Columbo
Moderator: Styles Bitchley
- Styles Bitchley
- Magnum Wristwatch Aficionado / Deputy SpamHammer
- Posts: 2674
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:15 pm
- Location: Canada
- rubber chicken
- Master Location Sleuth
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:53 am
- Location: Great Lakes region
I'm more bummed out by Peter Falk's passing than any other "celebrity" death in recent years. I first knew him from The Princess Bride, then Colombo which I grew to love (but I haven't seen on tv for a long time now), then I started looking for movies he had been in, and I've never been disappointed.
The article I read in the local paper wrote that at the beginning of his career an agent said to him "of course you'll never be able to work in television or film" because of his glass eye. I also never knew that Colombo began as part of the Sunday NBC Mystery Movie series. Some forum members probably know this, but Colombo played every third week, with McCloud and McMillan & Wife airing the other two weeks.
Here's a short clip from Murder By Death.
The article I read in the local paper wrote that at the beginning of his career an agent said to him "of course you'll never be able to work in television or film" because of his glass eye. I also never knew that Colombo began as part of the Sunday NBC Mystery Movie series. Some forum members probably know this, but Colombo played every third week, with McCloud and McMillan & Wife airing the other two weeks.
Here's a short clip from Murder By Death.
- J.J. Walters
- Founding Father
- Posts: 4196
- Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:54 pm
- Location: Suburbia, USA
- Contact:
RIP Peter Falk!
He's always been one of my favorite actors. Columbo, Murder by Death, Princess Bride, A Woman Under the Influence, and so many more! He was a great actor!
"The eye supplied him with fodder for the colorful stories he like to tell, including how it ended up in the mouth of a Pekingese and in the glass of gin that jazz pianist Art Tatum had been drinking."
An American icon!
He's always been one of my favorite actors. Columbo, Murder by Death, Princess Bride, A Woman Under the Influence, and so many more! He was a great actor!
"The eye supplied him with fodder for the colorful stories he like to tell, including how it ended up in the mouth of a Pekingese and in the glass of gin that jazz pianist Art Tatum had been drinking."
An American icon!
Higgins: It's not a scratch! It's a bloody gouge!
- rubber chicken
- Master Location Sleuth
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:53 am
- Location: Great Lakes region
On last week's Ebert Presents At The Movies, Roger Ebert talked about Peter Falk and two of his films in a short two and a half minute piece.
- Styles Bitchley
- Magnum Wristwatch Aficionado / Deputy SpamHammer
- Posts: 2674
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:15 pm
- Location: Canada
Thanks RC. Haven't seen either of those films. They look pretty good.rubber chicken wrote:On last week's Ebert Presents At The Movies, Roger Ebert talked about Peter Falk and two of his films in a short two and a half minute piece.
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."
- J.Q.H.
- J.Q.H.
- rubber chicken
- Master Location Sleuth
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:53 am
- Location: Great Lakes region
For what it's worth I recommend them both highly, for those at all interested in such films. Roger Ebert has also written reviews of both films for his Great Movies series. I always enjoy reading his Great Movies reviews after seeing a movie he's included. As they aren't written on a deadline, they're better than the everyday critics reviews - very well written and thought provoking. For anyone interested, here's Wings of Desire, and A Woman Under the Influence.
Used to watch Columbo when it was first aired, you know, back in the "ole days" Always liked it then and not much has changed for me regarding that.
Just got my boxed set from Amazon of the entire series plus all the movie specials were included, at least as far as I can determine.
Am in the process of watching it all over again, a season at a time (no...not all at one sitting! ) More enjoyable now than I remember it being originally, but I guess that could be cause maybe my perspective is a little more mature? Either way, am really enjoying it.
Got the entire package for 60 bucks, free delivery! It was listed as a one day special, which I'm guessing is true cause next day it was listed at over $170 for the same package, with shipping extra! Don't know if they'll list it again for the reduced price, but I think I got a great deal. No problems with any of the discs yet, and I'm almost through season 3.
Anyway, just thought I'd let anybody interested know that the complete series is now available.
Oh yea, amongst the season 3 discs, is included a "bonus" of an episode of "Mr's Columbo", starring Kate Mulgrew which was an unexpected pleasure, as it was not mentioned in the ad for the set. I'm liking it!
Just got my boxed set from Amazon of the entire series plus all the movie specials were included, at least as far as I can determine.
Am in the process of watching it all over again, a season at a time (no...not all at one sitting! ) More enjoyable now than I remember it being originally, but I guess that could be cause maybe my perspective is a little more mature? Either way, am really enjoying it.
Got the entire package for 60 bucks, free delivery! It was listed as a one day special, which I'm guessing is true cause next day it was listed at over $170 for the same package, with shipping extra! Don't know if they'll list it again for the reduced price, but I think I got a great deal. No problems with any of the discs yet, and I'm almost through season 3.
Anyway, just thought I'd let anybody interested know that the complete series is now available.
Oh yea, amongst the season 3 discs, is included a "bonus" of an episode of "Mr's Columbo", starring Kate Mulgrew which was an unexpected pleasure, as it was not mentioned in the ad for the set. I'm liking it!
"C'mon TC...nothing can go wrong!"
-
- Fleet Admiral
- Posts: 456
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:48 pm
- Location: Hawaii
Re: Columbo
Just one more thing...
You can't list great Peter Falk movies and not mention The In-Laws (1979.) It's an all time classic.
RIP
You can't list great Peter Falk movies and not mention The In-Laws (1979.) It's an all time classic.
RIP
Re: Columbo
I recently watched an episode from season one..Blueprint for Murder..1972...Sellecks house was used for filming.
