Originally a stage play by Harry Kurnitz, and envisioned as a vehicle for Sophia Loren, the original script for A Shot in the Dark didn’t include Clouseau, and Anatole Litvak was to direct. When those plans fell through, Blake Edwards significantly rewrote the script with William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist), making Inspector Clouseau the lead character, and producing what many believe is the best Pink Panther film of the series.
Clouseau has the same bungling personality as the in the first film, but it was A Shot in the Dark that introduced a hallmark of his character – the exaggerated French accent – and established the basic framework for future Pink Panther films by the Sellers/Edwards team: The plot offers the the ‘fearless’ Inspector a whodunit to sink his teeth into. In the case of A Shot in the Dark, Clouseau is called in when the Spanish driver of a very wealthy man (George Sanders), is found dead, the victim of an assassin’s bullet. Evidence initially points to the wealthy man’s gorgeous maid Maria Gambrelli (Elke Sommer).
The film also serves as an introduction to the great Herbert Lom as Inspector Dreyfus, Burt Kwouk as Clouseau’s faithful servant Cato, and several classic gags that would be reworked in subsequent sequels – follow-ups that would not be produced for over a decade due to the rocky relationship between Edwards and Sellers.
Presented in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Kino’s release is created from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative with HDR/Dolby Vision. The result preserves the original look of the film, while brightening the colors. The darker scenes are clearer than ever. There are a few small scratches, but nothing that mars the overall viewing experience.
Like The Pink Panther 4K release, while I prefer the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, this release also includes the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Everything is the clearest I’ve ever heard, from dialogue, score and sound mix.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- Audio commentary by Jason Simos of The Peter Sellers Appreciation Society
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- Audio commentary by Jason Simos of The Peter Sellers Appreciation Society
- Back to the Start – Origin of The Pink Panther with Walter Mirisch: Featurette (23:10) HD
- Blake Edwards and Julie Andrews on The Dick Cavett Show (7:06) SD
- Five Theatrical Trailers (9:54) SD