About A Shot in the Dark (HBO)

A Shot in the Dark is the second and perhaps most famous entry in the Pink Panther film series, released in 1964. The movie was directed by Blake Edwards and featured Peter Sellers as the hilarious Inspector Jacques Clouseau. In a delightful combination of murder, mystery, and comedy, Clouseau investigates the death of a Spanish chauffeur at a French mansion while unexpectedly getting romanced.

Making / Production

The film is based on the play L'Idiote by Marcel Achard and was adapted to the screen by Blake Edwards and William Peter Blatty. A Shot in the Dark was filmed primarily in France with a runtime of 102 minutes. The film demonstrated Edwards' expertise at sophisticated slapstick humor and marked the return of Peter Sellers' character from the first Pink Panther film.

Actors

• Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Sellers provided his trademark slapstick humour and absurdity.
• Elke Sommer as Maria Gambrelli, the prime suspect in the murder, whose allure confounds Clouseau's investigation.
• George Sanders as Benjamin Ballon, the wealthy owner of the crime scene mansion, displaying a classic dry wit.
• Herbert Lom as Charles Dreyfus, Clouseau's superior, exasperated by Clouseau's eccentricities.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• A Shot in the Dark was not initially intended to feature Inspector Clouseau. However, due to the popularity of the character from the first film, the original script was adjusted to include him.
• The film introduced the character of Charles Dreyfus (Clouseau’s boss), a staple in the later Pink Panther films.
• This film was the start of a series of sequels based solely on the character of Jacques Clouseau.

Awards

Despite its popularity and critical success, A Shot in the Dark did not receive any major award nominations. However, it is frequently listed among the top comedy films of all time.

Quotes

• Inspector Jacques Clouseau: "A beekeeper who has lost his voice, a cook who thinks he's a gardener, and a witness to a murder. Oh yes. It is obvious to my trained eye that there is much more going on here than meets the ear."
• Maria Gambrelli: "You've ruined that piano!" Clouseau: "What is the price of one piano compared to the terrible crime that's been committed here?"

Music, Soundtrack

• Henry Mancini composed the music for A Shot in the Dark, following on from his success with the original Pink Panther theme.
• The soundtrack includes a combination of jazz, pop, and orchestral music, perfectly complimenting the quirky, chaotic nature of the film.