A Shot in the Dark
Directed by Blake Edwards
Written by Blake Edwards and William Peter Blatty from a plays by Harry Kurnitz and Marcel Archard
1964/USA/UK
Mirisch Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Dreyfus: Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world.[/box]
Peter Sellers comic genius is matched by a great supporting cast.
To boss Charles Dreyfus’s (Herbert Lom) everlasting chagrin, Inspector Clouseau (Sellers) is assigned to investigate the murder of wealthy Benjamin Ballon’s (George Sanders) driver. Housemaid Maria Gambrelli (Elke Somer) is found standing over the body with the murder weapon in her hand. The body count at the Ballon mansion mounts thereafter.
Clouseau decides the best way of investigating Maria is to set her free. Clouzot also becomes smitten with the comely Maria while people keep dropping like flies around her.
I still haven’t figured out the solution to the Ballon house murders but the plot is not the thing here. It’s one classic comic set piece after another. My favorite parts are the nudist camp scene and the introduction of Clouzot’s servant Kato who has been instructed to ambush the detective when he least expects it – always at the worst possible moment. Elke Somer proves to be quite an adequate commedienne and Herbert Lom is wonderful. Recommended.
