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IMDb > "Columbo" Murder by the Book (1971)
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"Columbo" Murder by the Book (1971)


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Columbo: Seasons 1 - 7: Season 1: Episode 1 -- US Home Video Trailer from Universal TV

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,156 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Writers:
Steven Bochco (written by)
Richard Levinson (creator) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Murder by the Book on IMDbPro.
TV Series:
"Columbo" (1971)
Original Air Date:
15 September 1971 (Season 1, Episode 1)
Plot:
Ken Franklin is a rich socialite living in a luxurious coastal mansion bought from his years of writing crime and mystery books... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Falk's Daughter Makes Her Case For Conservatorship In Court
 (From WENN. 28 May 2009, 12:15 PM, PDT)

Bullitt And Knight Rider's Autos Rev Up On Top Car List
 (From WENN. 4 February 2009, 11:45 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Showed promise at an early stage - especially for the director. more

Cast

 (Episode Cast) (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Peter Falk ... Columbo
Jack Cassidy ... Ken Franklin
Rosemary Forsyth ... Joanna Ferris
Martin Milner ... Jim Ferris
Barbara Colby ... Lilly La Sanka
Lynette Mettey ... Gloria Jr. (as Lynnette Mettey)
Bernie Kuby ... Mike Tucker
Hoke Howell ... Sergeant

Marcia Wallace ... Woman (credit only)
Haven Earle Haley ... 2nd Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anitra Ford ... Woman at Theater (uncredited)
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Episode Crew
Directed by
Steven Spielberg 
 
Writing credits
Steven Bochco (written by)

Richard Levinson (creator) &
William Link (creator)

Produced by
Richard Levinson .... producer
William Link .... producer
Robert F. O'Neill .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg 
 
Cinematography by
Russell Metty (director of photography) (as Russell L. Metty)
 
Film Editing by
John Kaufman  (as John Kaufman, Jr.)
 
Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon  (as Arch Bacon)
 
Set Decoration by
Richard Friedman 
 
Production Management
Henry Kline .... unit manager
Henry Kline .... production manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ralph Ferrin .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
David H. Moriarty .... sound
 
Stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Burton Miller .... costumes
 
Editorial Department
Richard Belding .... editorial supervisor
Steve Johnson .... colorist (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Henry Mancini .... composer: theme
James D. Young .... music editor (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Steven Bochco .... story editor
Attila De Lado .... main title design (as Attila de Lado)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
73 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:K-7 (2004) | Denmark:11 (2004) | Norway:15 (2004) | Sweden:15 (2004)
Company:
Universal TV more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Marcia Wallace receives a credit for this episode but does not appear in it. She appears in "Columbo: Lady in Waiting (#1.5)" (1971) as a spectator at the inquest, but receives no on-screen credit. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Lilly La Sanka dips strawberries in sugar and eats them, while talking to Ken Franklin. In a shot looking toward Franklin, we see that Lilly is holding an entire strawberry, still coated with sugar at the tip. A moment later (and also in the previous shot), before she can take a bite, we see that Lilly's strawberry is half-devoured. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[Jim works in his office]
Jim Ferris: [knock on the door] Who is it?
[another knock on the door]
Jim Ferris: [He opens the door - Ken is aiming a gun at his face. Jim laughs]
Ken Franklin: Oh, you're not intimidated.
Jim Ferris: Oh, come on, Ken. You're forgetting that I'm one-half of the world's greatest mystery-writing team? You, ah, don't have gloves on, your finger's not on the trigger, and there are no bullets in the cylinder.
Ken Franklin: [smiling] You're right. I'm a lousy practical joker.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Office: Work Experience (#1.2)" (2001) more
Soundtrack:
Love Theme from 'Red Sky At Morning' more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 10 people found the following comment useful:-
Showed promise at an early stage - especially for the director., 26 August 2000
Author: (hispro@bright.net) from Celina, Ohio

Originally, this TV movie was only a curiosity to me. I purchased the video and found myself captivated to the brilliant plot written for TV by the then unknown Steven Bochco.

Even though the story does not stand to too much examining, as you know from the start who the murderer is and, because it IS an episode of "Columbo", you also know who will win in the end, it still is a very enjoyable movie with a stunning cast.

Early in his career, you can still tell who is directing just by the sheer artistry of the camera angles and placement of actors and props. Steven Spielberg's fingerprints are all over this movie, using techniques that he still uses today in his most recent movies.

I recommend that you watch it, just out of curiosity.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Two things that bothers me dinandwoesthof
Dissapointed in the ending easmax
The parking on the roof (opening sequence) is as it was in 1971 octopusmagnificens
Location of the cabin..... Senzaltro
Columbo's Manner PatrickHarper
Deja vu? (SPOILER) Senzaltro
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