A Shot in the Dark
Directed by	George Pearson
Written by	Gerard Fairlie Terence Egan
Based on	novel by H. Fowler Mear
Produced by	Julius Hagen
Starring	Dorothy Boyd O. B. Clarence Jack Hawkins Michael Shepley
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer
Edited by	Lister Laurance
Production company	Twickenham Studios
Distributed by	Radio Pictures
Release date	November 1933 (1933-11)
Running time	53 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

A Shot in the Dark is a 1933 British mystery film directed by George Pearson and starring Dorothy Boyd, O. B. Clarence, Jack Hawkins and Michael Shepley.^[1] It was shot at Twickenham Studios in London as a quota quickie for release by RKO Pictures.^[2]

Synopsis

When a wealthy old man dies suddenly, a local priest suspects something and begins to investigate.

Cast

• Dorothy Boyd as Alaris Browne
• O. B. Clarence as Reverend John Makehan
• Jack Hawkins as Norman Paull
• Michael Shepley as Vivien Waugh
• Davy Burnaby as Colonel Michael Browne
• A. Bromley Davenport as Peter Browne
• Russell Thorndike as Doctor Stuart
• Hugh E. Wright as George Yarrow
• Henrietta Watson as Angela Browne
• Margaret Yarde as Kate Browne

Critical reception

Britmovie noted a "typical multi-suspect “quota quickie”";^[3] and Classic Horror online wrote, "we nominate SHOT IN THE DARK as the worst film ever made! But this is not to detract anything from its entertainment value. Films such as these were produced on both a limited budget and a limited time scale. Taking this into consideration, these films are little marvels for what they could achieve, and earn themselves a position in the annals of film history. Many famous actors made their first film appearances in these pictures, but now that many of them are lost to us forever, the recognition of the remaining few becomes a necessity."^[4]