It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
This sounds really cool; the idea of the murderer filming the crime is so arrogant and provocative. Also, Columbo being followed by a documentary crew would have been interesting.
Just the story of how Peter Falk got to read this is splendid. I would have enjoyed the change of pace of a non-US, picturesque location.
This is an often-reused storytelling concept (that is, a priest involved in murder in one way or another), but I would've liked to have seen it featured in the show. It makes me think of Columbo and the murderer developing a certain affection for the other. I imagine the ending could have been quite dramatic.
This sounds too much like Lovely But Lethal; not much to say beyond that, seeing more details aren't available.
Why not?
This could have been okay, provided they cast the reality show cast members properly. I find it's easy to make these younger characters annoying (though they did very well with Matthew Rhys in Columbo Likes the Nightlife). But Columbo would have needed to interact with some older characters as well, otherwise the vibe of the episode would have been too different.
Someday...
----
The idea of Columbo in Japan sounds intriguing too. There could have plenty of humor in it, with Columbo trying to adjust to Japanese traditions and customs.
From the book The Columbo Collection, the premise of the story The Criminal Criminal Attorney sounds interesting, as well.
https://deadline.com/2021/06/joanne-linville-dead-star-trek-romulan-commander-twilight-zone-hawaii-five-0-1234778979/
Yes, saw that a little earlier. Sad news. She was very good in what was an excellent episode with a very memorable ending!
I started with first episode of season 1 (I will watch the two pilots when I get to them on the disks) Murder by the Book is certainly one of the best episodes, directed by Spielberg and his potential and skill as a director is on show here.
What is so great about the 70's Columbo movies is the genuine talent that wrote and directed during this time, the cast list is also phenomenal many from the Golden and International periods of Hollywood.
Its a very weak light weight installment that's the best compliment I can give it.
Thankfully Columbo's swan song was much better and more serious in tone, its a shame Peter Falk did not make any further films after Columbo Likes the Night Life, or alternatively Columbo Likes the Night Life happened earlier.
As much as it's nice to see Billy Connolly and Peter Falk together in an episode of Columbo (and singing together to boot!) Murder with Too Many Notes (2001) is sadly lacking in several areas. It's actually got a pretty good story reminiscent of the first episode of Columbo proper, Murder by the Book (1971). By that I mean the similarity with the murderer killing his more talented and ambitious partner in order to cover up his own resounding lack of talent. Of course there were other motives at play too in Murder by the Book such as the life insurance policy taken out for Jim Ferris. The murder plot is nice and complex and there are some great clues that Lt Columbo follows up.
However, there is a lot of filler in the episode such as the interminable night driving scene that makes no sense and the scene where Columbo has to guess film theme tunes from the orchestra that he should already be familiar with. The other big letdown with the episode is the conclusion which doesn't make a lot of sense in terms of using evidence to catch the killer. As such, it just sort of ends as the killer being led away by policemen is what the series requires. I think the reported issues and problems on the set didn't help the finished product. And it's certainly not Patrick McGooghan's finest hour as Columbo director, either. Still, not the worst episode for me. There are plenty of other episodes that are worse, chief amongst them the truly awful Murder in Malibu (1990).
Yes, I think most Columbo fans feel the same, including myself. The NBC episodes are definitely the best of the series. That's not to say there weren't good episodes in the newer ABC series because there were but they just weren't as plentiful.
Admittedly Murder in Malibu does feel more Murder she Wrote than Columbo certainly the way it is shot, very much a sign of the times.
I think I am going to watch Season 8 onwards then go back and watch the NBC era after. The first 7 season are brilliant I will save the best til last, I prefer the grittier realism of 70's TV and film with this genre.
He would've have been a good choice. Good actor. There were quite a few good British actors who appeared as guest stars on Columbo over the years.
Billy Connolly was very happy to get the offer. Recently having watched the
Monochrome episodes of The Saint. Listening to the special feature They
mentioned that Patrick McGoohan was considered for the role But because
of his strict Catholic upbringing ( I think he'd wanted to be a Priest at one
point ) He refused to kiss any woman on screen as he was married. Which
sort of automatically ruled him out of playing the Dashing Simon Templar.
Yes, I've heard he was a very devout Catholic. He said he didn't want to play Bond for the same reasons, namely the violence and the sex and the womanising the role represented. I find it somewhat ironic that he then went on to play the murderer in Columbo a record four times seemingly without any moral qualms! McGoohan also directed five episodes of the show as well. Actors are a funny breed sometimes, plus I've heard he was an alcoholic as well and many Christians don't believe in drinking at all. I suppose anyone can justify anything to themselves if they want to and then rail against something which is in fact fictional. It seems the wrong way around to me but there it is.
Interesting. I'd not heard that before, @Thunderpussy. I of course agree that there was only one Peter Falk and that he was perfectly cast as Columbo. Falk and McGoohan were good friends in real life too.
Ah, I see. Yes, there's some good ones out there now and some good Columbo podcasts too. All the trivia about the show is very interesting to know and learn.
---
I'd like to read William Link's book, The Columbo Collection. It's not too cheap, though. An ebook release would be welcome.
Yes, Sherlock Holmes v Columbo would be an episode well worth seeing I'd say. Your comparison with Dr Kepple is a good one. A more intellectual killer using his special skillset to commit the "perfect murder".
I have The Columbo Collection on my Columbo bookshelf. I can't recall what I paid for it in 2012 or so but I don't think that it was too much. Perhaps it's went up in value since then though. Mark Dawidziak's The Columbo Phile (1989) on the other hand was much more expensive though no Columbo book collection is complete withbout it. Plus, in 2019 it was reissued in an updated and more affordable version for the 30th anniversary of its original publication.
Perhaps columbo could of stopped Darth Sidious
The original Columbo interesting to see someone beside Falk play the character seems cigar smoking was always apart of the character
Wow, so that's Enough Rope (1960)! Never thought we'd ever be able to see this. I'll look forward to watching it later! A great find there, @Risico007!
And thanks @Dragonpol as soon as I saw it I had to post it much like Barry Nelson’s 007 it’s interesting to see the early takes