"Just One More Thing..." - The COLUMBO Discussion Thread

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  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2021 Posts: 17,727
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    I just happen to be watching a classic COLUMBO episode right now: PUBLISH OR PERISH.
    Always been a big Mickey Spillane fan. Great to see him as the victim here.

    Jack Cassidy was an excellent Columbo villain.

    I remember when he died. Horrible death!

    Yes, that was a terrible fire that robbed us of a brilliant actor.

    And he was only 49. Great actor. He's in one of my favorite Jack Kelly episodes of MAVERICK playing a real weasel.

    Yes, he died way too young. My favourite Columbo episode he guest stars in his last one, Now You See Him (1976). It's also one of my Top 10 favourite Columbo episodes.
  • Posts: 15,785
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    I just happen to be watching a classic COLUMBO episode right now: PUBLISH OR PERISH.
    Always been a big Mickey Spillane fan. Great to see him as the victim here.

    Jack Cassidy was an excellent Columbo villain.

    I remember when he died. Horrible death!

    Yes, that was a terrible fire that robbed us of a brilliant actor.

    And he was only 49. Great actor. He's in one of my favorite Jack Kelly episodes of MAVERICK playing a real weasel.

    Yes, he died way too young. My favourite Columbo episode he guest stars in his last one, Now You See Him (1976). It's also one of my Top 10 favourite Columbo episodes.

    Great episode!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Cassidy could really play sleezy like no one else. His confrontations with Columbo are priceless.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    edited September 2021 Posts: 23,102
    Just bought myself a new Freeview Play Recorder Manhattan T3-R I was browsing through channels for the next week and noticed tomorrow on 5USA (in the UK) there are 8 Columbo films in a row, I have listed which films are on below...
    9:00am
    Film Columbo: A Matter of Honour (1976)
    The sleuth's holiday in Mexico is disrupted by a bizarre death involving a suave retired bullfighter, who has killed his best friend using one of the animals as a murder weapon - but is determined his spotless image and reputation will remain untarnished. Crime drama, starring Peter Falk, Ricardo Montalban, A Martinez and Pedro Armendariz Jr
    (Subtitles) (Audio Described)

    Rating: 7.7
    ---
    10:30am
    Film Columbo: Fade Into Murder (1976)
    An actor who plays a detective on a soap opera is being blackmailed by his ex-lover, who is also his producer. Convinced that playing a sleuth makes him clever enough to get away with murder, he kills her and frames her husband - but has reckoned without the intervention of the crumpled cop. Crime drama, with Peter Falk and William Shatner
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 8.5
    ---
    12:00pm
    Film Columbo: Lady in Waiting (1971)
    A desperate woman is determined to rid herself of her domineering brother and gain control of the family business, so hatches a plan to shoot him and claim she thought he was a burglar. Although her plan seems to have worked, her new-found power goes to her head - and she also has to contend with Columbo, who is convinced of her guilt. Crime drama, starring Peter Falk, Leslie Nielsen and Susan Clark
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 7.5
    ---
    1:35pm
    Film Columbo: Publish or Perish (1974)
    A ruthless publisher hires a hitman to kill a best-selling author who has threatened to sign with a rival company - but reckons without the involvement of the cigar-smoking sleuth, who is determined to put the culprit behind bars. Crime drama, starring Peter Falk, Mickey Spillane, Jack Cassidy and John Chandler
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 8.5
    ---
    3:00pm
    Film Columbo: Identity Crisis (1975)
    A CIA operative arranges a grisly fate for a fellow spy who found out that he was working as a double agent. The killer makes the murder look like a random mugging, but he is not as clever as he thinks and the crumpled cop soon begins to pick up on the trail of clues he has left behind. Crime drama, directed by and starring Patrick McGoohan, with Peter Falk and Leslie Nielsen
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 8.4
    ---
    5:00pm
    Film Columbo: Lovely but Lethal (1973)
    A cosmetics company is rocked by the revelation that a pirated version of their latest product is on the market, and then, shortly afterwards, one of their chemists is found murdered. But when the shabby sleuth scrutinises the case, he suspects the events are linked to a rival company. Detective drama, starring Peter Falk, Vincent Price, Martin Sheen and Vera Miles
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 6.3
    ---
    6:30pm
    Film Columbo: Old Fashioned Murder (1976)
    A woman who has devoted her life to running her family's museum is outraged when her brother decides to sell it. Knowing of someone with criminal connections, she arranges to have her brother killed. However, just when she starts to think she has got away with it, a certain shabby sleuth is assigned to the case. Crime drama, with Peter Falk, Joyce Van Patten, Celeste Holm and Tim O'Connor
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 8.6
    ---
    8:00pm
    Film Columbo: A Bird in the Hand (1992)
    A compulsive gambler with a mountain of debts comes up with a plan to make some easy money. He plants a bomb under his wealthy uncle's car in the hope of inheriting a large legacy - but a hit-and-run driver jeopardises the entire scheme and Columbo is soon sniffing around for clues. Detective drama, starring Peter Falk, Tyne Daly, Greg Evigan and Don S Davis
    (Subtitles)

