Columbo: Suitable for Framing (1971) (TV)

Director:

Hy Averback

Writers:

Jackson Gillis (written by)
Richard Levinson (creator) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 November 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Drama

Plot:

Noted art critic Dale Kingston kills his uncle for his valuable collection of paintings. Despite Columbo's suspicions, all the clues point to the dead man's ex-wife. Can the lieutenant reveal the true culprit before it is too late?

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Gardener | Ex Wife | Aunt | Will Reading

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Lieutenant Columbo
Ross Martin	...	Dale Kingston
Don Ameche	...	Frank Simpson
Kim Hunter	...	Edna Matthews
Rosanna Huffman	...	Tracy O'Connor
Joan Shawlee	...	Mitilda
Barney Phillips	...	Captain Tyler
Mary Wickes	...	Landlady
Vic Tayback	...	Sam Franklin
Sandra Gould	...	Matron
Curt Conway	...	Evans
Claude Johnson	...	Policeman
Dennis Rucker	...	Parking Boy (Joe)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kenny Salvatt	...	Party Guest at Art Gallery (uncredited)

Directed by
Hy Averback

Writing credits
Jackson Gillis		(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
Buddy Small		(as Budd Small)

Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon		(as Arch Bacon)

Set Decoration by
Richard Friedman

Production Management
Henry Kline	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gilbert Mandelik	....	assistant director (as Gil Mandelik)

Sound Department
James R. Alexander	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Burton Miller	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Henry Mancini	....	composer: theme music

Other crew
Steven Bochco	....	story editor
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer: main titles

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• DeAgostini Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• TV2 (2005) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Runtime:

USA:72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2004) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: Dale removes several paintings from the wall. Then, when Tracy enters, we see her admire the paintings still on the wall, including two of the painting that Dale had taken down already. These two paintings not only have jumped back onto the wall, they also mended themselves where Dale had sliced them with a knife.

Quotes:

Lt. Columbo: Oh, listen, one more thing...
[Kingston groans in exasperation]
Lt. Columbo: It'll just - it'll just take a second. I stopped by your apartment a few times.
Dale Kingston: Why, do you want to search my place?
Lt. Columbo: No. Just to ask you something about art. You said you had some books and things there that I could see.
Dale Kingston: You may look at anything you wish. You can snoop in all of my closets. You can peek under the beds. You won't find any stolen paintings.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, really, I've never said anything about...
Dale Kingston: [removes key from key ring] Here, would you like the key to my apartment? You may simply leave it under the mat when you leave.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, really, I...
Dale Kingston: No, no, go ahead, I insist. See what I live like, find out what kind of human being I am, learn everything you can about me.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Followed by Columbo: Grand Deceptions (1989) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Promenade

Usual Columbo but still good

One of the first in the amazing and very famous TV series about the detective. The TV - Movies are always very interesting and this one is just another addition to that great series.

In this one Columbo follows and art critic who suspects of killing a man and stealing paintings. The bad guy always trying to cover up his crime never escapes Columbo's suspicions.

Like as I said, all very entertaining and interesting keeping you quessing to the end how the crime will be solved.