Yes it is a beautiful song and sets the scene with its lyrics without actual dialogue taking place. Different tastes, I suppose. I actually thought the introduction was amazing.

I love the songjust like the majority of the viewersand think that scene to be a crucial part of the movieif someone seeing 'A Shot in the Dark' for the first time skips it, they'll have no idea what's going on when the characters later start arguing about who's cheating on who.

Yeah the first 5 minutes before the credits are pure annoyance; easily the worst part of the film. Has the similar 60s kitschy-goofy feeling to it that was so prevalent in the first Pink Panther a year earlier and made it the worst entry of those 5 in which Sellers starred or at best sharing the bottom spot with the 1978 entry.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

I beep hate this song and that entire intro! I always FF to the animated opening credits.
Men, if you're willing to fight for our people, I want you!

Thank you Dalkveron!
You rock!

It's here and it's free (I mean the song):
http://www.4shared.com/file/72682943/72345523/The_Shadow_of_Paris.html

Yeah, it stinks that it's not possible to get the Fran Jeffries version. It's a great song as sung by her and, along with the title music, just another great part of the movie.

Thanks for the info.
I checked iTunes, and while they HAVE "The Shadows of Paris", it is sung by a chorus. Not as cool sounding.

Fran Jeffries, the same girl who sang in the middle of the first Pink Panther film but her version of "The Shadows of Paris" is not available apart from the film, for whatever reason
http://therapeuticpink.proboards102.com