    Rating: 9

    Some excellent installments there. That is some Columbo marathon.
  • Posts: 372
    In the UK we got some mystery movie shows apart from Columbo. McCloud, McMillan and wife, Banachek( pretty sure that was part of the lineup, but I was quite young so my memory may be vague on this) and a show called Tenafly with James Mceachin I think. None of them have really stood the test of time, but there is a timeless quality to Columbo
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    cooperman2 wrote: »
    In the UK we got some mystery movie shows apart from Columbo. McCloud, McMillan and wife, Banachek( pretty sure that was part of the lineup, but I was quite young so my memory may be vague on this) and a show called Tenafly with James Mceachin I think. None of them have really stood the test of time, but there is a timeless quality to Columbo

    Yes, and interestingly that show Tenafly was also created by Columbo creators Richard Levinson and William Link. It starred, as you pointed out, James McEachin who also guest starred in the Columbo episodes Étude in Black (1972) and Make Me a Perfect Murder (1978). Tenafly was part of was part of The NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie wheel for the 1973-74 season but it sadly only ran for that one season of four episodes due to low ratings.
  • Posts: 1,545
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Agreed @Thunderfinger he was a talented guy. Watching another video today I learned that one of his daughters actually became a private detective ! That must be worth a few points in a pub quiz

    I wonder if she inherited his coat.

    He kept it at home (not in the Smithsonian as was rumoured) and it his was his own coat even before he started filming so anything's possible.

    And the car ! Was that Peter Falk's own car, too ?

  • Posts: 1,545
    It is odd seeing someone else as Columbo. I do remember reading somewhere that
    Mark Ruffalo was suggested as a possible actor to play Columbo in a new version.

    Wouldn't Mark Ruffalo make a terrific Columbo !?!!! In the magician movies recently he seemed to do a fine presentation of the supposedly befuddled detective...
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2021 Posts: 17,727
    Since62 wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Agreed @Thunderfinger he was a talented guy. Watching another video today I learned that one of his daughters actually became a private detective ! That must be worth a few points in a pub quiz

    I wonder if she inherited his coat.

    He kept it at home (not in the Smithsonian as was rumoured) and it his was his own coat even before he started filming so anything's possible.

    And the car ! Was that Peter Falk's own car, too ?

    No, the car was chosen by him from the car pool at the Universal lot. Falk looked at a load of cars and then finally spotted the 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet convertible hidden away and said, "That's Columbo's car." And the rest, as they say, is TV history. :)

    You can read more about Columbo's car here:

    https://eu.recordonline.com/story/lifestyle/2020/06/25/car-history-peugeot-and-tyv-show-columbo/3207714001/
  • Posts: 1,545
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Agreed @Thunderfinger he was a talented guy. Watching another video today I learned that one of his daughters actually became a private detective ! That must be worth a few points in a pub quiz

    I wonder if she inherited his coat.

    He kept it at home (not in the Smithsonian as was rumoured) and it his was his own coat even before he started filming so anything's possible.

    And the car ! Was that Peter Falk's own car, too ?

    No, the car was chosen by him from the car pool at the Universal lot. Falk looked at a load of cars and then finally spotted the 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet convertible hidden away and said, "That's Columbo's car." And the rest, as they say, is TV history. :)

    You can read more about Columbo's car here:

    https://eu.recordonline.com/story/lifestyle/2020/06/25/car-history-peugeot-and-tyv-show-columbo/3207714001/

    Thanks, very much !
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I think it shows Falk already had the character more of less finalised in his
    mind, right from the start.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    BBC News: Why the world still loves 1970s detective show Columbo.
    https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210909-why-the-world-still-loves-1970s-detective-show-columbo
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    ComicBook.com: Columbo's First Season Debuted 50 Years Ago Today.
    https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/columbos-first-season-debuted-50-years-ago-today/
  • Posts: 6,682
    BBC News: Why the world still loves 1970s detective show Columbo.
    https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210909-why-the-world-still-loves-1970s-detective-show-columbo

    This article points out that Columbo's Last Case would've started with Columbo's retirement party. I didn't know that.

    I believe the new Columbo book that's coming out will have more information on that unproduced episode. I'd like to read about the unproduced episodes, and about Peter Falk's changing characterization of Columbo toward season seven. But I'm not that interested in reading the rest of the behind-the-scenes stuff.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Thanks for being a resource here too, @Dragonpol . My own rewatching of COLUMBO has been interrupted by my sudden interest in early episodes of GUNSMOKE (I never watched it growing up, for years I just listened to the old radio show, now I've finally discovered that I enjoy the first few seasons of the television show, which mostly used the same scripts).

