A Shot in the Dark

Name: A Shot in the Dark
Genre: Mystery, Comedy
Released: June 23, 1964
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Ann Lynn, Elke Sommer, George Sanders, Graham Stark, Herbert Lom

1964

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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A Shot In The Dark (Home Ent. Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: June 23, 1964 | TV-PG

Starring: Ann Lynn, Elke Sommer, George Sanders, Graham Stark, Herbert Lom, Maurice Kaufmann, Moira Redmond, Peter Sellers, Tracy Reed, Vanda Godsell

Summary: Inspector Jacques Clouseau investigates the murder of Mr. Benjamin Ballon's driver at a country estate.

Director: Blake Edwards

Genre(s): Mystery, Comedy

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 102 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The picture is filled with one sight gag after another, many familiar to anyone old enough to remember the glory days of silent comedy. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

The whole thing is colorful, gay — and Henry Mancini's music is as sassy and frivolous as the film. Read full review

The Telegraph Martin Chilton

Elke Sommer is good as the devious maid Maria Gambrelli but it is Sellers who steals the show as the inept detective fumbling and bumbling his way around solving murder mysteries. Read full review

Empire Bob Mccabe

Unlike in The Pink Panther, Clouseau was the real star here. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Sometimes the narrative is subordinated to individual bits of business and running gags but Sellers’ skill as a comedian again is demonstrated, and Sommer, in role of the chambermaid who moves all men to amorous thoughts and sometimes murder, is pert and expert. Read full review

Dave Kehr

This isn't quite up to the original, but it has its moments, as Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) sets out to solve a murder in an English country house. Read full review

Todd Gilchrist

Ultimately, A Shot in the Dark is not superior to The Pink Panther, as many have suggested, but a somewhat predictably derivative sequel that maintains its predecessor's form but not substance. Read full review

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 21, 2021

This is one of the funnier Pink Panther films, even though it isn't obvious from the title that it is a Pink Panther film. I believe it's the first outing for Jack Clouseau, featuring the animated cartoon detective during the title sequence. the comedy is slapstick and thus visual in natureThis is one of the funnier Pink Panther films, even though it isn't obvious from the title that it is a Pink Panther film. I believe it's the first outing for Jack Clouseau, featuring the animated cartoon detective during the title sequence. the comedy is slapstick and thus visual in nature - I certainly enjoyed it. It may be a bit basic for some but I felt quite entertained by it. I particularly enjoyed seeing Charles frustration at Clouseau continuing to be involved in the criminial investigation. I like Clouseau's quips and the characters and their interactions with one another were both amusing and entertaining and so I would recommend it, yes.… Expand

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FilipeNeto

Apr 23, 2022

An excellent comedy.

I was very happy with this movie. It is the second in the “Pink Panther” franchise, and it is curious that it was not made with the intention of being part of it, but only a work of adaptation for the cinema of material that had been successful in the theater. ReleasedAn excellent comedy.

I was very happy with this movie. It is the second in the “Pink Panther” franchise, and it is curious that it was not made with the intention of being part of it, but only a work of adaptation for the cinema of material that had been successful in the theater. Released a few months after the first film, it gave more relevance to the character of Inspector Clouseau and bet heavily on non-sense humor. The result is a better and more entertaining film than its predecessor.

The very entertaining plot of this film is based on an investigation into a murder. Clouseau will immediately bet that the prime suspect is, after all, innocent, and intent on covering up and aiding the real killer. He then decides to follow her everywhere, including to nudist colonies. In the meantime, he will manage to drive the rest of the French police out of their minds, and be arrested several times and in the most unusual ways.

The film is not perfect: the plot, I have to admit, is sparse, serving only to support a succession of comic routines that, in fact, make the film worthwhile. The absurd jokes and silly situations work very well, especially when coupled with the remarkable performance and effort of the protagonist, Peter Sellers. The actor is perfectly at ease and uses all his capacity for comic improvisation, being very well assisted by Elke Sommer, who gives life to the main suspect, Maria Gambrelli. George Sanders and Herbert Lom also leave us an excellent work here.

Technically, it's a regular film in most respects, from cinematography to scenery and costumes to editing. The soundtrack brings some interesting melodies, as is the case of “Shadows of Paris” and the opening credits song, which are another of the points that value this film.… Expand

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