"Columbo" Make Me a Perfect Murder (1978)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

James Frawley

Writers:

Robert Blees (written by)
Richard Levinson (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

25 February 1978 (Season 7, Episode 3)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

An Emmy-winning TV executive kills her lover (who is also her boss); Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Plot Keywords:

Murder Investigation | Crime Solving | Detective Series | Murder Suspect | Investigation

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Trish Van Devere	...	Kay Freestone
Laurence Luckinbill	...	Mark McAndrews
James McEachin	...	Walter Mearhead
Ron Rifkin	...	Luther
Lainie Kazan	...	Valerie Kirk
Bruce Kirby	...	TV repairman
Kip Gilman	...	Jonathan (as Kenneth Gilman)
Patrick O'Neal	...	Frank Flanagan
Milt Kogan	...	Dubbing chief
Dee Timberlake	...	Madge
Don Eitner	...	Pete Cockrum
Morgan Upton	...	Ames
Joe Warfield	...	Al Staley
George Skaff	...	The Producer

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:11 (2007) (DVD) | Sweden:15 (2007) (DVD) | Denmark:15 (2007) (DVD) | Finland:K-18 (2007) (DVD) (self applied)

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: As Columbo questions Kay for the first time, he is fumbling with some pieces of paper and a notebook. Of course he can't find the one he is looking for. He puts the items on a desk as he goes through his pockets once more. Then he picks everything up and walks away from the desk. When he wonders once more where the piece of paper is he is looking for, he walks back to the desk and the pieces of paper and notebook are on the desk.

Quotes:

Mark McAndrews: Make me a perfect murder, babe.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

THE THUNDERER

One of the best Columbo!

George C. Scott's wife Trish Van Devere gives an excellent and memorable performance as a woman scorned by her secret boyfriend and network executive. I can't blame her character for being so upset. Her longtime secret male companion treats her like leftover meat. He plans to go to New YOrk City and take a top network job while she is treated with no indifference since she is the backbone and force behind the network. She makes few bad decisions but she knows too much and she feels used time and time again. I love her discussions with Columbo. They get along pretty well. Lainie Kazan has a supporting role playing a celebrity with a lot of personal and emotional problems. Too bad, there a not a lot of top television female executives around. The killing of her boss and lover shows that you don't mess with a strong, smart woman and expect to buy her love off with a car.