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"Columbo" Étude in Black (1972)
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Overview
User Rating:
TV Series:
"Columbo" (1971)Original Air Date:
17 September 1972 (Season 2, Episode 1)Plot:
An amoral conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case. full summary | full synopsisUser Comments:
Wonderful interaction between Cassavetes and Falk. more (14 total)Cast
(Episode Complete credited cast)| Peter Falk | ... | Columbo | |
| John Cassavetes | ... | Alex Benedict | |
| James Olson | ... | Paul Rifkin | |
| Blythe Danner | ... | Janice Benedict | |
| Anjanette Comer | ... | Jenifer Welles | |
| Myrna Loy | ... | Lizzy Fielding | |
| James McEachin | ... | Billy | |
| Don Knight | ... | Mike Alexander | |
| Pat Morita | ... | The House Boy | |
| Michael Pataki | ... | Sam | |
| Michael Fox | ... | Dr. Benson | |
| Dawn Frame | ... | Audrey | |
| Charles Macaulay | ... | Durkee | |
| George Gaynes | ... | Everett | |
| Wallace Chadwell | ... | TV director |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
90 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Finland:K-7 (2005)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
This is the debut episode for Dog, Columbo's pet basset hound. moreGoofs:
Plot holes: While Alex Benedict takes great pains not to leave fingerprints from his right hand as he climbs through the washroom window, John Cassavetes rests his bare left hand on the tiled wall at least twice, leaving distinct hand and fingerprints. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (14 total)
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Interesting to see this movie 30 years later; it's still good theater, even better TV. I think the unique qualities of this particular Columbo episode may have been largely due to the relationship between Falk and Cassavetes off screen, but it certainly worked in this show. This one reiterated Columbo's quirky, irritating methods; and again, one of the reasons the entire series was so watchable was the low-key progression of the drama. This is one of the few 'cop shows' I ever watch because it's based in human interaction and pyschological issues, not in violent shocks. I think Bochco did a very good job on this film.