The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case (22 May 1977)

Sigma Society member Oliver Brandt murders his business partner when he threatens to expose him as an embezzler and constructs a seemingly foolproof alibi.

Director:

Sam Wanamaker

Writers:

Robert M. Young, Richard Levinson (creator),

Stars:

Peter Falk, Theodore Bikel, Kenneth Mars

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Theodore Bikel	...	Oliver Brandt
Kenneth Mars	...	Mike
Sorrell Booke	...	Bertie Hastings
Samantha Eggar	...	Vivian Brandt
Basil Hoffman	...	Mr. Danziger
Howard McGillin	...	George Camponella
George Sperdakos	...	Mr. Wagner
Todd Martin	...	Sergeant Burke
Dorrie Thomson	...	Miss Elsenback
Carol Jones	...	Caroline Treynor
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Waitress
Carlene Watkins	...	Amy
Fay DeWitt	...	Angela (as Fay Dewitt)
Kathleen King	...	Suzy

Storyline

Columbo this time tries to tackle a murderer who has one of the highest IQs in the world. The victim is a business partner who threatened to expose the killer for stealing money from his clients. The murderer uses all his intelligence to plan the perfect murder.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | mensa | business partner | murderer | intelligence | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1977 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 75 min (dvd release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (as Technicolor®)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The portrait of Mrs. Melville, the fictional detective of the Franklin and Ferris mystery novels, prominently featured in Columbo: Murder by the Book, makes a cameo appearance on the back wall of the meeting room at the Sigma Society club.

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Goofs

When the murderer demonstrates for Columbo how the dictionary is made to fall by causing a Magic Marker to be knocked onto it by the record-player, and overbalance the dictionary, you can see the dictionary begin to fall before the Magic Marker lands on it.

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Quotes

Oliver Brandt: I was an imitation adult, because that's what was expected of me. Most people don't like smart people. Most children despise smart children. So, early on, I had to hide my so-called gift... painful, lonely years.

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Soundtracks

"Boo hoo, you've got me crying for you"
Written by Mal Hallet
Heard over the End Credits

User Reviews

Fun and entertaining - great ending

This is my favorite Columbo episode.

Columbo is investigating a murder surrounded by geniuses with there own theories.

Pay close attention to the ending in which the climax is as well orchestrated as the musical score it is surrounded in.

To top it off Mr. Bikel utters one of the best anti-climactic lines in film. After his much younger wife calls him immediately after his confession feeling needy for her oft rejected husband she tells him to come home "I need you." To which he replies "Alas my dear. I won't be needing you." Great acting, great direction, great fun!