It's actually the best of the Inspector Clouseau movies. Contrary to what someone else said, IT is better than 'Strikes
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — A Shot in the Dark
alanr4447a — 18 years ago(June 18, 2007 01:06 AM)
It's actually the best of the Inspector Clouseau movies. Contrary to what someone else said, IT is better than 'Strikes Again' (which itself isn't even as good as the second-best Clouseau, 'Return'). It introduces the characters of Dreyfus and Kato. (Bear in mind that the original 'Pink Panther' was only about halfway about Clouseau, and about equally about 'Sir Charles Litton', David Niven. 'Shot', on the other hand, is fully a Clouseau movie.)
Clouseau's mispronunciation of words is only in its early stages here, and is not featured as extensively as it would be in the later films, nor is it as 'pronounced', if you'll pardon the expression. Probably better for its more subtle presentation.
It features a nice structure of 'repeated gags', such as the paddy wagon, and a series of misfired attempts to murder Clouseau. Other nice touches include unexpected bits, like a seated woman shrieking "My foot!!!" as Clouseau paces past her! Also there are clever ideas like Clouseau and Elke Sommer riding in a car naked, trying not to have their unclad condition realized by others, but having a bus pull up next to them, with all its passengers able to see downward into their car from their higher position.
So my advice, three years after the original post, is to go ahead and rent it! -
daddytolman — 18 years ago(January 26, 2008 07:00 PM)
I love the billiard scene because of George Sanders' complete lack of reaction
to Clouseau's trashing of his pool cues, table, etc. I don't know whybut
typical reaction shots of surprise, anger, etc., wouldn't have worked.
Also Clouseau's pomposity: "I believe everything . . . and I believe nothing. I suspect everyone . . . and I suspect no one"! -
haafket — 17 years ago(June 06, 2008 06:51 AM)
If you are a fan of the first films humour you will probably like this. If you are more a fan of the later ones which are more slapstick you might find thisone boring. I think its a tie between this and the first one as to whichone is the best.
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canuckteach — 15 years ago(April 06, 2010 08:21 PM)
'Give me 10 men like Clousseau and I could rule the world' - sumthin like that..
"He's setting the science of criminal investigation back 1000 years."
Sellers came up thru the ranks.. he was an excellent radio comic, and appeared in the BBC 'Goon Show', doing bizarre characters and voices.. the small radio audience howled so loud with laughter that they moved to a larger studio and made a TV show of the troupe taping the Radio Show (as I recall) - if you ever get a chance to see these old shows, you're in for a treat guess I should peruse Youtube for some
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0ONww0rrw&feature=related
also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goon_Show
canuckteach -
Berdu — 15 years ago(October 12, 2010 10:42 PM)
As a person who doesn't watch or like a lot of the old classic comedies, but prefer modern ones instead (Apatow etc.), I was surprised how much I enjoyed this movie. It's really hilarious (thanks to Sellers), and one of my favorite comedies of all time for sure.
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retpo — 15 years ago(December 20, 2010 02:53 PM)
I saw this movie in 1964 at age 20. I try to see it every time it is on tv. I know what is coming, can practically recite the whole movie, and still think it's the funniest movie I have ever seen. Who's says a joke's only funny once?