MovieChat Forums > The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) Discussion > Was Catherine Schell acting or genuinely...

Was Catherine Schell acting or genuinely amused?

posted 17 years ago by ColinChapman
9 replies | jump to latest

When Clouseau is dressed up as Guy Gadbois and says:"Mr Guy Gadbois at your service" to lady Lytton it seems to me Catherine Schell is not really acting but is having trouble controlling herself by all her laughing.I've heard a rumour Sellers never told Schell what he was going to say to her in that scene but she was not allowed to laugh.Sellers knew this would make it even harder for her not to laugh and thus getting the desired effect.Anyway it is a shame we never saw the alter ego Guy Gadbois ever again.I mean if there ever was a character Clouseau never could be it was the playboy Guy Gadbois. Sellers was a genious actor.

[–] thepersuader 17 years ago

Yeah, i've heard this too. Also when she opens the door to Sellers and stands behind it laughing she thought she was off camera so was out of sight but Blake Edwards followed her with the camera to catch her out and left it in.
I mean who wouldn't laugh at an horrendous disguise like that.

[–] trevorwomble 16 years ago

I've always wondered about that scene too. It would be very hard to get the reaction if it was scripted so i wouldn't put it past Sellers or Edwards to improvise that scene and get it in one take. Sellers had the ability to crack up all his co-stars with his voice and over-acting, which he frequently tried to do (just listen to some of the Goon show stuff).

Incidentally (and this is completely irrelevant) but after Schell retired from acting in the 80s , Schell moved to France where i believe she now runs a small hotel somewhere out in the countryside).

[–] jrs-8 16 years ago

I remember reading that Schell kept blowing take after take by laughing because Sellers would change up everything from take to take. Blake Edwards finally decided enough was enough and took the earilest takes he could so at least Schell still looked fresh and not worn out from laughing so much. Plus the earliest takes it was reported that Schell was able to hold a straight face longer then in the later takes when she would burst out laughing almost immediately.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] thecrazymongoose 15 years ago

It's real laughter but i think it works in the context of the film as well - she can see right through his disguises and finds stringing him along hilarious. Clouseau of course is totally oblivious...

[–] csteph23 14 years ago

The laughter fits, it would be hard to keep a straight face being around Peter Sellers and his antics.

[–] wez655321 14 years ago

choking on her drink is either incredible good luck or incredible comic timing.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] HalRagland 13 years ago

Her character knows its the bumbling Clouseau investigating her and her husband, while Clouseau has no idea that he is the worst uncover cop in the world. Of course, Schell's laughter is genuine. Most people found Sellers as Clouseau funny.