A SHOT IN THE DARK (1964, UK/USA, 103m, PG) ****
Comedy, Mystery
dist. United Artists; pr co. The Mirisch Corporation; d. Blake Edwards; w. Blake Edwards, William Peter Blatty (based on the play by Harry Kurnitz from the play ‘L’idiote’ by Marcel Achard); pr. Blake Edwards; ph. Christopher Challis (DeLuxe | 2.35:1); m. Henry Mancini; ed. Bert Bates, Ralph E. Winters; pd. Michael Stringer.
cast: Peter Sellers (Jacques Clouseau), Elke Sommer (Maria Gambrelli), George Sanders (Benjamin Ballon), Herbert Lom (Charles Dreyfus), Tracy Reed (Dominique Ballon), Graham Stark (Hercule LaJoy), Moira Redmond (Simone), Vanda Godsell (Madame LaFarge), Maurice Kaufmann (Pierre), Ann Lynn (Dudu), David Lodge (Georges), André Maranne (Francois), Martin Benson (Maurice), Burt Kwouk (Kato), Reginald Beckwith (Receptionist at Nudist Camp), Douglas Wilmer (Henri LaFarge), Bryan Forbes (Camp Attendant), Andre Charisse (Game Warden), Howard Greene (Gendarme), John Herrington (The Doctor).
A swift follow-up to THE PINK PANTHER (1963) sees Sellers return as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, who is called to a house where a murder was committed and finds that every clue points to the beautiful maid, Maria (Sommer). As more people are killed, each set of clues always points to Maria, and Clouseau continues to release her and escort her around town. Sellers adds the finishing touches to the character he created just the previous year, and the result is a very funny comedy mystery. Crammed with excellent visual gags, it allows Sellers to flesh out his repertoire. Great support from Lom, as Clouseau’s increasingly unhinged boss, and Sommer as the charming maid Clouseau looks to protect. Followed by INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU (1969).
