IMDb > "Columbo" Murder by the Book (1971)
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"Columbo" Murder by the Book (1971)


Videos
Columbo: Seasons 1 - 7: Season 1: Episode 1 -- US Home Video Trailer from Universal TV

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,212 votes
Director:
Writers:
Steven Bochco (written by)
Richard Levinson (creator) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Murder by the Book on IMDbPro.
TV Series:
Original Air Date:
15 September 1971 (Season 1, Episode 1)
Plot:
Ken Franklin is a rich socialite living in a luxurious coastal mansion bought from his years of writing crime and mystery books... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Falk's Daughter Makes Her Case For Conservatorship In Court
 (From WENN. 28 May 2009, 12:15 PM, PDT)

Bullitt And Knight Rider's Autos Rev Up On Top Car List
 (From WENN. 4 February 2009, 11:45 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Early Spielberg more (20 total)

Cast

  (Episode Complete credited cast)

Peter Falk ... Columbo
Jack Cassidy ... Ken Franklin
Rosemary Forsyth ... Joanna Ferris
Martin Milner ... Jim Ferris
Barbara Colby ... Lilly La Sanka
Lynette Mettey ... Gloria Jr. (as Lynnette Mettey)
Bernie Kuby ... Mike Tucker
Hoke Howell ... Sergeant

Marcia Wallace ... Woman (credit only)
Haven Earle Haley ... 2nd Reporter
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
73 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-7 (2004) | Denmark:11 (2004) | Sweden:15 (2004) | Norway:15 (2004)
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ken Franklin's house in "Murder By The Book" was also Eric Wagner's house in "Columbo: The Most Crucial Game (#2.3)" (1972). more
Goofs:
Continuity: Position of Ken Franklin's hands and arms whilst being interviewed by the female reporter at his home. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[Jim works in his office]
Jim Ferris: [knock on the door] Who is it?
[another knock on the door]
Jim Ferris: [He opens the door - Ken is aiming a gun at his face. Jim laughs]
Ken Franklin: Oh, you're not intimidated.
Jim Ferris: Oh, come on, Ken. You're forgetting that I'm one-half of the world's greatest mystery-writing team? You, ah, don't have gloves on, your finger's not on the trigger, and there are no bullets in the cylinder.
Ken Franklin: [smiling] You're right. I'm a lousy practical joker.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Love Theme from 'Red Sky At Morning' more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Early Spielberg, 7 April 2005
Author: bushwood80 from Jupiter

In this episode, both Peter Falk as Columbo, and Jack Cassidy as the murderer play off each other with an almost delicious charm, and both seem to enjoy hamming it up in this 1971 Steven Spielberg directed mystery. Cassidy from all accounts was exactly the same in everyday real life...a chain smoker and avid drinker; he played this part perfectly for this episode and another Columbo episode about a murdering publisher, and yet another one about a nazi magician. It was unfortunate about the untimely death of Jack Cassidy, who supposedly fell asleep with a cigarette in hand and died in a massive fire. Getting back to Columbo, I was slightly disappointed in how easy the murderer simply gave up and surrendered, as the Lieut. never had enough concrete evidence to convict, but this was 1971, and I suppose times have changed. I did expect a little more from Spielberg though.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Columbo" (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Deja vu? (SPOILER) Senzaltro
Location of the cabin..... Senzaltro
Two things that bothers me dinandwoesthof
Dissapointed in the ending easmax
The parking on the roof (opening sequence) is as it was in 1971 octopusmagnificens
Columbo's Manner PatrickHarper
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