A Shot in the Dark 4K 1964 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

The beautiful Maria is accused of murdering her lover. Lipstick on his shirt, fingerprints on the gun, and perfume on the pillow—all the evidence points to her guilt. Only the perceptive Inspector Clouseau is convinced that the girl is innocent. He releases her from custody and tries to keep an eye on her. To the inspector's disappointment, the murders continue, and each time the evidence points to Maria again.

Review 4K Movie

To be honest, I feel a little sorry for these films: they are enjoyed by people who are either ‘stuck’ in the 60s (stuck in a good way — with love, interest, and detailed knowledge) perhaps because of their youth, perhaps because it was such a comfortable, pleasant time of light comedies); or meticulous, stubborn (again, in a good way) cinephiles who care about every director, actor, and film.

Shot in the Dark is a sequel to The Pink Panther (the first, classic one). Once again, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, whose methods of investigating crimes are based on a simple thesis: “God helps fools.” The film features characters who will later appear in subsequent films in the series.

It is interesting to note that in the same year, 1964, Fantomas was released, starring Louis de Funès, who also plays a bumbling inspector with strange detective methods. (Incidentally, it is amusing that in The Pink Panther, there is a criminal named “The Phantom.”)

What did the police department do to deserve such treatment that the bumbling inspector has become almost an archetype: from Conan Doyle's Lestrade (especially as played by Boris Brondukov), through Inspector Juve and Inspector Clouseau, Mr. Morcow from Chipollino, to modern-day bumbling detectives? “The audience loves detective stories. It's nice to feel smarter than the author.”
So, what are the positives? A funny character, brilliantly played by Peter Sellers. Pleasant music by Henry Mancini (the song ‘Shadows of Paris’ at the beginning of the film is good and stylish in its own way). Blake Edwards and the cult ‘Pink Panther’. Funny gags. Recognizable 60s (before the revolution of 1968).

The downside? The film is not modern, and there's nothing we can do about that: age does not do even films any favors.