Prescription: Murder (1968) (TV)

Director:

Richard Irving

Writers:

Richard Levinson (teleplay) &
William Link (teleplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 February 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A psychiatrist uses a patient he is having an affair with to help him kill his wife, but his perfect alibi may come apart at the hands of a seemingly befuddled LAPD lieutenant.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Psychiatrist | Alibi | Detective | Investigation

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Lt. Columbo
Gene Barry	...	Dr. Ray Flemming
Katherine Justice	...	Joan Hudson
William Windom	...	Burt Gordon
Nina Foch	...	Carol Flemming
Virginia Gregg	...	Miss Petrie
Andrea King	...	Cynthia Gordon
Susanne Benton	...	The Blonde
Ena Hartman	...	Nurse
Sherry Boucher	...	Air Hostess
Anthony James	...	Tommy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Creech	...	Policeman in Hospital (uncredited)
Clark Howat	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Mark Russell	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Don Stewart	...	Airline Ticket Man (uncredited)
Tom Williams	...	Laundry Delivery Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Irving

Writing credits
Richard Levinson		(teleplay) &
William Link		(teleplay)
Richard Levinson		(play) &
William Link		(play)

Produced by
Jerrold Freedman	....	associate producer
Richard Irving	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Ray Rennahan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard G. Wray

Art Direction by
Russell Kimball

Set Decoration by
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)
James Redd		(as James S. Redd)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward K. Dodds	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bisk	....	assistant director

Sound Department
James T. Porter	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Burton Miller	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor
Robert Brower	....	color coordinator

Music Department
Stanley Wilson	....	musical supervisor

Production Companies

• Universal TV (as A Universal Production)

Distributors

• MCA-TV (1968) (USA) (TV) (exclusive distributor)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• DeAgostini Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• MCA Home Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (as Technicolor ®)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2004) | UK:PG | Australia:M (video rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1996)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Police Department - 464 N Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The house with pool used in the final scene is the same house and pool used in "The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter (#1.0)" (1974) and later in "Columbo: The Most Crucial Game (#2.3)" (1972).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The reception room at Dr. Fleming's office features a distinctive painting of trees and white houses with red roofs, which is prominent in several scenes. This same painting later appears in "Columbo: Suitable for Framing (#1.4)" (1971), as part of the art collection sliced and stolen by Dale Kingston. In its return appearance, this painting is also part of a goof because it magically mends itself and returns to the wall, after it was vandalized and removed.

Quotes:

Dr. Ray Flemming:Well, what is it? Tell me!
Lt. Columbo:Well, um, somebody broke in here and tried to kill her.
Dr. Ray Flemming:[Flemming feigns shock for a moment when the words register] "Tried" to kill her?
Lt. Columbo:That's right, Doctor. She's lucky she's still alive.
Dr. Ray Flemming:[feigning relief] She's still alive! Well, where is she now? Is she conscious? Has she been able to say anything?
Lt. Columbo:Well, I'm afraid not. She's been in a coma.
Dr. Ray Flemming:Well, what's her condition right now? Oh, come on, I must know the truth!
Lt. Columbo:It's not very good, Doctor. We only hope she comes to long enough to be able to talk to us.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Columbo: Murder by the Book (#1.1)" (1971)

Excellent beginning to a legend

This surely was a fantastic way to give birth to in my opinion the greatest television detective ever. Terrificly charming Peter Falk (who stills looks so bloody young in this one) shines in the role of Columbo right from the beginning. Personally I think the best episodes was yet to come, after all quite a bunch of these films was made. But there's nothing wrong with "Prescription: Murder". It is unquestionably an excellent start that could instantly hook anyone to watch the whole series. I mean who wouldn't love this man, his mannerisms, cigars, talks about his wife and other clever trademarks. The whole series is a delightful and unforgettable masterpiece of TV history. I have to give 9 out of 10 already to the first one.