A Shot in the Dark (1964) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peter Sellers

Sellers portrayed Clouseau five times. His first appearance was in "The Pink Panther" (1963), just a few months before this film was released. His last portrayal was in "Revenge of the Pink Panther" in 1978. His career was far from being limited to this film series.

He played several characters in "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb", and he also appeared in notable films such as "Being There", "Lolita", "What's New Pussycat", and "Murder By Death". Sellers passed away in 1980.

Answer: Cato

In "A Shot in the Dark", Burt Kwouk's character is actually credited as Kato. For the remaining films, however, the spelling was changed to Cato. "The Pink Panther" series was not the only notable franchise that Burt Kwouk acted in. He also appeared in the "Doctor Who" television series and the "James Bond" film franchise.

Answer: Herbert Lom

Chief Inspector Dreyfus seems to become more insane and maniacal as the film franchise continues, never quite achieving his goal of ridding the world of Inspector Clouseau. Herbert Lom also appeared in "Spartacus", "The Dead Zone", and "Mysterious Island". He passed away at the good age of 95 in 2012.

Answer: Pistol

Miguel is found dead with four bullet-wounds to the chest. Though Maria Gambrelli is found with the .25 caliber Beretta pistol in her hand, Clouseau refuses to entertain the idea that she is guilty (mainly because he has fallen in love with her).

Answer: He chops off his thumb in a guillotine cigar cutter.

Dreyfus cuts his first cigar, but it breaks in half due to his fidgeting hands. He then grabs another to cut, but chops off his thumb instead. He casually says, "Francois...I've just cut off my thumb." Dreyfus' accidental self-injury becomes a running theme in the film series. Occasionally, he even hurts others in his moments of distraction.

In "The Return of the Pink Panther", Dreyfus accidentally shoots his assistant Francois, and later, while fantasizing about choking Clouseau, he chokes his psychiatrist instead.

Answer: Moustache

Clouseau reluctantly strips off his clothes, and in the next few scenes, humorously attempts to cover himself with a guitar and a pool raft. The camp attendant is played by Bryan Forbes, who was nominated for a writing Oscar in 1960 for his work on "The Angry Silence".

He also worked as a director, and his film "Seance on a Wet Afternoon" received an Oscar nomination for Best Leading Actress (Kim Stanley) in 1964.

Answer: Dudu

Dudu is one of the maids in the Ballon household. She is relatively unmentioned until she is found dead, doubled over, and disrobed at the nudist colony. When Maria observes that Dudu is dead, Clouseau funnily replies, "Dead? Dudu?". Dudu was played by British actor Ann Lynn, who was married for several years to singer/songwriter Anthony Newley.

Answer: False

Henry Mancini scored the film. Interestingly, Mancini's now-iconic "Pink Panther Theme" is absent from this film, but would return in "The Return of the Pink Panther". Mancini was nominated for an impressive 13 Oscars in his career, winning four.

Answer: The car exlodes from a bomb placed by Chief Inspector Dreyfus.

Dreyfus placed the bomb in Clouseau's car in another attempt to kill him. As Dreyfus is lamenting all the people that he has accidentally murdered, Clouseau says, "But they were all murderers, except for Maurice, who was a blackmailer!" Dreyfus replies, "They were saints compared to you!" Ironically, Dreyfus killed the most people in the film, even though his only target (Inspector Clouseau) was NOT one of them! He accidentally killed a doorman, two cafe patrons, a dancer, and the carload of people from the Ballon household.

Answer: They fall into a fountain.

While Clouseau and Maria are kissing by the fountain, Kato ambushes them and knocks them into the water. "The End" appears on the screen as they are thrashing around in the fountain.