"Columbo" A Stitch in Crime (1973)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Hy Averback

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

11 February 1973 (Season 2, Episode 6)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A surgeon has an ingenious plan for murdering his partner in a research project, but a nurse catches onto the scheme.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Surgeon | Murder | Detective | Doctor

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Leonard Nimoy	...	Dr. Barry Mayfield
Anne Francis	...	Nurse Sharon Martin
Nita Talbot	...	Marcia Dalton
Will Geer	...	Dr. Edmund Hidemann
Aneta Corsaut	...	Nurse Morgan
Jared Martin	...	Harry Alexander
Victor Millan	...	Detective Flores
Ken Sansom	...	Paul (as Kenneth Sansom)
Murray MacLeod	...	Dr. Simpson
Leonard Simon	...	Dr. Michaelson
Ron Stokes	...	Tom
Patsy Garrett	...	Cleaning Woman

Runtime:

USA:73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2005) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: (At 38:00) We see a close-up of Sharon's roommate Marcia reaching for a tissue in her bag. The bag is opened since we see the buckle up her breasts. In the next (wider) shot she's still struggling to open her bag.

Quotes:

Dr. Barry Mayfield: Maybe Marcia knows more than she's telling.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, actually I think she knows less than she's telling.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Columbo: The Conspirators (#7.5)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Sunday Mystery Movie Theme

Did anybody notice "Helen Crump"??

Aneta Corsaut portrayed Andy Taylor's girlfriend/wife in the top-rated (Number 1!!) TV show, "Andy Griffith." Yet, three years later, she goes by barely noticed in a series of guest supporting TV appearances, as with her Nurse Morgan walk-on here. Interesting.

Overall, a great "Columbo" episode, minus the overacting of the previous two installments.

Perhaps the script goes a bit overboard in portraying Columbo's slovenly appearance and behavior, and I certainly do not want to watch him eat another meal, ever again.

Jared Martin is excellent in his brief appearance, and Geer plays the type of character he specialized in bringing to life. Nimoy is indeed a bit "wooden" at times, but I assume that's why he was cast in the role. Anne Francis's second "Columbo" outing is fine.

Director Averback specialized in TV movies, pilots and series episodes, so the production is professional, is not somewhat pedestrian.

Does anybody know what building is used for exteriors of the hospital?