A Shot in the Dark (1964 film) adapted from the French play "L'Idiote" by Marcel Achard. The film was released only a few months after the first Clouseau film, "The Pink Panther". Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) of the Sûreté, the French national police, is called to the country home of millionaire Benjamin Ballon (George Sanders) to investigate the murder of his chauffeur, Miguel Ostos. The chauffeur was having an affair with one of the maids, Maria Gambrelli (Elke Sommer), and attacked her in her bedroom after she broke off with him. Miguel was shot and killed in her bedroom and Maria was found with the smoking gun
A Shot in the Dark (Homicide: Life on the Street) was also adapted from true-life events in Simon's book, although "Homicide" writers added the twist of Crosetti taking the case personally based on his close friendship with the victim. Edie Falco made a guest appearance in "A Shot in the Dark" as Officer Thormann's wife Eva. Fontana cast Falco after watching her performance in "Laws of Gravity" (1992). Fontana said of her, "She's an actress who's unadorned by any embroidery. She does everything with such simplicity and honesty, it's breathtaking." Falco was a struggling actor at the time, and said her salary from one "Homicide" episode paid for one month's