Murder by the Book was the first installment of Columbo’s inaugural season and (if we set the pilots aside for now) introduced audiences to Peter Falk in what was to become an iconic role. In this episode Gerry and Iain take a look at not only the plot, but also the characters, actors and others involved in the creation of Murder by the Book. Besides Falk’s Columbo there were four more key characters in this story: Jack Cassidy as the scheming Ken Franklin; Martin Milner as Franklin’s former partner and first victim Jim Ferris; the tragicBarbara Colbyas Lily La Sanka, a shopkeeper and admirer of Franklin; and Rosemary Forsyth as Joanna Ferris, the wife and ultimately widow of Jim. This episode is notable for a number of reasons, not least because it was directed by a young Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Bochco, two men who went on to have great success in their fields, the former having won multiple Oscars and the latter ten Emmy Awards. In this episode Gerry and Iain pos...
After a strong opening episodeColumbo returned with a new caseinDeath Lends a Hand. This was the second of Season 1’s seven episodes and pitted Columbo against a private detectivein a twist on the traditional relationship between killer and investigator. In this show Gerry and Iain look at the key components and moments ofDeath Lends a Hand. Columbo shared centre stage in this episode with Robert Culp‘s Investigator Brimmer (first name unknown!). There was a similarly tight group of critical participants this time as there had been inMurder by the Book: Pat Crowley as the unfortunate Lenore Kennicut; Ray Milland as her widower, Arthur Kennicut and Brett Halsey as golf pro Ken Archer. Though he doesn’t have the silver screen resumé of episode 1’s director, Steven Spielberg, Bernard Kowalski was nonetheless a prolific contributor to both Columbo and to television of the era more generally. Creators Richard Levinson and William Link were the writers of this episode– the only time...
The third episode ofColumbo was titledDead Weight and focusedon not just a murder investigation, but on the relationship between thekiller and a witness to his crime. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the highs and lows ofDead Weight and how it compares to the two earlier episodes. There was a slightly expanded cast for this episode, compared with the compact groups fromMurder by the BookandDeath Lends a Hand. Eddie Albert‘s military-hero-turned-killer Major General Martin Hollister is the driving force inDead Weight, but the arc of the story is really the journey of Helen Stewart, played by Suzanne Pleshette. Supporting these key characters are four more, each with their own role to play. John Kerr‘s Colonel Roger Dutton is our unfortunate victim and Kate Reid plays Mrs Walters, the carping mother of Helen Stewart. Minor roles are also played by Val Avery (as Harry Barnes) and by Timothy Carey as café owner Bert. There was no trivia question this week, but if anyone is abl...
The fourth episode ofColumbo was titled Suitable for Framing and brought viewers back to the direct conflict between Lieutenant Columbo and a killer that had been seen in the first two episodes of the season. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the strengths and weaknesses of Suitable for Framing and whether returning to the earlier approach was a successful decision. This episode followedDead Weight by using a bigger cast than had been seen in the two opening episodes of the season. Even at this stage of the show’s run there are a number of celebrated actors taking roles, with Academy Award winner Kim Hunter and future Academy Award winner Don Ameche playing pivotal parts in this episode as Edna Matthews – the ex-wife and surprise beneficiary of the murder victim – and Frank Simpson – the Matthews family lawyer – respectively. The perpetrator in Suitable for Framing, Dale Kingston, is portrayed by Ross Martin – famous by this point for his work on The Wild Wild West – an...
The fifth episode ofColumbo was titledLady in Waiting and markedthe first time a female killer featured on the show. This episode saw Columbo try to overturn a coroner’s inquiry verdict of accidental death. In the podcast Gerry and Iain look at the methods and motives ofLady inWaiting and try to ascertain whether justice can be done. This episodereturned to a smaller core cast than had been used in recent episodes, with only Leslie Nielsen‘s straight-shooting Peter Hamilton, Susan Clark‘s enigmatic killer Beth Chadwick and Jessie Landis‘ overbearing Mrs Chadwick playing key roles, along with Richard Anderson(best known for his subsequent performances inThe Six Million Dollar Man andThe Bionic Woman) as our victim, Bryce Chadwick. Nielsen is, of course, now the best known of these actors. At the timeLady in Waiting was produced he was already proving a prolific performer, with multiple television roles to his name, but it was to be almost ten years later that his international pr...
