"Columbo" Death Lends a Hand (1971)

Director:

Bernard L. Kowalski

Writers:

Richard Levinson (creator) &
William Link (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

6 October 1971 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Brimmer, a short-tempered private detective, is hired by Arthur Kennicut, a prominent Los Angeles publisher...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Investigation | Private Detective | Murder Investigation | Murder

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Robert Culp	...	Investigator Brimmer
Pat Crowley	...	Mrs. Lenore Kennicut (as Patricia Crowley)
Ray Milland	...	Arthur Kennicut
Brett Halsey	...	Ken Archer
Eric James	...	Denning
Don Keefer	...	Medical Examiner
Len Wayland	...	Capt. of Detectives
Lieux Dressler	...	Ceil Gentry
Barbara Baldavin	...	Brimmer's Secretary

Runtime:

USA:72 min | Italy:72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (2004)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery - 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The first regular Columbo episode filmed, after two pilot movies. It was the second episode aired, however.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the beginning, Brimmer is shown driving his black Cadillac Eldorado at night with the body of Lenore Kennicut in the trunk. For 3 seconds, we then see Lee Grant from "Ransom for a Dead Man" driving a green Lincoln Continental. Then the film cuts back to Brimmer.

excellent early entry in Columbo series--impressive direction and acting

This was the second entry in the regular Columbo series, and it holds up well today. As I am able to look at it closely now on DVD and see how it is constructed, I am very impressed with the direction of Bernard L. Kowalski (who directed the fine MACHO CALLAHAN as well as countless TV episodes)--watch how the post-murder actions of the killer are shown on a split-screen effect on his two eyeglasses, watch how the murder itself is shown in montage fashion, watch the point-of-view shot from the perspective of the corpse. Also, the wild but impressive avant-garde musical score from noted jazzman Gil Melle was incredible and helped so much to create atmosphere. And the supporting performance of Brett Halsey as the golf pro was wonderful--such subtlety and complexity in a role that nine out of ten times would be a one-dimensional cutout. The "formula" had not yet been set when this episode was filmed, so there are still some surprises in Columbo's methods. Of course, Falk, Robert Culp, and Ray Milland are the highest-quality actors and it's a pleasure to see them work--all men are familiar from many other roles yet lose themselves in their characters here. In all, this entry in the Columbo series--and MANY of the others--are as well-crafted as a very good feature film.