A Shot in the Dark
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Movie Reviews of A Shot in the Dark
Movie Review: "Give me ten men like Clouseau, and I could destroy the world"
Summary: 5 Stars
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"This case is so full of cracks, one more wouldn't make any difference."
This is what Commissioner Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) says when he's talking about the murder case that Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) of the French Surete has been accidentally been assigned too. (He also says the sentence that titles this review.)
This comedy film is the second installment in the Pink Panther series. In fact, this film was released a few months after the first Clouseau film, "The Pink Panther" (1963).
This movie is an adaptation of a stage play that itself was adapted from the French play "L'Idiote."
It is in this film that Sellers gives Clouseau an exaggerated French accent that becomes a hallmark of the character. It also introduces Herbert Lom as Commissioner Dreyfus (mentioned above) as Clouseau's boss and Burt Kwouk as Clouseau's long-suffering servant, Kato ("Cato" in later films).
The film is in a word--hilarious. There is continuous sight gags, verbal jokes, slapstick, mispronunciations, etc. Peter Sellers is incredible and appears to be at his comic zenith. Herbert Lom as the commissioner is fantastic as he becomes more nervous and frustrated as the film progresses. In fact, the entire cast is superb. (It must have been extremely difficult for them to keep a straight face and not break up laughing.)
The last scene is especially funny. In my opinion, this scene is one of the most hilarious scenes ever filmed!! (Peter Sellers himself almost breaks out laughing. Also, if you listen very carefully, near the beginning of this scene, you'll actually hear one of the technical crew laughing.)
The background music by Henry Mancini is--unforgettable. Don't be surprised if you catch yourself humming it after the movie is over.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2009) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has two somewhat disappointing extras.
In conclusion, this film is a Peter Sellers' masterpiece, a tribute to a comic genius!!
(1964; 1 hr, 40 min; wide screen; 16 scenes)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
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Movie Review: "Hercule, you fool, you've broken my pointing stick."
Summary: 5 Stars
Though not as funny as the great "Pink Panther Strikes Again", this is my second favorite of the series. The first of the actually "Clouseau" films, Peter Sellers is hysterical and gives a childlike innocence to this film that he didn't in the others.
Definently better than the un-funny Pink Panther, the story is about a made named Maria (a beautiful Elke Sommer) who is accused of shooting her boyfriend, a spaniard named Miguel. Along with his assistant Hercule (a great Graham Stark), Clouseau sets off on the trail to find who the REAL killer is.
The cast is just terrific. Burt Kwouk steps in starring as Kato, Clouseau's assistant in fighting, who also shares a room with him. The hilarious, great, wonderful Herbert Lom stars as Chief Inspector Dreyfuss, who is on the verge of insanity due to Clouseau's bumbling acts. Peter Sellers shines as Clouseau, and I didn't rather like George Sanders but he did good, Elke Sommers was great, and Graham Stark glimmered even though he had a minor role.
At first, I would have given this film only four stars, until I watched the final couple sequences. For them I think Peter Sellers deserved an award for Best Actor and Herbert Lom for Best Supporting Actor. What happens is that Clouseau, while trying to tell all the suspects who the murderer is, starts accidentally tripping, stepping on peoples toes, being interupted, pushed, and kicked. Also Dreyfuss goes insane and starts attacking Clouseau and his assistant.
Great direction by Blake Edwards. P.S. The nudist camp scene is hilarious as well, also when Clouseau sets himself on fire, and when he breaks his pointing stick.
cast
inspector SELLERS
maria SOMMER
rich dude (can't remember name).....GEORGE SANDERS
chief inspector LOM
STARK
KWOUK
Movie Review: Life(')s Rich Pageant
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, a line from this film inspired the title of an REM album....
I love all of Peter Seller's performances as Inspector Clouseau. I grew up watching "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (my favorite of the series back when I was a tween/teen) and "The Revenge of the Pink Panther." Later I dug up and watched the early films from the series and learned just how talented Peter Sellers was. The earlier films ("The Pink Panther", "A Shot in the Dark" and "The Return of the Pink Panther") have less slapstick humor and more physical humor. Although "The Pink Panther" is better, classier and funnier film, "A Shot in the Dark" has some unforgettable moments: The Nudist Colony; the assassin leaving a trail of (mistakenly killed) bodies as he follows Maria & Clouseau from nightclub to nightclub; Dreyfus' signature line: "Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world" and, running through it all, Clouseau's blind yet unerring belief in Maria's innocence (in *spite* of the ever increasing trail of bodies that follows in her wake).
For a truly great film with a stellar cast try 1964's "The Pink Panther"... the best PP of all (basically "The Thinking Man's Panther"). "A Shot in the Dark" shows that the PP series can be funny without crude humor. "Revenge of the Pink Panther" is an overlooked gem (and my second favorite... or tied with second with SitD). Latter PP films are great mindless films, but lack the class and style of the first three. But after all, like Clouseau falling in the pond, they are all part of "Life's Rich Pageant" 8-)
Movie Review: I'll get you next time Closseau next time
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was an unusual one in the series for unlike the other five that came about before or after this on it has a separate storey that involves officer Closeau and Inspector Drifus. The pink panther diamond is never mentioned or spoken of in this movie. In the movie the original Closeau has just been sent to investigate a murder. Just like in the recent 2006 remake of the original 60 verison of the original movie Closeau is in this and the other movies and equally clumsy and stupid police officer who gets none or little respect from his boss Inspector Drifus and the other members of the police force. The prime suspect is a young woman in here mid 20s. It's up to Closeau to prove here innocence to a super doubtful Inspector Drifus. A word of warning due to a high death count in this movie of at least 5 people maybe more in addition to occasional violence, thematic elements, several dozen super confiscated slapstick gags in addition to two somewhat long scenes of nudity which last some where in between 3 to 20 minutes of the total running time of the whole entire movie. As a result of the things listed in bold above this movie might not be appropriate or may be questionable for kids under the 12 years of age depending on how strict there parents or guardians are about what they watch at there age. Will Inspector Closeau solve the case find out in the thrilling conclusion to this 1960s masterpiece.Movie Review: Fantastic Movie!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Talk about a classic comedy! A Shot in the Dark not only masters the art of slap-stick, but also creates a standard for comedic characters with its positively hilarious lead role, Inspector Clouseau. This fumbling flat-foot is great at half-cocked theories and his hands are "lethal weapons," but can he actually solve a crime? No matter how you look at it, this character can only be brought to life by the late great Peter Sellers, and any attempt to try to recreate this dynamic performance is just ridiculous. Yes, Steve Martin, I am talking to you. Not only does the lead role make you wet your pants, but the supporting cast, especially Burt Kwouk and Herbert Lam, leave you struggling for air... in a good way. Full of great writing and fantastic performances, this movie takes the cake. Enjoy! It has brought YEARS of good times and loud laughs to me and my family! I hope it does the same for you!