The sixthepisode ofColumbo was titledShort Fuseand delivered an explosive twist to the typical methods used by killers on the show so far.This episode saw Columbo try to establish whether two victims were the unfortunate casualties of a car accident, or if something more sinister had occurred. In the podcast Gerry and Iain look at thedramatic events ofShort Fuse and the issues raised by Columbo’s investigation. There were five major cast members in this episode, but it was Roddy McDowall‘s Roger Stanford that dominated proceedings. McDowall’s career began, at the age of 10, in 1938 and by the time he appeared inShort Fuse he had been working consistently for over 30 years, long since having transitioned from child star to professional performer. McDowall is perhaps best known for his role as Cornelius in the original set ofPlanet of the Apes movies and by the time he appeared inColumbo had already been in two of these. As well as being nominated for a Golden Globe in 1964, McDowa...
The seventhepisode ofColumbo was titledBlueprint for Murderand was the final episode of the show’s first season. Columbo is tasked with finding a body before it is permanently hidden and the chance lost. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at thebattle of wits between Columbo and the killer, before reflecting on Season One as a whole. This episode had a tighter cast than the other shows in the season, with Peter Falk and Patrick O’Neal (as killer Elliot Markham) dominating screen time. Supporting turns from Janis Paige and Pamela Austin as the current and former Mrs Williamsons offered contrast and intrigue, while Forrest Tucker shone as their husband, the billionaire Texan victim Bo Williamson. The show marked Falk’sdirectorial debut, with Steven Bochco again credited with the teleplay. Although he would have an uncredited hand in direction of one further episode, Falk would never venture behind the camera again as the director of note. We asked listeners to let us know their fa...
The eighthepisode ofColumbo was titledÈtude in Blackand was the openingepisode of the show’s secondseason. A popular musician murders his mistress to conceal their affair, intending that her death be considered a suicide. Columbo is charged with disproving that assertion and identifying the killer. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at Columbo’s approach to the investigation and the appearance of a new regular character. Although season 2 opened with a larger supporting cast than most of the previous year’s episodes, there were only a few roles of any depth. John Cassavetes was most prominent as Alex Benedict, conductor and killer. His sparring with Columbo was reminiscent of episodes 1 and 7 of Season 1, with the chemistry between Falk and Cassavetes essential to the success of the episode. Also featuring were the exceptional Blythe Danner as Benedict’s put-upon wife, Janice Benedict; Myrna Loy as her affluent and influential mother; and James Olson as the emotional Paul Rifk...
The ninthepisode ofColumbo was titledThe Greenhouse Jungleand was the secondepisode of the show’s secondseason. A scheme to extract funds from a family Trust is turned on its head as an uncle double-crosses his nephew. Columbo has a little help for once as he tries to solve the case.In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the highs and lows of the episode, including a return visit from one of Season One’s guest stars. The dynamic of the Season Two opener,Ètude in Black, which focused on Columbo’s exchanges with the killer, was not repeated inThe Greenhouse Jungle. There was a small amount of sparring between Columbo and Jarvis Goodland (the returning Ray Milland in a bigger role than he played in Season One’sDeath Lends a Hand), but there was also focus on exchanges between Columbo and Sergeant Wilson; Jarvis and his nephew Tony; Jarvis and his nephew’s wife, Cathy; as well as Gloria West’s conversations with Cathy and Jarvis. Sergeant Wilson was introduced as a partner for Co...
The tenthepisode ofColumbo was titledThe Most Crucial Gameand was the thirdepisode of the show’s secondseason. The owner of a professional football franchise is killed by a frustrated employee andColumbo once more has to prove that a seeming accident was murder.In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the motivations and machinations of the episode. There were echoes of Season One’sLady in Waiting,Short Fuse,Blueprint for Murderand the Season Two openerÈtude in Black in this episode, as a significant portion of Columbo’s task was to establish that there had been a murder committed at all. The lieutenant only has one suspect in mind and it is the returning Robert Culp who faces that suspicion, in his role as Paul Hanlon – a trusted aide of Dean Stockwell‘s victim, Eric Wagner. Supporting roles inThe Most Crucial Game were played by Dean Jagger as Private Investigator Walter Cunnell, James Gregory as LA Rockets Head Coach Rizzo, Valerie Harper as the mysterious Eve Babcock (or Mis...