IMDb >
"Columbo" The Most Crucial Game (1972)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips"Columbo" The Most Crucial Game (1972)
Overview
User Rating:
TV Series:
"Columbo" (1971)Original Air Date:
5 November 1972 (Season 2, Episode 3)Plot:
The manager of a football team murders its callow owner, making it look as if the young man had had an accident in his swimming pool. Lt. Columbo is on the case. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. moreUser Comments:
Fast-Moving, Interesting Episode But Ending Was Disappointing moreCast
(Episode Complete credited cast)| Peter Falk | ... | Columbo | |
| Robert Culp | ... | Paul Hanlon | |
| Dean Jagger | ... | Walter Cunnell | |
| James Gregory | ... | Coach Rizzo | |
| Valerie Harper | ... | Eve Babcock | |
| Susan Howard | ... | Shirley Wagner | |
| Dean Stockwell | ... | Eric Wagner | |
| Val Avery | ... | Ralph Dobbs | |
| Kathryn Kelly Wiget | ... | Miss Johnson | |
| Richard Stahl | ... | Mr. Fremont | |
| Don Keefer | ... | Deputy Coroner | |
| Cliff Carnell | ... | Plainclothesman | |
| Joe Renteria | ... | Box attendant Jimmy | |
| Ivan Naranjo | ... | Sgt. Hernandez, LAPD |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
70 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoFun Stuff
Trivia:
Los Angeles Coliseum stadium shots from the beginning of the show are from Super Bowl I, 15 January 1967 (you can see the Kansas City Chiefs graphics painted on the end zone field, as well as some of the Chiefs' cheerleaders) moreGoofs:
Miscellaneous: When Shirley Wagner lands at the airport, there is a scene showing the wheels of her plane touching down. The wheels are of a B-52 bomber, and not a commercial airliner. moreQuotes:
Lt. Columbo: Uh, sir?Walter Cunnell: Yes?
Lt. Columbo: You don't mind if I ask you a personal question, do you?
Walter Cunnell: No.
Lt. Columbo: What'd you pay for those shoes?
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Columbo" (1971)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Eric Wagner's house | charlot-bobcat |
| What's the motive? | tbrittreid |
Related Links
| Main series | Episode guide | Full cast and crew |
| Company credits | External reviews | IMDb TV section |
| IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |


Robert Culp is the "bad guy" here, after killing his boss: a young, spoiled owner of a pro football team who is basically a good-for-nothing. Culp, the general manager of the team, does all the work for the team and has little use for the "kid."
He decides to kill the owner while the latter is in his swimming pool during the middle of the one of the team's games. (The owner could care less about his club play) Culp has to make it look like he never left the stadium during the murder, so they can't blame it on him.
In the end, Lt. Columbo figures a flaw in his alibi, but I thought it was kind of weak, to be honest. I wonder, if it was real-life story, if the court would have gone along with it. I doubt it; Culp probably would have walked.
Nonetheless, it's an interesting 75 minutes. It also was interesting to see Valerie Harper's very short (too short) appearance near the end as a call girl. That was bizarre. There were good "names" in here with a young Dean Stockwell playing that owner; James Gregory as the coach and Dean Jagger as the man who used to be the lawyer for Stockwell's dad. Lots of other interesting characters in here, too. Too bad the ending was so abrupt and weak.