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).

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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


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Quotes from

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


Dreyfus: If someone has been murdered here, please let it be Clouseau.


Clouseau: Uh... What was I saying? Uh... Listen, you, you daydreaming fool, what are you doing there? I mean, can't you pay attention when I'm talking? Don't know know what I was saying? You're not listening to me.
Maurice: With the greatest respect, monsieur, I heard every word that you said.
Clouseau: Would you be kind enough to tell me what it was that I said?
Maurice:You were talking about the closet, monsieur...
Clouseau: Uhhh, yes?
Maurice: You were saying that when the closet door was open, Maria received a bump on the head, and from that that you inferred that someone had been hiding in the closet, monsieur...
Clouseau: Yes, she received a bump on - And, listen, monsieur, next time I may test you without warning!


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Facts about

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.
Of the 9 murders committed in the film, four of them are victims of Dreyfus, and the only other murder not related to the mansion itself is that of the crow that Inspector Clouseau shoots. Clouseau is the only character who kills a non-human character, and Dreyfus is the only character who kills more than one person.
According to Blake Edwards in the DVD boxed set documentary, a week into filming, Peter Sellers disappeared. When he returned, from an apparent holiday, Edwards was ready to kill him until Sellers told him of a peculiar hotel manager he met who had a funny French accent which Sellers was to give to the Clouseau character....Thus was born Clouseau's trademark odd pronunciations such as "beump" for bump and "meuths" for moths.
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