A Shot in the Dark (1964)

In the grand and mysterious household of Benjamin Ballon, a web of secrets, affairs, and betrayals is spun. The intricately entwined lives of the mansion's inhabitants — from the powerful tycoon Monsieur Ballon and his wife, the seemingly demure Madame Ballon, to the charismatic head butler Henri Lafarge and his cook wife, down to the beguiling third maid Maria Gambrelli — become a labyrinth of love triangles, illicit rendezvous, and fatal attractions. Amidst this volatile environment, a series of shocking murders shatters the façade of opulence and propriety. The first victim is Miguel Ostos, the head chauffeur, discovered slain with Madame Ballon found holding the weapon. Suspicion falls upon the alluring Maria Gambrelli, but the bumbling yet doggedly determined detective inspector Jacques Clouseau, thrown into the case due to a bureaucratic mishap, believes otherwise. Despite the mounting evidence against Maria, Clouseau persists in his quest for the truth, driven not just by his commitment to justice but also by the captivating charm of the accused maid. As Clouseau stumbles through the investigation, a string of additional murders unfolds, each linked to the Ballon household, and each time leaving Maria as the prime suspect. The twisted tale stretches from the opulent halls of the Ballon mansion to an eccentric nudist club, with a body count that escalates alarmingly. This continuous chaos sends Captain Charles Dreyfus, Clouseau's superior, into a spiral of accidents, therapy, and rising animosity against his seemingly inept subordinate. Meanwhile, Clouseau uncovers a scandalous undercurrent within the Ballon household. Affairs and betrayals — involving the staff, the family, and even the blackmailers who lurk in the shadows — come to light. Yet, amidst this tangled web, who is the true killer? A Shot in the Dark lures viewers into a world where deceit and desire dance in the shadows, and where the line between innocence and guilt blurs, as Clouseau endeavors to solve the mystery and prove Maria's innocence.

A Shot in the Dark is a comedy movie featuring Peter Sellers.

A Shot in the Dark is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and The Roku Channel and it's also available on Cinemax Amazon Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy A Shot in the Dark on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.