Elke Sommer rises to international fame in 'A Shot in the Dark'
German actress Elke Sommer played the maid Maria Gambrelli opposite Peter Sellers in the 1964 comedy and became known worldwide.
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'A Shot in the Dark' was a crime comedy released in 1964 and directed by Blake Edwards. It was the second film in the Pink Panther series and the first to put Peter Sellers' bumbling Inspector Clouseau at the centre of the story.
Berlin-born German actress Elke Sommer played Maria Gambrelli, a maid who becomes a murder suspect. Despite all the evidence, Clouseau is convinced the young woman is innocent. His stubborn belief leads to a string of further killings and comic mishaps during the investigation.
The role brought Sommer international recognition after her early work in European cinema, and opened doors in Hollywood. Around the same time she was honoured among the new stars at the Golden Globe Awards. The film is still regarded as a comedy classic and remains one of the best-known titles of her career.
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Elke Sommer's death and film legacy · 3 updates
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