Candidate for Crime (4 Nov. 1973)

Senatorial candidate Nelson Hayward murders his domineering campaign manager, staging it to appear that Hayward himself was the intended victim of a mob hit gone wrong. Columbo hits the campaign trail to catch the killer.

Director:

Boris Sagal

Writers:

Irv Pearlberg (teleplay), Alvin R. Friedman (teleplay),

Stars:

Peter Falk, Jackie Cooper, Joanne Linville

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Jackie Cooper	...	Nelson Hayward
Joanne Linville	...	Vickie Hayward
Tisha Sterling	...	Linda Johnson
Ken Swofford	...	Harry Stone
Robert Karnes	...	Sgt. Vernon
Jay Varela	...	Sgt. Rojas
Vito Scotti	...	Chadwick the clothier
Regis Cordic	...	Deputy Commissioner
Sandy Kenyon	...	Harris
Jack Riley	...	Director
Mario Gallo	...	Dr. Perenchio
Jude Farese	...	Highway Patrolman
Clete Roberts	...	TV Anchor Man
Angelo Grisanti	...	1st Detective

Storyline

Nelson Hayward is running for senate as a man tough on crime. His campaign manager, Harry Stone, demands the candidate dump his mistress. He backs up the demand with threats to expose the politician's shady past. But Stone approves of Hayward's publicity-minded lie that anonymous killers are threatening the politician's life, little guessing that Hayward will murder him and blame it on these invented assailants. Hayward sets up a tricky alibi for himself that includes a surprise birthday party for his wife. No one guesses the truth except that annoying Italian cop in the rumpled raincoat - the redoubtable Lt. Columbo.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | campaign manager | election | politician | beach house | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1973 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The children's song, "This Old Man" appears in almost every episode of the Columbo series, sometimes as background music, but more often Lt. Columbo is seen singing, humming, or whistling the tune. The episode, "Candidate for Crime" is the only episode where the murderer ('Jackie Cooper', as political candidate Nelson Hayward) is seen using it, in this case whistling it, as he prepares to film a campaign commercial.

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Goofs

Just as Columbo leaves the senator's private Campaign Office, he turns around in the open door. In the background you can see a woman wearing a green jacket, holding papers. Next shot she is wearing a sleeveless green top and is holding a phone.

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Quotes

Vickie Hayward: [Sarcastically to Hayward] Don't tell me a little thing like Harry's murder is gonna make you sleep home tonight?

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Soundtracks

"This Old Man"
Traditional children's songHummed by Jackie Cooper before TV commercial.

User Reviews

One of the best

Columbo has always been one of my favourites, and while Candidate for Crime is not quite in my top 10 favourite episodes of the series, but it is for me in the top end. Like with all Columbos it is beautifully filmed with striking locations and slick photography, with an atmospheric score. The writing is witty and intelligent, with the comedy well-judged and delivered without feeling too padded out, and Candidate for Crime has one of the cleverest and most interesting story- lines of any Columbo episode. The pacing is fine, it is not fast-paced strictly speaking but the quality of the story made that not matter at all. Peter Falk is exceptional as Columbo, the role that I will always remember him most for, and Jackie Cooper is wonderfully stern and smarmy. The two of them work really well together. The support cast are solid, and the ending left me satisfied. Overall, one of the better episodes of one of the best detective series of all time. 10/10 Bethany Cox