"Columbo" Old Fashioned Murder (1976)

Director:

Robert Douglas

Writers:

Peter S. Feibleman (teleplay)
Lawrence Vail (story)

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

28 November 1976 (Season 6, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

The Lytton family owns a museum. Ruth and Edward have devoted their life to the museum but things are not going well...

Plot Keywords:

Museum | Police Detective | Murder | Police Investigation | Police

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Joyce Van Patten	...	Ruth Lytton
Jeannie Berlin	...	Janie Brandt
Tim O'Connor	...	Edward Lytton
Celeste Holm	...	Mrs. Brandt
Peter S. Feibleman	...	Milton Shaeffer
Jon Miller	...	Sgt. Miller
Jess Osuna	...	Dr. Tim Shaeffer
Anthony Holland	...	Darryl
Lucy Saroyan	...	Elise
Gary Krawford	...	Watch salesman
Eloise Hardt	...	Maid
Morris Buchanan	...	2nd Detective
Giles Douglas	...	Photographer

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:11 (2007) (DVD) | Denmark:15 (2007) (DVD) | Sweden:15 (2007) (DVD) | Finland:K-18 (2007) (DVD) (self applied)

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: When Janey is in the police cell, Columbo is questioning her about her parents marrying. Her head is facing in his direction, then she turns to carry on reading her book. In the next camera shot, she is still facing him.

Quotes:

Janie Brandt: Aunt Ruth, he was in the Army, he can handle a gun, and he's the only one who was willing to work for that salary.

An Excellent Columbo!

The Lyttons are not a normal Southern California family. They are of the old money and had a place in society. Peter Falk's Columbo could not be more out of place than with eccentric bunch. Joyce Van Patten is a brilliant, under-rated actress who deserves awards and nominations for always leaving her mark in any role. After watching her in this role as Ruth Lytton, you want to see more of her. Celeste Holm does an exceptional job of playing her sister who won her sister's fiancé, married, and produced Janie, the heir to the Lytton fortune. Ruth and her brother Edward are caught in a conflict over the family's legacy which includes a museum that is constantly losing money. Ruth is determined to keep the museum alive because it is her life. Edward wants the best for his family and thinks by selling it that they would all benefit from it. Well, the only weak casting is the role of Janie, the niece. I liked her performance but I can't get that one awful vision of her reaction to finding her uncle's body in the museum. It is the most awkward reaction regarding murder. I won't say anymore but I think the writing was excellent. I think Joyce's Ruth and Peter Falk's Columbo was a good pair. I can sympathize with Ruth's loss of love and her devotion and loyalty to her family.