I am a giant fan of both Sellers and Arkin. And I also think that "Being There" was Sellers best. I was apprehensive to watch this film again, because the first time I watched it with two great friends (25 years ago), we were in a continues unstoppable laughing fit, that started when he fell of the plane. I was afraid I wouldn't laugh this time. Well, I was wrong. Still very funny and I laughed out loud, for real. Favorite scenes: shooting Peppe with belt buckle when he wins the plum pudding and the 'jacks' scene. I loved the 'jacks' scene and wish I was in it. Arkin (during subsequent fight) "OK, I'll take 20 points off me score." (Maybe not an exact quote.)
I laughed a lot last night.
I loved the first two "Pink Panther" films. Has anyone ever seen the Sellers' movie "The Party?" For me it was slow.
Also, there was lots of little funny pieces of dialog, that seem to go by too quickly;
"There is a time for laughing and a time for not laughing
and this is not one of them."   See 3 other replies

Fair enough. It is not Sellers-Edwards / Pink Panther. I do think Alan Arkin holds his own in his interpretation. Clouseau is just a character. I like both versions and laughed at both. Which Bond do you like? Which Hamlet do you fancy? Laurence Olivier or Kenneth Brannah? Captain Kirk or Picard? The same holds true for comedy directors. I'm not so keen on Blake Edwards and I think "Being There" was Sellers greatest movie. All a matter of taste and to each his own.   See 3 other replies