"Columbo" Requiem for a Falling Star (1973)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

21 January 1973 (Season 2, Episode 5)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A faded movie actress commits murder. Lt. Columbo, one of her biggest fans, is on the case.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Star | Murder | Crime Investigation | Criminal Investigation

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Anne Baxter	...	Nora Chandler
Kevin McCarthy	...	Dr. Frank Simmons
Frank Converse	...	Mr. Fallon
Pippa Scott	...	Jean Davis
Mel Ferrer	...	Jerry Parks
Edith Head	...	Herself
Sidney Miller	...	Director (as Sid Miller)
William Bryant	...	Sgt. Jeffries
John Archer	...	Paul
Jack Griffin	...	Gate guard
Robert E. Meredith	...	Joe
Bart Burns	...	Sgt. Fields

Runtime:

Germany:60 min (cut version) | USA:70 min | Germany:70 min (uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2005) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: A blonde girl in grey dress climbs the same stairs twice during the conversation between Lt. Columbo and Mr. Fallon.

Quotes:

Lt. Columbo: I had an uncle who played bagpipes in the shriners band; he couldn't play a note, but nobody could tell the difference.

One of the few Columbo stories to successfully incorporate deviations to the usual formula

A Season 2 Columbo story that is primarily notable for it's success in straying slightly from the hitherto successful Columbo formula by installing a plot with twists relating to both motive and murder victim.

Anne Baxter gives a captivating, well-judged performance as a movie star in decline who realises that the blossoming relationship of her secretary and a persistent journalist could uncover her darkest secrets. Her deep-rooted desperation and selfish protectiveness are intriguingly conveyed in a story that is never quite what it seems: the viewer is not armed with all of the incriminating facts from the outset, so although it is not a who-dunnit, it is successfully sustained as a why-did-she-do-it.

Mel Ferrer also gives a decent performance as the journalist and his scenes with Baxter are consistently powerfully staged and purposefully developed.

There is a priceless scene too involving a cameo from real-life costume designer Edith Head, who gives Columbo a lavish tie from her rather vast wardrobe.

One other noteworthy and enjoyable sequence is when Columbo confronts the murderess near the end with the things that bothered him...

The script-writer Jackson Gillis expertly keeps things going at a startlingly frantic pace, and although the coincidence which helps Columbo solve the case is too coincidental, the strength in the plot, script and performances are too be admired, making this a little gem for the Columbo archives.