Shot In The Dark, A (US)

Peter Sellers always said that he would not do sequels because he did not want to replay the same character. All that good intention came to nothing when Blake Edwards asked him to reprise Inspector Clouseau for 'A Shot In the Dark'. Just as 'The Pink Panther' was getting ready for release United Artists asked Blake Edwards to make a film out of the English version of a French farce 'L'Ideot' by Marcel Achard, whether by accident, or during re-writes with co-writer William Peter Blatty, Edwards saw that the inspector in the play was ideal for Inspector Clouseau and his friend Peter Sellers. The rest - as they say - is history.

Without a doubt, 'A Shot In the Dark' is the finest and funniest of all of Inspector Clouseau's film outings.

The plot of 'A Shot In the Dark' finds Clouseau (accidentally) assigned to a high profile murder investigation. The case seems so simple, that even an idiot could solve it. Well, almost any idiot would be able to solve the case, especially since all of the evidence points to a single suspect who was discovered standing over the body with the smoking gun still in her hands. But then again, Inspector Clouseau isn't your average idiot.

'A Shot In the Dark' stars Elke Sommer as Maria Gambrelli, the beautiful murder suspect whom Clouseau releases from jail, because he is sure that she will lead him to the real culprit; and marks the first appearance of Herbert Lom as Dreyfus - although in this film he is Commissioner Dreyfus - the character that became Clouseau`s nemesis in the rest the 'Pink Panther' films. Herbert Lom`s performance in 'A Shot In the Dark' is as wonderful as that of Peter Sellers for the moments of slapstick hilarity. The film also introduces the character of Kato (Burt Kwouk), Clouseau`s manservant and equally inept sparring partner in the martial arts. George Sanders as the aloof M. Ballon, head of the house and Graham Stark as Clouseau's assistant Hercule make this much, much more that just a star vehicle .

Like a lot of MGM Region 1 DVD's 'A Shot In the Dark' available in both wide screen and full screen presentations on opposite sides of the DVD. Since Blake Edwards is a master of utilizing the entire 2.35:1 Panavision frame, avoid the horribly cropped full screen version at all costs. 'A Shot In the Dark' has been given a 16:9 enhanced presentation, something that 'The Pink Panther'; 'The Return of The Pink Panther' and 'The Pink Panther Strikes Again' lack. The transfer provides a sharp, pleasing image with good detail. Colour reproduction is good considering that Deluxe film elements from this period usually appear horribly faded. However, saturation is nowhere as intense as it would have been if 'A Shot In the Dark' had been filmed in Technicolor. The black level is very accurate and the image has consistently good contrast. Digital compression artefacts never really made the presence known.

The Dolby mono soundtrack is very clean and worth amplifying for Henry Mancini's enchanting score. There is also a French language soundtrack and English and French subtitles. The interactive menus are amusingly designed and feature animation, music and full motion video. A very funny theatrical trailer is the only official extra, but there is an easter egg.

I love all the 'original' Peter Sellers 'Pink Panther' films but 'A Shot In the Dark' has made into my ymdb top twenty.