A Shot in the Dark

Rating:
Summary: In some ways the best of the Clouseau films
Review: In many ways, "A Shot in the Dark" is the first of the Clouseau films. In the original movie Clouseau was simply the bumbling cuckolded detective without a clue while David Niven was the star jewel thief going after the famous diamond, the eponymous Pink Panther. However, in this movie all the elements that make a "Pink Panther" movie take shape.

The elements are: Clouseau is the central focus of the film. His manservant, Kato, is present and their training karate duels provide amazingly funny scenes usually ending with a ridiculous explosion. Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) is Clouseau's boss and is insane with his hatred of Clouseau. There are beautiful women who are strangely available to Clouseau much like "Bond Girls". There are plenty of cartoon bombs, ridiculous disguises, and plenty of laughs.

In this film the beautiful woman is Elke Sommer. Sommer is a stunning beauty. Here she is a very affectionate and much too innocent maid in a rich household with many other servants and wealthy owners. One evening, when everyone is in beds other than their own, a man is shot to death. Sommer's character, Maria Gambrelli, is the obviously guilty party and everyone intends to railroad her to jail. Except that Clouseau knows she is innocent. He really hasn't a clue why she is innocent except for some vague intuition. The rest of the movie sets up Clouseau stumbling into more trouble and at the last moment, as in all the films, the guilty party is revealed and Clouseau is the hero who deserves credit for sticking with his hunch, but never having a clue as to why he was right.

In many ways, this is the best of the Clouseau films because all of the later films are derivative of the formula laid down here. Oh, and one other delight in all the films are the various roles that Graham Stark played in each of them. He is fabulous. What a face and what delivery!

Rating:
Summary: Clouseau is back... be carefull
Review: It dosn't have to say manny thinks about the Pink Panther movie series, which stars the one and only Peter Sellers as the dumbling Inspector Clouseau. This is better than the first, because this one is the pettern for all the subsequent movies: For first time features Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk and Andre Maranne as Dreyfus, Cato and Francois. But ecxept that, Edwards makes, with the help of the cast (especially Peter Sellers), one of the most perfect comedys (include the first Panther) in the history of cinema. Followed by THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, ten years later.

Rating:
Summary: The Best of Clouseau
Review: It's funny that this movie is considered an entry in the Pink Panther series, even though there is nothing in the movie to indicate that it is, except for star Peter Sellers, Blake Edwards direction and the Henry Mancini score (without the Pink Panther theme). But this movie is so good, who really cares? In this escapade, Clouseau has been assigned to solve a murder that has occurred in the home of the wealthy Benjamin Balon. The killer appears to be the beautiful housemaid Maria Gambrelli but Clouseau, who is falling in love with her, is convinced she's innocent and sets out to expose the real murderer. If you haven't seen this movie, you should. There are a number of great comic scenes that Clouseau goes through in this film, one of which includes the famous nudist camp sketch. What I really like about the comedy here is that it has a sort of charm, which vanished in the later episodes. One of the important things about this movie is that it introduces us to two of the best characters in the series: Clouseau's houseboy Kato and the lunatic Chief Dreyfuss. Clouseau's karate romps with Kato and Dreyfuss' attempts to destroy the inspector are also brought in. All of these became staples in the later movies. Aside from the new characters, I think the most significant thing about "A Shot in the Dark" is that Peter Sellers is now the star. He was only a supporting player in "The Pink Panther" but this time Sellers is given center stage and, in turn, delivers a great performance. Blake Edwards also gives the movie some good direction, setting things up nicely so Sellers can work his magic. Overall, this entry is the best in the series. If you are looking for Inspector Clouseau at his finest, then check out "A Shot in the Dark".

Rating:
Summary: Funny film from the writer of The Exorcist
Review: Make no mistake,this is William Peter Blatty's work alright.The dialouge is a dead give away(discounting the acual credits...). So The Exorcists'Lieutenant Kinderman's roots are in this film?Hmm... Good movie,the lines are very funny("Get help!I've seemed to have stabbbed myself with a letter opener!"),although no match for Blatty's The Exorcist 3(which was indeed a comedy in it's quieter moments,Father Dyer in particular,came off as a geriatric Jerry Seinfeld).

Rating:
Summary: Welcome dear Inspector Clouseau !
Review: Peter Sellers -that unique and overwhelming thousand faces actor-makes of this film once more a real winner with this hysterically funny work . This is an excellent comedy with wonderful sight gags . Elke Sommer that unforgettable german beauty is the cherish of the cake .
One of the top films of Blake Edwards .

Rating:
Summary: The best Clouseau film gets better on DVD
Review: Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards are at it again-in top form. This is a murder mystery-comedy that isn't as dated as the original Pink Panther. There are so many scenes that make this film worth renting, and not that its on DVD, and you can slow-mo and rewind quicker, and in widescreen, is all the more better. Not only do you get two viewing modes (P&S, WS), but you also get a very informative 8-page pamphlet, telling about the improvisation of the Africa line during the globe scene, and the synchoronizing watches sequences. There are many running gags, including the clumsy inspector being taken to prison. The music sounds great, and the picture looks solid for a film that age. You also get the trailer, and while it stinks that there aren't deleted scenes of a film of this stature, it probably looks a lot better than the VHS (which I haven't seen). This is a double-sided disc, so it's susceptible to scratces...

Rating:
Summary: Absolute Genius.
Review: Peter Sellers is a great actor who shines in this Pink Panther movie. If you've seen the Pink Panther movies from the 1970's, then buy this one too because it is just as good.
One of my favorite things is when Elke Sommers goes to Inspector Cleusau's office to be interviewed. That scene is one of the greatest. Also, scene at the nudist colony is funny for the 1960's. Try watching it to see how they filmed it without showing any nudity.
This movie set the standard for the Cleusau comedies to come. I just wish they hadn't waited so long before making another one. Just think if they had made one every 2 years or so.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: Peter Sellers is at his funniest in the (arguably) best of the Pink Panther series. The best is his romp through the nudist camp and when he tries to sleep with Elke Sommer. Shown at it's fullest in widescreen.

Rating:
Summary: Side-spliting fun, but a scene from original omitted
Review: Peter Sellers is timeless in his comedy. This remains one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I was disappointed that the scene in the nudist camp when they scale a fence to escape had been removed. Were other scenes removed or edited?

Rating:
Summary: A Shot in the Dark -- One of the Funniest Films of All Time
Review: Peter Sellers was a comic genius, and nowhere is this more evident than in A Shot in the Dark, the first of the Pink Panther series to exclusively feature Sellers' Inspector Clouseau. It's one case where the sequel is superior to the original! This film can only be described as gaspingly funny. I've seen this move several dozen times, but it still makes me howl with laughter every time I see it. It's amazing to think that Sellers also made The Pink Panther, Dr. Stangelove, and The World of Henry Orient the same year (all titles I would highly recommend as well). The fact that "Shot" is now on DVD in widescreen makes it that much more special. The supporting cast (Elke Sommer, Herbert Lom, George Sanders, and Bert Kwouk, among others) is perfect and provides a perfect ensemble foil to Sellers. The "Camp Sunshine" scene alone makes "Shot" worth seeing. This film is so funny, I can recommend that you purchase it without having seen it first -- it's that good!