The Inspector, was never named as such within the cartoon, but he was clearly based on the bumbling Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther Films. The cartoon was a theatrical short of five minutes, that involved the Inspector re-canting the tales of his various adventures he had been involved in whilst working for the French Police. Generally speaking the bad-guys always seem to get the better of the Inspector, which more often than not he will blame on his Spanish Side-Kick Deux-Deux. The other main character within the cartoon was the Commissioner, who always hit the roof when he found out that the Inspector had bungled another case.
The five minute shorts were shown as part of the The Pink Panther Show, in the late seventies and early eighties along with some new episodes, designed specifically for the show in which the Inspector is trying to hunt down the Pink Panther. The great title soundtrack to the cartoon is by Henry Mancini and is called 'A Shot in the Dark' taken for the 1964 film of the same name. Apparently the first episode of the Inspector ('The Great DeGaulle Stone Operation') was played in cinemas as the theatrical short before the James Bond film 'ThunderBall'. I've been re-watching these cartoons as part of writing this page, and I must admit that they are still very funny to watch as an adult today. These cartoon shorts have stood the test of time, alongside the other great DePatie Freleng shorts from the same era, such as the Ant and the Aardark and Crazy Legs Crane, well worth watching again!
The Inspector
The Inspector was the hero fo the show, and also the narrator of the cartoonto the audience. Most of the episodes involve the Inspector recounting the adventures, or more accurately misadventures of the various cases he has undertaken whilst working for the French Police.
Deux-Deux
Deux-Deux is the Inspector's Spansih Side-kick. He follows the Inspector around, with rarely a complaint, although he often has to take the brunt of the Inspector's anger when something goes wrong.
The Commissioner
This is the guy that bizarrely keeps giving cases to the Inspector, despite the fact that they all seem to go wrong! The Commissioner appears to be about five times the size of the Inspector, and he is the one that the Inspector always has to go back and deliver the bad news to.
Voices: Pat Harrington Junior, Paul Frees, Larry Storch, Paul Frees, Marvin Miller
1968
24London Derriere(GC) - Having chased jewel thief Louie Le Swine around the world, the Inspector tries to nab him in London. Unfortunately, he runs afoul of the no-gun laws and a British Police Captain.
25 Les Miserobots(GC) - The Inspector is fired after being replaced by an efficient police robot. He tries to destroy it, but his attempts backfire. In the end the robot does such a good job that the Commissioner loses his job as well, and joins the Inspector in a skid-row soup kitchen.
26 Transylvania Mania(GC) - The Inspector is sent to find a scientist who is making monsters without a licence. The scientist is a vampire who needs a brain for his latest monster, and the Inspector arrives at just the right moment.
27 Bear De Guerre(GC) - The Inspector goes quail hunting but runs afoul of a disagreeable bear.
28 Cherche Le Phantom(GC') - The Inspector looks for the Phantom, and finds an escaped gorilla who happens to be an opera buff.
29 Le Great Dane Robbery(GC) - A stolen code book is hidden in an embassy, with a very large dog named "Tiny" guarding it.
30 Le Ball and Chain Gang(GC) - The Inspector tries to get into the house of an argumentative couple.
31 La Feet's Defeat(GC) - The Inspector and Deux-Deux follow the footprints ofMuddy La Feetand encounter many booby traps, which Deux-Deux sets off. The crook turns out to be the Commissioner, playing a prank on the Inspector.
1969
32 French Freud(GC) - A crooked Russian actress and her "maid" (i.e. husband in drag) are trying to kill the Inspector to get at the Du Barry diamond, which he is guarding under his hat.
33 Pierre and Cottage Cheese(GC) - The Inspector takes the very bad advice of a Chinese robot on how to break into a house where Dirty Pierre Le Punk is reportedly hiding.
34 Carte Blanched(GC) - The Inspector has a guilty conscience over an unreturned shopping cart, which everyone thinks he has stolen.
