COLUMBO SEASON 1(1971)
One of the best detective shows ever on TV, this started
out with the movie Prescription Murder and the fallow-up
movie Ransom For A Dead Man, which are both on this set!!
One of TVs greatest stars, Peter Falk, leads the series
and does a bang up job!
Just one more thing: This is backwards from almost all other
detective show in that you get to see what happened just as
the episodes start and then watch as Columbo figures it all
out!
PRESCRIPTION MURDER(Feb. 20, 1968):
A psychiatrist kills his wife with the help of his
mistress! A
A review from IMDb.com:
A shabby detective called Columbo sets out to prove that
a smooth talking doctor murdered his wife for his younger
mistress.
The pilot episode for the long running series which began
four years later. This probably stands as one of the best
with good performances and a neat twist ending which many
subsequent episodes lacked.
The film is based on Richard Levison & William Link's Broadway
show which starred Thomas Mitchell as Columbo.
Prescription Murder has been released on video in the UK
paired with the Dead Weight episode. - jamesraeburn2003
Cast:
Peter Falk ... Lt. Columbo
Gene Barry ... Dr. Ray Flemming
Katherine Justice ... Joan Hudson
William Windom ... Burt Gordon
Nina Foch ... Carol Flemming
Virginia Gregg ... Miss Petrie
Andrea King ... Cynthia Gordon
Susanne Benton ... The Blonde
Ena Hartman ... Nurse
Sherry Boucher ... Air Hostess
Anthony James ... Tommy
RANSOM FOR A DEAD MAN(Mar. 01, 1971):
A woman kills her boring husband! A
A review from IMDb.com:
My favorite part of this flick is the gotcha end, because
that's when Columbo tells an overconfident lady lawyer
killer exactly what she was: just that! Which also set
the trap for herself. She's so arrogant to believe money
can buy anything. Even the love of her dead victim's
daughter, who got the pleasure of saying goodbye to a
murderous stepmom one last time before Lt Columbo does
likewise in another way that brought a big surprise for
his target. - cluckie-12826
Cast:
Peter Falk ... Columbo
Lee Grant ... Leslie Williams
John Fink ... Michael Clark
Harold Gould ... Agent Carlson
Patricia Mattick ... Margaret Williams
Paul Carr ... Hammond
Jed Allan ... Phil
Charles Macaulay ... Richard
Hank Brandt ... Attorney(as Henry Brandt)
Jean Byron in The Patty Duke Show (1963)
Jean Byron ... Pat(as Jeane Byron)
Richard Roat ... Perkins
Norma Connolly ... Celia
Norma Connolly ... Celia
Harlan Warde ... Paul Williams
Norma Connolly ... Celia
Bill Walker ... Crowell
Timothy Carey ... Bert
Judson Morgan ... Judge
Richard O'Brien ... Priest
Celeste Yarnall ... Gloria
Lisa Moore ... Nancy
Lois Battle ... Waitress
Reginald Fenderson ... Mechanic
EPISODES 1: MURDER BY THE BOOK(Sept. 15, 1971):
A man who is known for being the author of many hit
suspense books is really a phoney and he kills the
man who is the actual writer!
Guest starring: Jack Cassidy, Martin Milner(Adam 12),
Rosemary Forsyth(Star Trek: VOY episode "Scientific Method)! B+
EPISODES 2: DEATH LENDS A HAND(Oct. 06, 1971):
A P.I.(Culp) tries to blackmail a rich man's wife and
winds up accidentally killing her!
Guest Starring: Robert Culp(I-Spy, The Greatest American
Hero), Ray Milland(Dial 'M' For Murder), Barbara Baldavin
(3 episodes of Star Trek: TOS)! B
EPISODE 3: DEAD WEIGHT(Oct. 27, 1971):
A general kills a colonel and a woman going by on a boat
sees it!
So far we have learned that Columbo doesn't like flying
or boats!
Guest starring: Eddie Albert(Green Acres), Suzanne Pleshette
(The Bob Newhart Show[1972])!! A
EPISODE 4: SUITABLE FOR FRAMING(Nov. 17, 1971):
A art critic offs his his rich uncle to get to his
paintings!
Guest starring: Ross Martin(WWW), Don Ameche(Trading Places,
Cocoon, Heaven Can Wait[1043]), Kim Hunter(Planet Of The Apes,
A Streetcar Named Desire), Vic Tayback(Alice)! A
EPISODE 5: LADY IN WAITING(Dec. 15, 1971):
A woman kills her controlling brother!
Guest starring: Leslie Neilson(Airplane!), John Anderson
(Forbidden Planet, Perry Mason, The Six Million Dollar Man,
The Bionic Woman), Jon Lormer(Star Trek: TOS episode "Return
Of The Archons", "The Cage", "For The World Is Hollow, And
I Have Seen The Sky"! A
EPISODE 6: SHORT FUSE(Jan. 19, 1972):
A man makes a bomb and kills his uncle and his bosses
Chauffeur!
Guest starring: Roddy McDowall(Planet Of The Apes), William
Windom(Star Trek: TOS episode The Doomsday Machine"), Star
Trek: Phase II/New Voyages episode "In Harms Way", Murder
She Wrote, The Farmer's Daughter), James Gregory(Barney Miller)! A
EPISODE 7: BLUEPRINT FOR MURDER(Feb. 09, 1972):
A big time developer kills his investor!
Guest starring: Patrick O'Neal(Under Siege, In Harms Way,
Perry Mason - The Case Of The Skin Deep Scandal, Perry
Mason Returns), Forrest Tucker(F-Troup), John Fielder
(Star Trek: TOS episode "Wolf In The Fold")! B
SPECIALS:
Setting The Bar:
A conversation with Ted Danson
LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT:
OPPPOSITES DISTRACT
COACH ERNIE PANTUSSO'S:
RULES OF THE GAME
I'LLL DRINK TO THAT:
STORMIN NORM-ISMS
IT'S A LITTLE KNOWN FACT
Cheers trivia game!
From another reviewer at IMDb.com:
I can't believe there are so few reviews on this, Columbo
is one of the defining detectives on television. He's so
low key, so unimposing, and it's a pleasure watching him
take down all those criminals that think they are are smarter
than him, better than him because of, well how little and,
well how wrinkled and cheap he appears.
He's the opposite of so many detectives on television these
days, the everyman solving crimes.
days, the everyman solving crimes.
It's just a brilliant approach to a character, and one that is fantastically fun to watch. - generationofswine