"Columbo" Any Old Port in a Storm (1973)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Leo Penn

Writers:

Larry Cohen (story)
Richard Levinson (creator)
(more)

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

17 October 1973 (Season 3, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A connoisseur running a California winery murders his younger half-brother to prevent him from selling the family business. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Plot Keywords:

Winery | Wine | Murder | Wine Cellar | Detective

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Donald Pleasence	...	Adrian Carsini
Joyce Jillson	...	Joan Stacey
Gary Conway	...	Enrico Carsini
Dana Elcar	...	Falcon
Julie Harris	...	Karen Fielding
Vito Scotti	...	Maitre d'
Robert Donner	...	The Drunk
Robert Ellenstein	...	Stein
Robert Walden	...	Billy Fine
Regis Cordic	...	Lewis (as Regis J. Cordic)
Reid Smith	...	Andy Stevens
John McCann	...	Officer
George Gaynes	...	Frenchman
Monte Landis	...	Steward (as Monty Landis)
Walker Edmiston	...	Auctioneer
Pamela Campbell	...	Cassie Marlowe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Jones	...	Newscaster (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Leo Penn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Larry Cohen		story
Richard Levinson		creator
William Link		creator
Stanley Ralph Ross		teleplay

Produced by
Robert F. O'Neill	....	producer

Original Music by
Dick DeBenedictis		(as Dick De Benedictis)

Cinematography by
Harry L. Wolf		(director of photography) (as Harry Wolf)

Film Editing by
Larry Lester
Buddy Small		(as Budd Small)

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

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Production Management
Wilbur Mosier	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Boston	....	assistant director

Sound Department
David H. Moriarty	....	sound

Stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Grady Hunt	....	costumes

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

Music Department
Henry Mancini	....	composer: "Mystery Movie" theme
Hal Mooney	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer: main titles
Jackson Gillis	....	executive story consultant

Production Companies

• Universal TV (as Universal Studios)

Distributors

• MCA (1973) (worldwide) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Viasat3 (2008) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied)

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: When Adrian Carsini emerges from the wine cellar after moving the body, he is bare-handed. But seconds later, as he runs across to his brother's car, he is wearing snuggly fitted leather driving gloves.

Quotes:

Adrian Carsini: May our enemies never be as happy as we are at this moment.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Columbo: Columbo Cries Wolf (#9.2)" (1990)

Easy going murder flick

I love these old Columbo TV films. This one is perhaps my favourite because of its sophistication. The story is set around a priggish and arrogant wine-maker and his attempts to cover up his brother's murder. I also like it because Donald Pleasance's over-acting is even more amusing than normal. Peter Falk is brilliant as usual - his character is at his most annoying in this episode. These films are always entertaining because you don't need to think about them too much - you already know who has committed the murder. This is ideal Sunday-afternoon-with-a-hangover viewing.