 The movie was completed before _Pink Panther, The (1963)_ (qv), but  shelved because the studio didnt think it was any good. The success  of the first film made the executives decide to release the shelved  film. This also explains the short time span between the release of  the first film and this one and the absence of Kato in the original  but his appearance in this film and all the subsequent sequels.  Burt Kwouk (qv)s character is named "Kato" (later "Cato") after  the Asian sidekick in _Green Hornet, The (1940)_ (qv).