A Shot in the Dark (1964)
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- PG
- 1h 42min
- Comedy, Mystery
- 23 Jul 1965 (USA)
- Movie
A clumsy, inept detective is hired to investigate the murder of a chauffeur at a country home.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Peter Sellers | ... |
Jacques Clouseau
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| Elke Sommer | ... |
Maria Gambrelli
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| George Sanders | ... |
Benjamin Ballon
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| Herbert Lom | ... |
Charles Dreyfus
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| Tracy Reed | ... |
Dominique Ballon
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| Graham Stark | ... |
Hercule LaJoy
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| Moira Redmond | ... |
Simone
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| Vanda Godsell | ... |
Madame LaFarge
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| Maurice Kaufmann | ... |
Pierre
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| Ann Lynn | ... |
Dudu
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| David Lodge | ... |
Georges
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| André Maranne | ... |
Francois
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| Martin Benson | ... |
Maurice
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| Burt Kwouk | ... |
Cato
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| Reginald Beckwith | ... |
Receptionist at Nudist Camp
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| Douglas Wilmer | ... |
Henri LaFarge
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| Bryan Forbes | ... |
Camp Attendant
(as Turk Thrust)
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| Andre Charisse | ... |
Game Warden
(as André Charise)
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Howard Greene | ... |
Gendarme
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John Herrington | ... |
The Doctor
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| Jack Melford | ... |
The Psycho-Analyst
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Victor Baring | ... |
Taxi Driver
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| Victor Beaumont | ... |
Gendarme
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| Tutte Lemkow | ... |
Kazak Dancer
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| Hurtado de Córdoba | ... |
Flamenco Dancers & Guitarist
(as Hurtado De Cordoba Ballet)
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Fred Hugh | ... |
Balding Customer
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Rose Hill | ... |
Soprano
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Tahitian Dance Group | ... |
Tahitian Dance Group
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Lewis Alexander | ... |
Amused Pedestrian (uncredited)
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Maurice Bush | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Tony Castleton | ... |
Nudist Band Member (uncredited)
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| Pauline Chamberlain | ... |
Woman looking in Maria Gamhrelli's Car (uncredited)
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Mike Conner | ... |
Spanish Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Dan Cressey | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron / Recital Patron (uncredited)
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Dan Darnelli | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Fred Davis | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Joe Dunne | ... |
Gendarme (uncredited)
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Mabel Etherington | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Peter Evans | ... |
Coroner (uncredited)
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Joyce Everson | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Walter Henry | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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George Holdcroft | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Lindsay Hooper | ... |
French Police Inspector (uncredited)
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John Howard | ... |
Hawaian Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Jack Lambert | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Aileen Lewis | ... |
Recital Attendee (uncredited)
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Leonard Llewellyn | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Nosher Powell | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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Charles Price | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Pat Ryan | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Peggy Scott Sanders | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Arnold Schulkes | ... |
Nudist (uncredited)
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| Jeff Silk | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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William F. Sully | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Pat Symons | ... |
Recital Patron (uncredited)
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| John Tatham | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Maisie Trent | ... |
Amused Pedestrian (uncredited)
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Pearl Walters | ... |
Amused Pedestrian / Flamenco Audience (uncredited)
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John Wilder | ... |
Kazak Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Blake Edwards | ||
Written by
| Blake Edwards | ... | (screenplay) and |
| William Peter Blatty | ... | (screenplay) |
| Harry Kurnitz | ... | (based upon the stage play by) |
| Marcel Achard | ... | (from the play 'L'idiote') |
| Peter Sellers | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Blake Edwards | ... | producer |
| Cecil F. Ford | ... | associate producer |
| Walter Mirisch | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Henry Mancini | ||
Cinematography by
| Christopher Challis | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Bert Bates | ||
| Ralph E. Winters | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Elliott | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Martyn K.E. Green | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Michael Stringer | ||
Costume Design by
| Margaret Furse | ||
Production Management
| Denis Johnson | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Derek Cracknell | ... | assistant director |
| Cliff Castle | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| Terence Churcher | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Brian W. Cook | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| Denis Johnson Jr. | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Terry Ackland-Snow | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Charles Bishop | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Norman Dorme | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Denise Exshaw | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Mickey Pugh | ... | dressing props (uncredited) |
| Tony Rimmington | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Bramall | ... | sound recordist |
| Teddy Mason | ... | sound editor |
| J.B. Smith | ... | sound recordist |
| Timothy Gee | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
| Geoffrey Kidd | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Austin Dempster | ... | camera operator |
| Mike Drew | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Dennis Fraser | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Norman Gryspeerdt | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| John Jordan | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Skeets Kelly | ... | director of photography: second unit (uncredited) |
Animation Department
| George Dunning | ... | animation director (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Henry Mancini | ... | conductor |
| Douglas Gamley | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Henry Mancini | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone soloist (uncredited) |
| Eric Tomlinson | ... | music engineer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Connie Willis | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Eddie Frewin | ... | transportation chief (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Leland Hayward | ... | stage producer |
| Geoff Freeman | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Maurice Landsberger | ... | assistant production accountant (uncredited) |
| Golda Offenheim | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- The Mirisch Corporation (presents)
- Mirisch Films
Distributors
- United Artists (1964) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists de Mexico (1965) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1965) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1965) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1965) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- United Artists (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- CBS (1968) (United States) (tv) (pan/scan version)
- Magnetic Video (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1982) (Australia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1985) (United States) (VHS) (laserdisc)
- Warner Home Video (1988) (United Kingdom) (VHS) (pan/scan version)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Arthaus (2004) (Mexico) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Compañía General de la Imagen (CGI) (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical) (re-release)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (VHS)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray) (collector's edition)
- Shout! Factory (2017) (United States) (Blu-ray) (The Pink Panther Film Collection)
- Summer Classics (2021) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- ARTE (2022) (France) (tv)
- United Artists (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE) (titles)
- TVC London (animation production)
- C.T.S. Studios (music recorded at)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Westrex Recording System (recording system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Ballon household: Benjamin Ballon and his wife Madame Ballon, Henri Lafarge the head Butler and his wife Madame Lafarge the Cook, Miguel Ostos the Head Chauffeur, Maria Gambrelli the third maid, Pierre the second Chauffeur and his wife Dudo the head Maid, Georges the Gardener and his wife Simone the second Maid, Maurice the second Butler. Affairs: Monsieur Ballon and Maria, Maria and Miguel, Henri and Dudo, Madame Ballon and Henri, Pierre and Simone. Who killed who: Madame Ballon accidentally shot Miguel because she suspected her husband of having an affair with Maria and wanted to kill him. Madame LaFarge killed Georges because he threatened to break up with her. Simone killed Dudo to eliminate her because she was in the way of her affair with Pierre. Monsieur Ballon killed Henri because he was having an affair with his wife. Blackmailers: Georges blackmailing Monsieur Ballon (Seen leaving Maria's room). Maurice blackmailing Madame Ballon. (Seen leaving Maria's room). Written by Bert Weissensee |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The screen commits the perfect comedy! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The "synchronize the watches" dialogue was improvised by Peter Sellers and Graham Stark. See more » |
| Goofs | Clouseau falls into the fountain at the beginning. Yet when he puts a lit lighter into his wet coat it catches on fire. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Trail of the Pink Panther (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Shadows of Paris See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The title sequence is of an animated Inspector Clouseau bumbling around, getting into scrapes. See more » |
| Quotes |
Dreyfus:
Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world. See more » |