- Little Garwood
- Fleet Admiral
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:53 pm
- Location: The Magnumverse
Re: Columbo
The best killers all have repeat appearances:
Jack Cassidy--
Murder by the Book
Publish or Perish
Now You See Him
My #1 pick, and the guest actor most associated with this show. No one's smarmier, sleazier, and yet so utterly charming! I haven't seen Cassidy in too much else, but I daresay outside of his Broadway roles, his Columbo appearances are his lasting career legacy. Cassidy plays it broad, but it's always believable. He's got that sleaze/charm routine down pat. Forget Indiana Jones, I'd ask Spielberg what it was like to direct Jack Cassidy!
Robert Culp-
Death Lends a Hand
The Most Crucial Game
Double Exposure
What I like about Culp's performances is that they actually seem like a real life arrogant S.O.B. Not played over-the-top, but he's like someone you'd meet and then despise. His Bart Kepple barely tolerates Lt. Columbo, but only deals with him because the man is the law. Kudos to Culp for growing a Fu Manchi 'stache for The Most Crucial Game.
Patrick McGoohan-
By Dawn's Early Light
Identity Crisis
By Dawn's Early Light is a preview of McGoohan's Escape From Alcatrazwarden. Both men are righteous and totally blind in their belief system, with no room for negotiation. Yes, they believe their own tired cliches, like Haynes says to McGoohan in Early Light.
My favorite McGoohan is Identity Crisis, when The Master brings a charm and "Be seeing you" to the proceedings. He even gets to play spy with his Steinmetz persona. Love Pat's 1970s threads, too. The fact that McGoohan seemed uncomfortable in his own skin is what I find fascinating about him. The tension he brought to every character he ever played is one of the great aspects of his style.
These three performers are hands down the very best in terms of rapport with Lt. Columbo: deviousness, charm, and all-around screen charisma---IMO. And they all bring their unique strengths to their roles and make every Columbo they're in the most memorable for me.
Jack Cassidy--
Murder by the Book
Publish or Perish
Now You See Him
My #1 pick, and the guest actor most associated with this show. No one's smarmier, sleazier, and yet so utterly charming! I haven't seen Cassidy in too much else, but I daresay outside of his Broadway roles, his Columbo appearances are his lasting career legacy. Cassidy plays it broad, but it's always believable. He's got that sleaze/charm routine down pat. Forget Indiana Jones, I'd ask Spielberg what it was like to direct Jack Cassidy!
Robert Culp-
Death Lends a Hand
The Most Crucial Game
Double Exposure
What I like about Culp's performances is that they actually seem like a real life arrogant S.O.B. Not played over-the-top, but he's like someone you'd meet and then despise. His Bart Kepple barely tolerates Lt. Columbo, but only deals with him because the man is the law. Kudos to Culp for growing a Fu Manchi 'stache for The Most Crucial Game.
Patrick McGoohan-
By Dawn's Early Light
Identity Crisis
By Dawn's Early Light is a preview of McGoohan's Escape From Alcatrazwarden. Both men are righteous and totally blind in their belief system, with no room for negotiation. Yes, they believe their own tired cliches, like Haynes says to McGoohan in Early Light.
My favorite McGoohan is Identity Crisis, when The Master brings a charm and "Be seeing you" to the proceedings. He even gets to play spy with his Steinmetz persona. Love Pat's 1970s threads, too. The fact that McGoohan seemed uncomfortable in his own skin is what I find fascinating about him. The tension he brought to every character he ever played is one of the great aspects of his style.
These three performers are hands down the very best in terms of rapport with Lt. Columbo: deviousness, charm, and all-around screen charisma---IMO. And they all bring their unique strengths to their roles and make every Columbo they're in the most memorable for me.
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."
~Tom Selleck
~Tom Selleck
- Pahonu
- Robin's Nest Expert Extraordinaire
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:19 am
- Location: Long Beach CA
Re: Columbo
These are great episodes and villains. McGoohan appeared in a couple of the later episodes also, and directed several, including directing himself.Little Garwood wrote: ↑Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:05 pm The best killers all have repeat appearances:
Jack Cassidy--
Murder by the Book
Publish or Perish
Now You See Him
My #1 pick, and the guest actor most associated with this show. No one's smarmier, sleazier, and yet so utterly charming! I haven't seen Cassidy in too much else, but I daresay outside of his Broadway roles, his Columbo appearances are his lasting career legacy. Cassidy plays it broad, but it's always believable. He's got that sleaze/charm routine down pat. Forget Indiana Jones, I'd ask Spielberg what it was like to direct Jack Cassidy!
Robert Culp-
Death Lends a Hand
The Most Crucial Game
Double Exposure
What I like about Culp's performances is that they actually seem like a real life arrogant S.O.B. Not played over-the-top, but he's like someone you'd meet and then despise. His Bart Kepple barely tolerates Lt. Columbo, but only deals with him because the man is the law. Kudos to Culp for growing a Fu Manchi 'stache for The Most Crucial Game.
Patrick McGoohan-
By Dawn's Early Light
Identity Crisis
By Dawn's Early Light is a preview of McGoohan's Escape From Alcatrazwarden. Both men are righteous and totally blind in their belief system, with no room for negotiation. Yes, they believe their own tired cliches, like Haynes says to McGoohan in Early Light.
My favorite McGoohan is Identity Crisis, when The Master brings a charm and "Be seeing you" to the proceedings. He even gets to play spy with his Steinmetz persona. Love Pat's 1970s threads, too. The fact that McGoohan seemed uncomfortable in his own skin is what I find fascinating about him. The tension he brought to every character he ever played is one of the great aspects of his style.
These three performers are hands down the very best in terms of rapport with Lt. Columbo: deviousness, charm, and all-around screen charisma---IMO. And they all bring their unique strengths to their roles and make every Columbo they're in the most memorable for me.