The Inspector: Episode Guide
In this format there were 34 epsisodes made in total. I have taken this episode guide from the excellent wikipedia page referenced in the resources section above. A few more episdoes in a slightly differnt format were made for the All New Pink Panther Show, later in the Seventies, where the Inspector is tracking down the Pink Panther, but these were not part of the original series of theatrical shorts.
1965
01The Great DeGaulle Stone Operation(FF) - The Inspector guards the famous diamond from the three-headed jewel thief (the Brothers Matz-O'Reilly, individually named Weft, Wight and Wong).
1966
02 Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat(GC) - The Inspector is after the notorious smuggler Captain Clamity (a clam with legs).
03 Napoleon Blown-Aparte(GC) - A mad bomber escapes from Le Prison and wants to get even with the man who put him there, the Commissioner. With an endless supply of bombs, he keeps blowing the Commissioner up, with the Inspector's unwitting help. In the end the villain is revealed to be an anthropomorphic bomb who detonates himself.
04Cirrhosis of the Louvre(GC) - The Blotch (a red blob of paint) threatens to steal all the paintings from the Louvre.
05 Plastered in Paris(GC) - The Inspector chases the man known as "X" around the world.
06Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux(RM) - The huge diamond 'The Plymouth Rock' has been stolen and the suspects are chickens.
07 Ape Suzette(GC) - The Inspector thinks he is fighting a little man but an ape gets in all the punches.
08 The Pique Poquette of Paris(GS) - Spider Pierre (who has four arms and a spider-web gun) picks pockets, especially those of the Inspector.
09 Sicque! Sicque! Sicque!(GS) - In the house of a mad scientist, Deux Deux drinks a flask of something and keeps changing into a big green monster who beats up and shoots the Inspector.
10 That's No Lady - That's Notre Dame(GS) - Trying to catch a purse snatcher, the Inspector disguises himself as a woman and falls afoul of the Commissioner's wife.
11 Unsafe and Seine(GS) - The Inspector is told his life is in danger and he must meet with an agent.
12 Toulouse La Trick(RM) - The Inspector handcuffs himself to Toulouse Le Moose and throws away the key so he cannot escape him. Toulouse drags the handcuffed Inspector through very rough terrain.
1967
13 Sacre Bleu Cross(GC) - When they go afterHassan the Assassin, Deux-Deux gives The Inspector an unlucky rabbit's foot.
14 Le Quiet Squad(RM) - The Commissioner is overworked and needs absolute quiet or he goes into uncontrolled fits of temper. The Inspector is assigned to look after him, but has trouble with a noisy cat.
15 Bomb Voyage(RM) - The Inspector and Deux-Deux go to the planet Yornova to rescue the Commissioner, who has been kidnapped by aliens.
16 Le Pig-Al Patrol(GC) - The Inspector is sent after biker Pig Al and his biker gang.
17 Le Bowser Bagger(GC) - The Inspector is given Private Bowser, a very energetic dog, in his efforts to track down a thief.
18 Le Cop on Le Rocks(GS) - The Inspector is mistaken for a bank robber who is his double.
19 Le Escape Goat(GC) - Sacked for letting Louie Le Fink escape, the Inspector tries to stop Le Fink from taking vengeance on the Commissioner.
20 Crow De Guerre(GC) - The Inspector is continually outwitted by a crow that steals jewels.
21 Canadian Can-Can(GC) - Sent to Canada on an exchange programme, the Inspector is sent after Two-Faced Harry, who has an "innocent" face on his front and an evil face on his back.
22 Tour De Farce(GC) - Through his own fault, the Inspector is stranded onDeserted Islandwith the convict Mack Le Truck, who is trying to kill him.
23 The Shooting of Caribou Lou(GC) - On holiday in Canada as a Mountie, the Inspector is kidnapped by the diminutive but aggressive fur trapper Caribou Lou.
