinner with his ‘Goon Show’ partners Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe. He suffered a heart attack at the Dorchester hotel in London, and died two days later.
As for Henry Mancini, specific to ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ the composition was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Score but it lost to the Sherman Brothers for Mary Poppins. ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ did win three Grammys which included; Best Instrumental Arrangement, Best Instrumental Compositions (Other Than Jazz) and Best Instrumental Performance – Non Jazz.
In a world where the credits roll long after the film is over, we also lost the great Henry Mancini on this day thirty years ago.
If the mark of a great human being is measured by whether he made the world a better place, then Henry Mancini definitely qualifies. Here is a very interesting anecdote that speaks to his family legacy.
Henry and Ginny Mancini had three children. Their son Christopher is a music publisher in Los Angeles, and their twin daughters are also both connected to the music industry. Monica is a professional singer and Felice is the Executive Director of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (see ‘Beautiful Boy’).
Now let’s take a look at some of the many adaptations of ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ through the years. Perhaps the most accessible examples are the modifications that took place in a series of ‘Pink Panther’ sequels.
Here is ‘Revenge of the Pink Panther’ from 1978 which applies a disco bassline along with a keyboard and guitar solo. Fifteen years later, the music world had changed and Henry Mancini applied his subtle touch to this signature composition
Five years later in 1983 Mancini included some synthesizer treatment in the ‘Curse of the Pink Panther’.
As far as the evolution of the Henry Mancini versions go, the final adaptation was shared just one year before he died. This creative cover features Bobby McFerrin and his vocal prowess.
From a true cover standpoint here is a cool piece by John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Paco De Lucia. Their tribute to Henry Mancini plays from 4:40 to about 7:00. The musicianship here will blow your mind. This recording is from the 1980 album ‘A Friday Night in San Francisco – Short Tales of the Black Forest’. Consider this a must listen.
For a fifteen-year period from 1976 to 1991, Bob Barker and ‘The Price is Right’ used ‘The Pink Panther Theme’ as musical accompaniment to the ‘Safe Crackers’ game. Here is a clip featuring a guy named Charles who only wants a new set of golf clubs.
In 2006, composer Christophe Beck put together a ‘Pink Panther Suite’ to go along with the film that included legendary actor/comedian Steve Martin.
Compare and contrast Steve Martin’s portrayal of Inspector Clouseau with Peter Sellers if you wish.
To close out today’s feature, enjoy the jazzy guitar infused version by David Ricard from 2010. This served as the theme to ‘Pink Panther & Pals’. It is a radical departure.
Shortly after his 70th birthday Henry Mancini was celebrated with a star-studded birthday bash. During this event President Bill Clinton saluted Mancini with these words.
Your name has become synonymous with 20th-Century music, and it is already clear that your legacy will live on for generations to come.”
For Mancini it was all a true joy.
I just . . . enjoyed the hell out of it. I still do. I just love what I do.”
Love what you do. Do what you love.
If music can accompany your movements, all the better.
Ted Tocks Covers 