The Pink Panther 2

As the French government's most elusive thief, "The Tornado" orchestrates a global expanse of daring heists, prompting an elite assemblage of investigators to converge on the scene. Meanwhile, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is plucked from his mundane duties as a parking officer by Chief Inspector Dreyfus and reassigned to join the Dream Team in Japan, where The Tornado's latest escapade has left authorities reeling. As Clouseau navigates the borders of France at an airport gate, news breaks of the Pink Panther diamond's pilferage, setting the stage for a cat-and-mouse game that will span continents.

Upon arriving in Rome, the Dream Team – comprising Detective Chief Inspector Randall Pepperidge from Great Britain; Vincenzo Brancaleoni, a shrewd businessman from Italy; Kenji Mazuto, a brilliant technology expert from Japan; and Sonia Solandres, a renowned criminologist from India – sets its sights on Alonso Avellaneda, a suspected black market fence. Assuming the role of The Tornado's doppelganger, the team questions Avellaneda, only to be foiled by his lack of the distinctive bullet wound that has become an indelible mark on The Tornado's notorious past.

As Clouseau and his partner Ponton (Herbert Lom) attempt to gather intelligence from afar, their mission is compromised when they stumble upon Vincenzo and Nicole (Carol Lynley), Clouseau's long-suffering girlfriend, enjoying a meal at the very same restaurant where The Tornado has set his sights. In a bold move, Clouseau dons a disguise as a dancer and covertly switches an audio bug to Nicole's table, unwittingly setting in motion a chain of events that will ultimately culminate in chaos.

As The Tornado's brazen heists continue, the Dream Team is faced with mounting public pressure and ridicule. In a stunning turn of events, Clouseau's hapless antics prove the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back, earning him a spot on the chopping block as a member of the team. It isn't until the discovery of The Tornado's lifeless body and the cryptic note he left behind – proclaiming his destruction of the Pink Panther diamond as an act of reverence for its unparalleled beauty – that the Dream Team begins to unravel the tangled threads of the case.

As Clouseau remains skeptical about the official verdict, a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a crucial key recovered from the Pope's Chambers. A DNA match with the bullet wound left on The Tornado's person years prior serves as the final piece of the puzzle, allowing the Dream Team to claim victory over their elusive quarry. However, Clouseau's innate distrust and penchant for chaos ensure that the mystery will continue to simmer beneath the surface, leaving the door open for further intrigue and mayhem.

As the celebration honoring the Dream Team's exploits reaches its climax, Clouseau finds himself unwelcome at the festivities. His wandering gaze falls upon Sonia's license plate, prompting him to dispatch Ponton on a discreet reconnaissance mission. Unbeknownst to the group, Clouseau shares his suspicions with Dreyfus, only to be met with skepticism. The bumbling detective then presents his theory to the team, who humorously concoct a plausible explanation for Sonia's involvement: her intimate connection with The Tornado granted her an unparalleled understanding of his modus operandi, allowing her to orchestrate the thefts and leave herself free to peddle the diamond. Nicole's growing unease prompts her to request Sonia empty her purse, but initially, she rebuffs the demand. As tensions escalate, Sonia produces a firearm, threatening to silence Nicole before taking aim at Clouseau. However, the bullet intended for the detective ricochets harmlessly off his Légion d'honneur medal.

In the ensuing chaos, the Dream Team finds themselves beset by a series of mishaps courtesy of Clouseau's ineptitude. Cornered and desperate, Sonia brandishes the diamond, taunting its destruction before Ponton intervenes, rendering her unconscious and securing her arrest. As it becomes clear that Sonia has destroyed a mere replica, Clouseau reveals he had secretly safeguarded the genuine article to protect it from harm. The original Pink Panther, cleverly substituted with a fake at the museum, was merely a pawn in his plan to mislead. Furthermore, as The Tornado would have been an expert on gems, their supposed suicide note only served to reinforce Clouseau's conviction that they had been murdered. A crucial piece of evidence surfaces: Clouseau had inadvertently provided Sonia with a parking ticket the day prior to the diamond's theft, rendering her alibi for the crime scene utterly compromised.

As the dust settles, Clouseau and Nicole exchange vows in a ceremony officiated by Dreyfus and attended by the Dream Team. However, their joyous occasion is abruptly disrupted when Dreyfus, in his enthusiasm, inadvertently shatters a security camera with a champagne cork, summoning the black berets. Amidst the ensuing pandemonium, Clouseau and Nicole make their hasty exit for their honeymoon, as the animated Pink Panther invites himself to the revelry.