"Columbo" Blueprint for Murder (1972)

Director:

Peter Falk

Writers:

Steven Bochco (teleplay)
William Kelley (story)
(more)

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

9 February 1972 (Season 1, Episode 7)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Elliot Markham, a brilliant architect and con-man, murders a Texas millionaire and hides his body in order to keep his visionary construction project financed.

Plot Keywords:

Architect | Country Music | Construction | Texas Millionaire | Murder

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Patrick O'Neal	...	Elliot Markham
Janis Paige	...	Goldie Williamson
Pamela Austin	...	Jennifer Williamson
John Fiedler	...	Doctor
Forrest Tucker	...	Bo Williamson
Bettye Ackerman	...	Miss Sherman
John Finnegan	...	Carl
Nick Dennis	...	Guard
Robert Gibbons	...	Clerk
Cliff Carnell	...	Officer Wilson
Jimmy Joyce	...	Workman

Directed by
Peter Falk

Writing credits
Steven Bochco		(teleplay)
William Kelley		(story)
Richard Levinson		(creator) &
William Link		(creator)

Produced by
Richard Levinson	....	producer
William Link	....	producer
Robert F. O'Neill	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Gil Melle		(as Gil Mellé)

Cinematography by
Lloyd Ahern		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Chris Kaeselau
Robert L. Kimble

Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon		(as Arch Bacon)

Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson

Production Management
Henry Kline	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William J. Hole Jr.	....	assistant director (as William Hole)

Sound Department
Roger A. Parish	....	sound
Alfred J. Carranza	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Burton Miller	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Steven Bochco	....	story editor
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer: main titles

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• MCA-TV (1972) (USA) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (Included in "Columbo: The Complete First Season")

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• Deluxe Digital Studios  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The only Columbo episode directed by Peter Falk.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When a motorcycle cop asks Elliot Markham for his license and registration, Markham gives the cop Lt. Columbo's police ID. Apparently the ID with Peter Falk's photo was just re-used as a prop license, rather than having one specifically made with Elliot Markham's photo and details on it.

Quotes:

Columbo:Now, Miss Williamson.
Goldie Williamson:Call me Goldie. All my friends call me Goldie and seeing as how I'm practically naked with you in the room, I think...
Columbo:Would you mind repeating that last sentence?
Goldie Williamson:Since I'm practically naked and you're in the room with me, you might as well be my friend.

Pure murder

Relative to other Columbo movies, this can only be rated a 1 (awful). I seriously do not understand what the other reviewers have seen in this appalling train-crash of a film. It was only through morbid fascination that I continued to watch it - to see what bizarre or inept decision the director would make next.

Another reviewer suggested that it was Falk's only directorial outing because it interfered with his acting role. In fact, I think the real reason lies with the studio bosses, who must have been horrified when they saw what he had done with their money. It's a wonder they didn't murder HIM.