A Shot in the Dark Overview:

A Shot in the Dark (1964) was a Comedy - Family Film directed by Blake Edwards and produced by Blake Edwards.

The film was based on the play L'Idiote written by Harry Kurnitz performed at the Booth Theatre, NY from Oct 18, 1961 - Sep 22, 1962.

SYNOPSIS

The second installment in the Inspector Clouseau series established Sellers' bumbling detective as one of classic film's most hilariously slapstick characters. In this madcap comedy-murder mystery, Clouseau is determined to prove the beautiful maid in a French estate (Sommer) has been framed for the murder of her lover, though every clue points directly to her. The high points include a chase through a nudist camp and the explosive finale. Probably the best in the series. Note the coauthor: Blatty, who would later pen The Exorcist.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

BlogHub Articles:

Sleuthathon: A Classic Mystery Blogathon – A Shot in the Dark’s Inspector Clouseau

By Annmarie Gatti on Mar 16, 2014 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

“I believe everything and I believe nothing. I suspect everyone and I suspect no one. I gather the facts, examine the clues, and before you know it, the case is solved.” – Inspector Jacques Clouseau ?….. The original Inspector Clouseau played by the inimitable Peter Sellers,... Read full article


A Shot in the Dark (1964)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Sep 25, 2013 From 4 Star Films

Starring a cast including Peter Sellers, Elke Sommers, Herbert Lom, and George Sanders, this comedy-mystery opens with several bustling individuals in a mansion, followed by a gunshot. A pretty maid who was found with the gun is assumed to be guilty, but the bumbling Inspector Clouseau thinks otherw... Read full article


A Shot in the Dark (1964)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Sep 25, 2013 From 4 Star Films

Starring a cast including Peter Sellers, Elke Sommers, Herbert Lom, and George Sanders, this comedy-mystery opens with several bustling individuals in a mansion, followed by a gunshot. A pretty maid who was found with the gun is assumed to be guilty, but the bumbling Inspector Clouseau thinks otherw... Read full article


A Shot in the Dark

By RBuccicone on Nov 19, 2010 From MacGuffin Movies

A Shot in the Dark (1964) ???? Unlike The Thin Man movies, the series of films following the bumbling French detective Jacques Clouseau opted not to fashion the titles of the sequels off the first. The Pink Panther title refers to a priceless gem featured only in the initial film, similar to how the... Read full article


See all A Shot in the Dark articles

Quotes from

Maria Gambrelli: You can have one of my cigarettes.
Clouseau: Oh, thank you.
Maria Gambrelli:You have it in backwards.
Clouseau: Oh... it tastes very bad that way.


Maria Gambrelli: Tell me, why do so many men smoke afterwards? No wonder tobacco companies get rich.


Clouseau: [after bumping into Hercule] You fool! I could have killed you with a karatay chop-uh! [tries to leave and runs into him again] You fool! You're off the case!


read more quotes from A Shot in the Dark...

Facts about

This film was originally meant to have been an adaptation of the stage play by Harry Kurnitz. Walter Matthau and Peter Sellers were to have been the detectives, but Sellers did not like how things were going and wanted out. United Artists brought in Blake Edwards to keep Sellers on the project. Edwards looked at the script and thought that it might be better suited to the character of Inspector Jacques Clouseau, and rewrote the entire script with a young William Peter Blatty. It was released only three months after the original The Pink Panther.
The film was adapted from the play "A Shot in the Dark" by Marcel Achard which opened at the Booth Theater on October 18, 1961 and ran for 389 performances closing on September 22, 1962. The original cast included Walter Matthau (Winner of 1962 Tony Award® Best Featured Actor in a Play), Julie Harris, William Shatner and Gene Saks.
Contrary to the oft-repeated rumor that "A Shot in the Dark" was filmed prior to The Pink Panther, it did not go before the cameras until September of 1963, the same month "The Pink Panther" was being previewed in Hollywood.
read more facts about A Shot in the Dark...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
book or play


See All Film Adaptations >>
Also directed by Blake Edwards




More about Blake Edwards >>
Also produced by Blake Edwards




More about Blake Edwards >>
Related Lists
Create a list


See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1964




See All 1964 films >>
More "Slapstick" films



See All "Slapstick" films >>
More "Detectives" films



See All "Detectives" films >>
More "Based on Play" films



See All "Based on Play" films >>