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IMDbPro

A Shot in the Dark

  • 19641964
  • PGPG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
29K
YOUR RATING
Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
Inspector Jacques Clouseau investigates the murder of Mr. Benjamin Ballon's driver at a country estate.
Play trailer3:46
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyMystery
A clumsy, inept detective is hired to investigate the murder of a chauffeur at a country home.A clumsy, inept detective is hired to investigate the murder of a chauffeur at a country home.A clumsy, inept detective is hired to investigate the murder of a chauffeur at a country home.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
29K
YOUR RATING
    • Blake Edwards
  • Writers
    • Blake Edwards(screenplay)
    • William Peter Blatty(screenplay)
    • Harry Kurnitz(based upon the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Elke Sommer
    • George Sanders
    • Blake Edwards
  • Writers
    • Blake Edwards(screenplay)
    • William Peter Blatty(screenplay)
    • Harry Kurnitz(based upon the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Elke Sommer
    • George Sanders
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 164User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:46
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos124

    Peter Sellers and George Sanders in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Elke Sommer in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers, George Sanders, and Tracy Reed in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers and Burt Kwouk in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers and Howard Greene in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Herbert Lom, Reginald Beckwith, and André Maranne in A Shot in the Dark (1964)
    Peter Sellers and Graham Stark in A Shot in the Dark (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Jacques Clouseau
    Elke Sommer
    Elke Sommer
    • Maria Gambrelli
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Benjamin Ballon
    Herbert Lom
    Herbert Lom
    • Charles Dreyfus
    Tracy Reed
    Tracy Reed
    • Dominique Ballon
    Graham Stark
    Graham Stark
    • Hercule LaJoy
    Moira Redmond
    Moira Redmond
    • Simone
    Vanda Godsell
    Vanda Godsell
    • Madame LaFarge
    Maurice Kaufmann
    Maurice Kaufmann
    • Pierre
    Ann Lynn
    Ann Lynn
    • Dudu
    David Lodge
    David Lodge
    • Georges
    André Maranne
    André Maranne
    • Francois
    Martin Benson
    Martin Benson
    • Maurice
    Burt Kwouk
    Burt Kwouk
    • Cato
    Reginald Beckwith
    Reginald Beckwith
    • Receptionist at Nudist Camp
    Douglas Wilmer
    Douglas Wilmer
    • Henri LaFarge
    Bryan Forbes
    Bryan Forbes
    • Camp Attendant
    • (as Turk Thrust)
    Andre Charisse
    Andre Charisse
    • Game Warden
    • (as André Charise)
      • Blake Edwards
    • Writers
      • Blake Edwards(screenplay)
      • William Peter Blatty(screenplay)
      • Harry Kurnitz(based upon the stage play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The "synchronize the watches" dialogue was improvised by Peter Sellers and Graham Stark.
    • Goofs
      Clouseau falls into the fountain at the beginning. Yet when he puts a lit lighter into his wet coat it catches on fire.
    • Quotes

      Dreyfus: Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world.

    • Crazy credits
      The title sequence is of an animated Inspector Clouseau bumbling around, getting into scrapes.
    • Connections
      Edited into Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Shadows of Paris
      Music by Henry Mancini

      Lyrics by Robert Wells

      Performed by Gina Carroll

    User reviews164

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    The funniest detective comedy.
    Based on the French play 'L'Idiote' authored by Marcel Achard and adapted to the American stage by Harry Kurnitz, 'A Shot in the Dark' features Peter Sellers in the lead role of an Inspector with such gifted detective instincts that if he says he can solve a case within "2 seconds", it requires him to experiment with his profound investigative prowess in a full-length feature film to solve it.

    'Give me 10 men like Clouseau, and I could destroy the world!' Yes, this great one-liner, uttered by Chief Inspector Dreyfus in a great deal of dismay, indeed outlines the wacky character of 'Inspector Jacques Clouseau' played by Sellers.

    'A Shot in the Dark' is the second installment of the 'Pink Panther' Series, and the funniest of them all. The plot is simple, and goes on like this. Inspector Clouseau is sent to the Ballon residence to investigate the murder of Mr. Ballon's Spanish chauffeur Miguel. The Inspector instantly falls in love with the charming maid, Maria Gambrelli, towards whom all the evidences point a finger. But, Clouseau strongly believes that someone else is the murderer who framed her for murder. He thinks she might know something about it. So he releases her from jail and spies on her. Ill-fated circumstances prevent the Insp from successfully spying her moves, and eventually more murders take place. Is she really the murderer? If not, who framed her? Why would anyone kill a chauffeur? And finally, the most important question.. Will Clouseau be able to solve the case?

    As the great Inspector along with his assistant, Hercule LaJoy, solemnly embark on his mission to solve the case, peril seems to find its way one way or the other and ride upon his shoulders, except for when his boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus, is around of course. To Dreyfus just the name of Clouseau is enough to ruin his day. He can't stand sight of Clouseau and hates "every little bit" of him for every time they meet, poor Dreyfus is thrown into the face of adversity within no time, and has to undergo tremendous agony.

    All the actors performed well, but it is Sellers who stole the show as the inept detective fumbling and bumbling his way around solving murder mysteries, but mostly bumping into furnitures, snagging crucial areas of his clothes, falling out of windows, pursuing Miss Sommer to a nudist camp and what not.

    There is nothing wrong with the Blake Edwards' direction and screenplay. Editing was also upto the mark. Henry Mancini's music, I must also add, is as sassy and frivolous as the film.

    The only few minor drawbacks of this film are: Number one, Some portions are repetitive. Like for example, Inspector Clouseau got arrested more than a couple of times for not obtaining selling license in order to sell stuffs such as balloons, paintings, etc. Number two, few comic scenes were way too predictable. You could see them coming. And number three, the ambiguous ending which might leave some audiences wondering who actually murdered whom.

    8/10
    helpful•21
    5
    • PrinceWin
    • Aug 17, 2015

    FAQ1

    • In the Flamenco scene, what does the female lead dancer say?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 23, 1965 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Luton Hoo Estate, Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • The Mirisch Corporation
      • Mirisch Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 42 minutes
      • Color

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