The Conspirators
- Episode aired May 13, 1978
- TV-PG
- 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.
Sean McClory
- Captain
- (as Seán McClory)
Carole Hemingway
- Carole Hemingway
- (as Carole Hemmingway)
John Blower
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the last episode from the original series produced by NBC. It wasn't until 1989 that the series would be picked up again and continue on its eighth season onward produced by ABC.
- GoofsDevlin declares that he is "a boy from the backstreets of Belfast", but his accent is a Southern Irish one, quite unlike that of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Also, when playing darts, he refers to a pub in "Londonderry". A genuine Irish Republican would never refer to the city by that name, and would call it "Derry".
- Quotes
Joe Devlin: You see, at a very early age I decided to be me own master and the servant of no one, and that left two promising possibilities: either to be a king or a poet. Now, as Ireland had her fill of kings, I clearly saw I had to educate meself to a way of words, so I took to drink immediately, fell in love at every opportunity, and avoided the schoolroom like the plague. I advise you to do the same.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Svengoolie: Valley of the Dragons (2019)
- SoundtracksWhiskey in the Jar
(uncredited)
Traditional Irish folk song
Instrumental version heard in pub
Featured review
Charming and likable final Columbo episode in the original series
This 1978 Columbo episode has immense historical value: it was the last episode in the original series and it is certainly well worth watching.
The outstanding feature of this case is the wonderful interplay between Columbo and the murderer, Joe Devlin. Clive Revill gives a charming performance in his role as an outwardly typical Irish man - witty, fun-loving and jovial - whose transformation from a youthful terrorist in Ireland to a writer in America has not been total. In fact, there are one or two memorable moments when he mutters aggressively to himself after Columbo speaks to him (notably after they meet for the first time).
The two main characters get a massive amount of screen time together, thus ensuring that the episode bears at least one trait that made the Columbo series so successful - the development of the relationship between the detective and murderer. Their scenes together in the Irish pubs are really enjoyable and it's almost like the script-writer is giving you a "time-out" from the serious stuff in the episode....
Columbo's last words in this story as he replicates the murderer's scratching of the whiskey bottle and his dialogue are "this far..and no farther"; perhaps a thinly veiled reference to the fact that he was hanging up his mac for good....well at least until 1988!
The outstanding feature of this case is the wonderful interplay between Columbo and the murderer, Joe Devlin. Clive Revill gives a charming performance in his role as an outwardly typical Irish man - witty, fun-loving and jovial - whose transformation from a youthful terrorist in Ireland to a writer in America has not been total. In fact, there are one or two memorable moments when he mutters aggressively to himself after Columbo speaks to him (notably after they meet for the first time).
The two main characters get a massive amount of screen time together, thus ensuring that the episode bears at least one trait that made the Columbo series so successful - the development of the relationship between the detective and murderer. Their scenes together in the Irish pubs are really enjoyable and it's almost like the script-writer is giving you a "time-out" from the serious stuff in the episode....
Columbo's last words in this story as he replicates the murderer's scratching of the whiskey bottle and his dialogue are "this far..and no farther"; perhaps a thinly veiled reference to the fact that he was hanging up his mac for good....well at least until 1988!
helpful•372
- The Welsh Raging Bull
- Sep 4, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Waffen des Bösen
- Filming locations
- Radio station KGIL, San Fernando, California, USA(Late in the episode, Clive Revill is seen being interviewed on the radio by Carole Hemingway, and then in the station parking lot, makes a gun deal. Both scenes were shot at KGIL)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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