Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Sellers) is investigating murder at the home of millionaire Benjamin Ballon (Sanders). All the clues point to the maid, Maria Gambrelli (Sommer), who was found in her locked room with a literal smoking gun in her hand, and the victim was her abusive boyfriend. However, Clouseau is smitten with Maria and believes she is innocent.
His boss, Commissioner Charles Dreyfus (Lom), tries to take over the investigation, but is thwarted by higher powers. Dreyfus believes Clouseau is completely inept, "Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world!", but also marginally believes Clouseau could be right, and allows the case to continue, even as his blood pressure and sanity deteriorate.
Clouseau's assistant, Hercule (Stark), also questions his motives and contracting theories, but is willing to help with each assignment. Clouseau releases Maria from prison, believing that she is protecting someone else, and given the chance will go to or contact the real murderer. He follows her steps, even as the body count gets higher. Hercule is assigned to watch the rest of the staff at the Ballon estate, and bail Clouseau out of jail as needed.
As the case twists around, Clouseau wants to be ready for anything and orders his manservant, Kato (Kwouk), to help him prepare:
"We must accelerate out training program. You must learn to attack me whenever and wherever I least expect it. And you, you must give no quarter."
This is without a doubt, the BEST film in the Pink Panther series... and is also one of my favorite films! The original script was based on a play, and had nothing to do with Inspector Clouseau... Peter Sellers was to star, but he had the director replaced with Blake Edwards, who retooled the script into a Pink Panther film.
The script is great, winding around and keeping the audience (and police) from the truth, while providing alternate theories. The opening sequence shows the various affairs within the Ballon estate, as the staff and owners sneak in and out of rooms without detection... culminating in the actual murder. The entire sequence is filmed outside the building, tracking characters as they pass a window or walk in from the of the building. It's perfect!
Also, this film introduces Clouseau's crazy French accent (he was klutzy in "The Pink Panther") and two other memorable characters: Herbert Lom's Charles Dreyfus and Burt Kwouk's Kato (spelled with a "c" in subsequent films). Herbert Lom is the boss slowly descending into madness due to the antics of Clouseau... his scenes with Peter Sellers are always funny, as is his eye twitch. And the Kato attacks scenes are also funny... since the audience, and Clouseau, never know when or where he will appear. This character gets better and better with each film.
Another plus for this film is the plethora of supporting characters. George Sanders is an excellent, serious foil for Sellers... and Graham Stark gets his first role as an ally of Clouseau (he appears in the subsequent films as a variety of characters).
Always makes me laugh, regardless how many times I see it, and is the first Pink Panther film I added to my extensive film collection. Endlessly quotable and the best introduction to the series!!
A Shot in the Dark (1964) 102 minutes
Director: Blake Edwards
Starring: Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau
Elke Sommer as Maria Gambrelli
George Sanders as Benjamin Ballon
Herbert Lom as Commissioner Charles Dreyfus
Graham Stark as Hercule LaJoy
Andre Maranne as Francois
Burt Kwouk as Kato
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