    It's my pleasure, @Birdleson. I don't know everything about the show of course but I'm always trying to learn new stuff! :)
    Since62 wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Agreed @Thunderfinger he was a talented guy. Watching another video today I learned that one of his daughters actually became a private detective ! That must be worth a few points in a pub quiz

    I wonder if she inherited his coat.

    He kept it at home (not in the Smithsonian as was rumoured) and it his was his own coat even before he started filming so anything's possible.

    And the car ! Was that Peter Falk's own car, too ?

    No, the car was chosen by him from the car pool at the Universal lot. Falk looked at a load of cars and then finally spotted the 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet convertible hidden away and said, "That's Columbo's car." And the rest, as they say, is TV history. :)

    You can read more about Columbo's car here:

    https://eu.recordonline.com/story/lifestyle/2020/06/25/car-history-peugeot-and-tyv-show-columbo/3207714001/

    Thanks, very much !

    My pleasure, @Since62. :)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2021 Posts: 17,727
    mattjoes wrote: »
    BBC News: Why the world still loves 1970s detective show Columbo.
    https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210909-why-the-world-still-loves-1970s-detective-show-columbo

    This article points out that Columbo's Last Case would've started with Columbo's retirement party. I didn't know that.

    I believe the new Columbo book that's coming out will have more information on that unproduced episode. I'd like to read about the unproduced episodes, and about Peter Falk's changing characterization of Columbo toward season seven. But I'm not that interested in reading the rest of the behind-the-scenes stuff.

    Yes, and I'd encourage any big Columbo fans on here to order this excellent new book by David Koenig ASAP. I ordered it early and got a signed copy from the author. It really goes in-depth on each episode from a behind-the-scenes perspective and answers many questions you may have had over the years about Columbo:

    https://columbophile.com/2021/08/08/new-behind-the-scenes-columbo-book-on-sale-now/

    https://bonaventurepress.com/shooting-columbo/

    It's the book all serious Columbo fans have been waiting for for years!

    Shooting-Columbo-mini-cover.jpg?w=563&ssl=1

  • Posts: 17,241
    Really like that book cover!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2021 Posts: 17,727
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)
  • Posts: 17,241
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.

    It certainly is and, as I say, highly recommended reading! :)
  • Posts: 6,682
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Or maybe the title is dripping yellow paint over Columbo!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Or maybe the title is dripping yellow paint over Columbo!

    That's like something that would've happened to him in one of the episodes! I'm thinking of his encounter with the silly string in Short Fuse! :))
  • edited September 2021 Posts: 17,241
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.

    It certainly is and, as I say, highly recommended reading! :)

    I'll definitely try and get this book! It's also available on Kindle, so that's an option too.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.

    It certainly is and, as I say, highly recommended reading! :)

    I'll definitely try and get this book! It's also available on Kindle, so that's an option too.

    Yes, there are both options. If you want to know a lot of new stuff about the behind-the-scenes history of the show then this is the book for you!
  • Posts: 17,241
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.

    It certainly is and, as I say, highly recommended reading! :)

    I'll definitely try and get this book! It's also available on Kindle, so that's an option too.

    Yes, there are both options. If you want to know a lot of new stuff about the behind-the-scenes history of the show then this is the book for you!

    Can't say there are many TV shows that I'd find interesting to read a behind-the-scenes book about, but Columbo is different; it's development, the character and the guest stars will no doubt make for an interesting read!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Really like that book cover!

    Yes. It's great, isn't it? I like how the famous yellow Columbo title script illuminates Columbo's raincoat! :)

    Exactly! A nice touch by whoever made the cover illustration.

    It certainly is and, as I say, highly recommended reading! :)

    I'll definitely try and get this book! It's also available on Kindle, so that's an option too.

    Yes, there are both options. If you want to know a lot of new stuff about the behind-the-scenes history of the show then this is the book for you!

    Can't say there are many TV shows that I'd find interesting to read a behind-the-scenes book about, but Columbo is different; it's development, the character and the guest stars will no doubt make for an interesting read!

    Indeed. Same here. It's my favourite TV series bar none and the history of its creation is just as fascinating as the series itself.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    This interview of Peter Falk on the Paul O'Grady Show in 2007 to promote his book is a new one to me. Falk tells the story of how he came to find Lt Columbo's famous mac:

  • Posts: 2,400
    It's really amazing to me to watch some of these Columbo episodes, to get breakdowns of the crime that are upwards of 10 minutes in length, where the killer deflects and confidently misdirects only for Columbo to reveal another layer of dirt underneath, another piece of evidence, until he reveals the piece de resistance, the infallible proof that the suspect is guilty; and then to watch something like CSI where they just go "well your fingerprints were on the murder weapon so you're going to jail."
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,727
    What a Columbo reboot might look like?!:

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