Known formally as William the Conqueror, his pet name to Gen. Patton was simply Willie...Patton's staff purchased Willie on March 4, 1944, in England, and Gen. Patton wrote in his diary concerning the dog...My bull pup took to me like a duck to water.
Herbert Lom reprises his role as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus from A Shot in the Dark; he remained a regular thereafter. The character of Sir Charles Lytton, the notorious Phantom, is now played by Christopher Plummer rather than David Niven (as in The Pink Panther, 1963), who was unavailable. The Pink Panther diamond once again plays a central role in the plot.
The Return of the Pink Panther is the fourth movie in the Pink Panther franchise, marking Peter Sellers' return to what must be his signature role, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Previously, Alan Arkin had stepped into his shoes for one movie, apparently with bad results.