Trivia: In the restaurant scene near the beginning of the film, the actor playing the waiter accidentally flips the corner of the menu in Steve McQueen's eye, but it was left in the finished film.
Trivia: The first choice for actors to play Colombo was Bing Crosby.
Trivia: The director, Carol Reed, is actually Oliver Reed's (portrays Bill Sikes) uncle.
Trivia: This film is a notable first in the "Pink Panther" series for three reasons. It was the first film not to feature Peter Sellers in the title role, the first not directed by Blake Edwards, and the first in which Henry Mancini did not provide the music score. All three were unavailable as they were involved with the film The Party (1968).