''A Shot in the Dark'' is a 1935 American

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, i ...

directed by

Charles Lamont Charles Lamont (May 5, 1895 – September 11, 1993) was a prolific filmmaker, directing over 200 titles and producing and writing many others. He directed several Abbott and Costello comedies and many Ma and Pa Kettle films. Biography A Calif ...

Plot

A college student (Charles Starrett) discovers his roommate's body hanging from a window and calls the police. What at first looks like suicide turns out to be murder. While a police investigation is ongoing, more students are killed.

Cast

Charles Starrett Charles Robert Starrett (March 28, 1903 – March 22, 1986) was an American actor, best known for his starring role in the ''Durango Kid'' westerns. Starrett still holds the record for starring in the longest series of theatrical features: ...

as Kenneth "Ken" Harris * Robert Warwick as Joseph Harris *

Edward Van Sloan Edward Van Sloan (born Edward Paul Van Sloun; November 1, 1882 – March 6, 1964) was an American character actor best remembered for his roles in the Universal Studios horror films such as '' Dracula'' (1931), ''Frankenstein'' (1931), and ''T ...

as Prof. Bostwick *

Marion Shilling Marion Helen Schilling (December 3, 1910 – November 6, 2004) was an American stage and film actress. She was one of the most famous " B" leading ladies of the 1930s. Biography Marion Helen Schilling was born in Denver, Colorado in 1910. Her ...

as Jean Coates *

Helen Jerome Eddy Helen Jerome Eddy (February 25, 1897 – January 27, 1990) was a motion picture actress from New York City. She was noted as a character actress who played genteel heroines in films such as ''Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' (1917). Early years Edd ...

as Miss Lottie Case *

Doris Lloyd Hessy Doris Lloyd (3 July 1891 – 21 May 1968) was an English–American film and stage actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in ''The Time Machine'' (1960) and ''The Sound of Music'' (1965). Lloyd appeared in two Academy Award w ...

as Lucille Coates * James Bush as Byron Coates / John Meseraux *

Julian Madison Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian (Rome), referring to the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (gi ...

as Charlie Penlon *

Eddie Tamblyn Edward Francis Tamblyn (January 5, 1908 – June 22, 1957) was an American actor. He was the father of actor Russ Tamblyn and keyboardist Larry Tamblyn (The Standells), and the grandfather of actress Amber Tamblyn. Born in Yonkers, New York, ...

as Bill Smart *

Ralph Brooks Ralph Gilmour Brooks (July 6, 1898September 9, 1960) was an American Democratic politician who served as the 29th Governor of Nebraska. Early life Brooks was born in Eustis, Nebraska. His father was a farmer and operated a store. Brooks' famil ...

as Sam Anderson * Robert McKenzie as Sheriff * John Davidson as Prof. Brand *

Herbert Bunston Herbert Bunston (15 April 1874 – 27 February 1935) was an English stage and screen actor. He is remembered for his role as Dr. John Seward in the Broadway and film versions of ''Dracula''. Bunston was born in Charmouth and briefly attended ...

as College President * George Morrell as Deputy Ab Barber *

Broderick O'Farrell George William Broderick O'Farrell (July 13, 1882 — September 2, 1955) was an American film and stage actor who appeared in both silent and sound films. He began his career at age 14, appearing onstage with the Baker Stock Company in his homet ...

as Dr. Howell *

Jane Keckley Jane Keckley (September 10, 1876 – August 14, 1963) was an American actress of the silent and sound film eras. Biography Keckley was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and went to school there and in Georgia. Before she acted in films, Kec ...

as Bostwick's Housekeeper

Critical reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' wrote, "''A Shot in the Dark'', which pictures a trilogy of murders on a rural college campus, telegraphs its punches in a way that may seem insignificant to Chesterfield Productions, Inc., but is as good as a confession to us amateur gumshoes...a decided absence of liveliness both in the writing and the playing"; whereas ''Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings'' noted, "a very good mystery...It does have some problems, particularly in having a rather stiff and static presentation, but outside of that, this is one of the more pleasant discoveries I've made."

References

External links

*
The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:''A Shot in the Dark''
* 1935 films American mystery films Films based on American novels Films directed by Charles Lamont American black-and-white films Chesterfield Pictures films Films set in universities and colleges 1935 mystery films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{mystery-film-stub