Columbo: Season 1
Universal Studios (1968)
TV Series  /  Crime, Mystery
In Collection
#275
0*
Seen ItYes
025192558320
IMDB   8.3
725 mins USA / English
DVD  Region 1   PG (Parental Guidance)
Peter Falk Columbo
Leoda Richards Theatre Patron
Marcia Wallace Woman
Ray Milland Arthur Kennicutt
Timothy Carey Bert
Mike Lally Man in Line
Jeffrey Sayre Theatre Patron
Bob Harks Man at Dedication
Bobby Gilbert Exhibit Patron
Mark Russell Police Sgt.
Clark Ross Man at Dedication
Roddy McDowall Roger Stanford
Leslie Nielsen Peter Hamilton
Harold Gould Agent Carlson
John Fiedler Doctor
Richard O'Brien Priest
Frank Baker Theatre Patron
Mary Wickes Landlady
Kim Hunter Edna Matthews
Richard Anderson Bryce Chadwick
Director
Steven Spielberg
Jack Smight
Richard Irving
Edward M. Abroms
Producer Richard Irving
Richard Levinson
William Link
Dean Hargrove
Writer William Kelley
Steven Bochco
Barney Slater
Richard Levinson
Cinematography Lionel Lindon
Russell Metty
Harry L. Wolf
Lloyd Ahern Sr.
Musician Billy Goldenberg
Gil Mellé


Many criminals made the mistake of underestimating Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide investigator with a crumpled trench-coat and a beat-up car, who certainly acted as an incompetent bumbler.

But he was so polite to every suspect, and he talked so much about his wife (who we never got to see on any episode, but who many believe later had her own show, starring Kate Mulgrew, later of Star Trek: Voyager fame) that he lulled even the shrewdest murderer into a false sense of security.

And although the audience had witnessed the murder in the beginning of each episode, it was still a surprise to see what mistakes the killers had made during the seemingly perfect murder.
Episodes
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    2/20/1968  1.  Prescription: Murder
Columbo's first mystery pits him against a cheating doctor out to get rid of his wife in favor of his young, pretty actress girlfriend.
Director:  Richard Irving  Writer:  Richard Levinson  /  William Link 
Guest starring:  Gene Barry,  William Windom, Katherine Justice,  Nina Foch, Virginia Gregg,  Andrea King, Susanne Benton, Ena Hartman, Sherry Boucher, Anthony James, Tom Williams, Don Stewart, Clark Howat, Jim Creech
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    3/1/1971  2.  Ransom for a Dead Man
A high-flying lady lawyer kills her husband for the insurance money, and tries to makes It look like a kidnapping gone wrong.
Director:  Richard Irving  Writer:  Richard Levinson  /  William Link  / Dean Hargrove 
Guest starring:  Lee GrantJohn FinkHarold GouldPatricia MattickPaul CarrJed AllanCharles MacaulayHank BrandtJean ByronRichard RoatNorma ConnollyHarlan Warde, Bill Walker,  Timothy Carey, Judson Morgan,  Richard O'BrienCeleste Yarnall, Lisa Moore,  Lois Battle
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    9/15/1971  3.  Murder by the Book
One member of a mystery-writing-team decides to kill his more talented partner when the better writer decides to go solo.
Director:  Steven Spielberg  Writer:  Steve Bocho 
Guest starring:  Jack Cassidy,  Rosemary Forsyth, Martin Milner,  Barbara ColbyLynette MetteyBernie Kuby, Hoke Howell,  Marcia Wallace, Haven Earle Haley,  Anitra Ford
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    10/6/1971  4.  Death Lends a Hand
A private investigator kills his client's wife after she threatens to expose his blackmail scheme. The client then hires the detective to assist Columbo in the search for the killer.
Director:  Bernard L. Kowalski  Writer:  Richard Levinson  /  William Link 
Guest starring:  Robert Culp, Pat Crowley,  Ray Milland, Brett Halsey, Eric James,  Don Keefer, Len Wayland, Lieux Dressler, Barbara Baldavin, Bill Hickman
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    10/27/1971  5.  Dead Weight
A famous general kills a business associate, then woos a neurotic female witness to thwart Columbo's investigation.
Director:  Jack Smight  Writer:  John T. Dugan 
Guest starring:  Eddie AlbertKate ReidSuzanne PleshetteJohn KerrVal AveryTimothy Carey, Clete Roberts, Ron Castro, Glen Vernon, Jim Pelham, James Halferty
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    11/17/1971  6.  Suitable for Framing
An art critic, Dale Kingston, kills his uncle for his valuable collection of paintings. All the clues lead to the dead man's first wife. Can Columbo correct the Lieutenant's error before it is too late?
Director:  Hy Averback  Writer:  Jackson Gillis 
Guest starring:  Ross Martin, Don Ameche,  Kim HunterRosanna HuffmanJoan ShawleeBarney PhillipsMary WickesVic Tayback, Sandra Gould, Curt Conway, Claude Johnson,  Dennis Rucker, Kenny Salvatt
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    12/15/1971  7.  Lady in Waiting
A woman shoots her overbearing brother, claiming she thought he was a burglar. Columbo doesn't buy the self-defense claim - he know's it's murder
Director:  Norman Lloyd  Writer:  Steven Bochco  /  Barney Slater 
Guest starring:  Susan Clark,  Jessie Royce LandisRichard AndersonLeslie NielsenJoel FluellenRichard Bull, Garry Walberg,  Barbara RhoadesJon LormerFrank Baxter, Susan Barrister,  Fred Draper, Frances E. Nealy,  Marcia Wallace
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    1/19/1972  8.  Short Fuse
A chemist rigs a bomb in his uncle's car to gain control of his uncle's company, then plants clues to make Columbo suspicious of the company's Vice-President.
Director:  Edward M. Abroms  Writer:  Jackson Gillis  / Lester Pine  / Tina Pine 
Guest starring:  Roddy McDowallAnne FrancisJames GregoryIda LupinoWilliam Windom, Steve Gravers, Lawrence Cook, Rosalind Miles,  Lew BrownJason Wingreen, Eddie Quillan,  Stuart Nisbet, Annette Molen, Jim Neumarker,  George Sawaya
    Seen it: Yes   120 mins    2/9/1972  9.  Blueprint for Murder
An architect kills his business partner and deliberately lets Columbo suspect him, leading Columbo to think that he's hidden the body in the foundation of a building under construction. He plans to let Columbo dig up the site and find nothing, knowing that its the perfect place to hide the body since Columbo would never look in the same place twice.
Director:  Peter Falk  Writer:  William Kelley  /  Steven Bochco 
Guest starring:  Patrick O'Neal,  Janis Paige, Pamela Austin,  John FiedlerForrest Tucker, Bettye Ackerman,  John FinneganNick Dennis, Robert Gibbons, Cliff Carnell, Jimmy Joyce
Edition Details
Series Columbo
Distributor Universal Studios
Release Date 9/7/2004
Packaging Custom Case
Screen Ratio Fullscreen (4:3)
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital Stereo [English]
Dolby Digital Mono [English]
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Discs/Tapes 5

Features
Disc 01 Two Original Columbo Movies