"Columbo" Death Lends a Hand (1971)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Bernard L. Kowalski

Writers:

Richard Levinson (creator) &
William Link (creator) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

6 October 1971 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Brimmer, a short-tempered private detective, is hired by Arthur Kennicut, a prominent Los Angeles publisher...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Investigation | Private Detective | Murder Investigation | Murder

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Robert Culp	...	Investigator Brimmer
Pat Crowley	...	Mrs. Lenore Kennicut (as Patricia Crowley)
Ray Milland	...	Arthur Kennicut
Brett Halsey	...	Ken Archer
Eric James	...	Denning
Don Keefer	...	Medical Examiner
Len Wayland	...	Capt. of Detectives
Lieux Dressler	...	Ceil Gentry
Barbara Baldavin	...	Brimmer's Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Hickman	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Bernard L. Kowalski		(as Bernard Kowalski)

Writing credits
Richard Levinson		(creator) &
William Link		(creator)
Richard Levinson		(written by) &
William Link		(written by)

Produced by
Richard Levinson	....	producer
William Link	....	producer
Robert F. O'Neill	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Gil Melle		(as Gil Mellé)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography) (as Russell L. Metty)

Film Editing by
Edward M. Abroms

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
Jack Barry	....	assistant director

Sound Department
David H. Moriarty	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Burton Miller	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist

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

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

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Levinson		creator
William Link		creator

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• DeAgostini Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Runtime:

USA:72 min | Italy:72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2004)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery - 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The first regular Columbo episode filmed, after two pilot movies. It was the second episode aired, however.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the beginning, Brimmer is shown driving his black Cadillac Eldorado at night with the body of Lenore Kennicut in the trunk. For 3 seconds, we then see Lee Grant from "Ransom for a Dead Man" driving a green Lincoln Continental. Then the film cuts back to Brimmer.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Columbo: Forgotten Lady (#5.1)" (1975)

great episode featuring a repeat offender

This is one of the first and best Columbos, starring Robert Culp and Ray Milland. Robert Culp appeared on another Columbo, as did several other villains, including Patrick McGoohan, William Shatner, and Jack Cassidy. Ray Milland also made a later appearance.

In this one, Ray Milland is convinced his beautiful wife, played by Patricia Crowley, is having an affair, so he hires Culp to investigate. Culp has a blackmailing business on the side, so he gives Milland a fake report and threatens Crowley with the real one if she doesn't pay up. They get into a huge fight in Culp's home, and she winds up murdered. Enter Columbo.

Culp does everything he can to get Columbo off the case, including offering him a job, but Columbo is on to him from the beginning.

Excellent episode.