Try and Catch Me (21 Nov. 1977)

A successful mystery writer suspects her niece's husband murdered her, and she exacts revenge by asphyxiating him in her house safe.

Director:

James Frawley

Writers:

Gene Thompson (teleplay), Paul Tuckahoe (teleplay),

Stars:

Peter Falk, Ruth Gordon, Mariette Hartley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Ruth Gordon	...	Abigail Mitchell
Mariette Hartley	...	Veronica
G.D. Spradlin	...	Martin Hammond
Charles Frank	...	Edmund Galvin
Mary Jackson	...	Annie
Jerome Guardino	...	Sergeant Burke
Marie Silva-Alexander	...	Dance Instructor

Storyline

An aging but successful and wealthy crime fiction writer blames her nephew for the death of her niece. One night she invites her nephew up to the house to sign their wills and then gets to leave and return within a few minutes so she can set up her trap, which is locking him in a sound proof safe. Detective Columbo arrives and suspects the writer of murder but clues are few and far between.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | safe | nephew | murder | revenge | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1977 (USA)

Filming Locations:

880 La Loma Rd., Pasadena, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ruth Gordon was (and still is) the oldest star ever to play the murderer in "Columbo", at age 81 at the time of filming.

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Goofs

While Columbo is speaking at the podium, his cigar's length varies inconsistently. Also, when he starts speaking, he lights his cigar, but a few moments later, it is unlit and has obviously never been lit. Then, when he leaves the podium, it's lit again.

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Quotes

Abigail Mitchell: I'm beginning to be very fond of you, Lieutenant. I think you're a very nice man.
Lt. Columbo: Don't count on that. Miss Mitchell. Don't count on it.

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Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

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Soundtracks

"This Old Man"
(uncredited)
Traditional English children's marching song
First two lines played by Peter Falk on piano.

User Reviews

Try and Catch this Episode "Try and Catch Me", A MUST!

For Columbo fans, such as myself, this is the episode of episodes that made a case for why Columbo was so popular, and just how good it really was. Ruth Gordon has a field day (as ever) playing the wittily intelligent crime novelist Abigail Mitchell. Seems Abigail calls her nephew-in-law to sign some papers making him her heir. She never got over her niece's death, and is convinced her dead niece's husband (Charles Frank) did the dirty deed. To tell more would be unthinkable. Mariette Hartley has a sly role as Abigail's personal assistant. This episode of Columbo is in a class by itself. It's a truly well made television movie. I recommend it most highly.