A Shot in the Dark (1964 film) as Burt Kwouk as his stalwart man servant Cato and André Maranne as François, all of whom would become series regulars. Elke Sommer portrays the murder suspect, Maria Gambrelli. The character of Gambrelli would return in "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993), this time played by Claudia Cardinale, who appeared as Princess Dala in "The Pink Panther" (1963). Graham Stark, who portrays police officer Hercule Lajoy, would reprise this role eighteen years later, in "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982). The film was not originally written to include Clouseau, but was an adaptation of a stage play by Harry Kurnitz
A Shot in the Dark (Homicide: Life on the Street) orders to kill anyone who threatens him, Stuart said he shot through the drug dealer to ensure the man threatening him would also be shot. "A Shot in the Dark" was written by Jorge Zamacona based on a story by executive producer Tom Fontana, and was directed by Bruce Paltrow. Paltrow, a television and feature film director, had a history of collaboration with Fontana starting with the drama series "St. Elsewhere", where the two both served as producers. Paltrow told "The Washington Post" that "Homicide" "is to television what abstract expressionism is to art". "A Shot in the Dark" continues