Columbo: Season 3, Episode 1Lovely But Lethal (23 Sep. 1973)The formula for a miracle wrinkle cream leads the founder of a cosmetics company to murder. Lt. Columbo is on the case. Director:Jeannot Szwarc |
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Columbo: Season 3, Episode 1Lovely But Lethal (23 Sep. 1973)The formula for a miracle wrinkle cream leads the founder of a cosmetics company to murder. Lt. Columbo is on the case. Director:Jeannot Szwarc |
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| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Peter Falk | ... | ||
| Vera Miles | ... |
Viveca Scott
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| Martin Sheen | ... |
Karl Lessing
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Sian Barbara Allen | ... |
Shirley Blaine
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| Vincent Price | ... | ||
| Gino Conforti | ... |
Ferdy
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| Colby Chester | ... |
Jerry
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Fred Draper | ... |
Dr. Murchison
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| Bruce Kirby | ... |
Lab Attendant
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| John Finnegan | ... |
Sergeant
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Richard Stahl | ... |
Burton
(as Dick Stahl)
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Marc Hannibal | ... |
Fingerprint Man
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David Toma | ... |
Policeman
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Layne Mathess | ... |
Fashion moderator
(as Layne Matthess)
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Viveca Scott runs Beauty Mark, the cosmetics company whose products are in every woman's home. But sales are dropping, and she's counting on the miraculous new beauty cream created by her chief chemist to boost sales and overtake her rival, David Lang. But the chemist's assistant steals the formula. Scott attempts to negotiate with him, but in a rage knocks him over the head with a heavy microscope, killing him. Her rival's secretary finds out and attempts to blackmail her. But the cosmetics queen's worst news is that the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo is on the case. Written by J. Spurlin
As a big fan of Columbo, I enjoyed Lovely But Lethal. I think there are better entries in the series, but there are also entries that I deem worse. As always with Columbo, it is well made, slick in the editing and striking in the photography. The music is atmospheric and fitting with the period, Lovely But Lethal is strongly directed, the script has some good lines if a tad basic(there's still the murder but I can think of cleverer and more memorable ones such as with How To Dial a Murder and Swan Song) with the odd contrived moment and the story is well told and intriguing especially with the whole cosmetics industry milieu. The acting is great. Peter Falk is brilliant as always as the iconic Columbo, and while I consider Susan Clark's, Janet Leigh's and Ruth Gordon's female characters a little more interesting, Vera Miles' is credible enough and she gives her all. A young Martin Sheen also makes an impression, as does Vincent Price, part of you does wish there was more of him, but he still delivers with his smarminess and eloquence. Overall, not Columbo's best, but lovely and very watchable. 8/10 Bethany Cox