Columbo Cries Wolf (20 Jan. 1990)

When the business-savvy publisher of a "Playboy"-type men's magazine wants to sell her stock to a Rupert Murdoch-like media tycoon, she apparently disappears on a London-bound flight.

Director:

Daryl Duke

Writers:

Richard Levinson (creator), William Link (creator),

Stars:

Peter Falk, Ian Buchanan, Rebecca Staab

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Ian Buchanan	...	Sean Brantley
Rebecca Staab	...	Tina
Alan Scarfe	...	Sir Harry Matthews
Mark Margolis	...	Cosner
John Finnegan	...	Police Chief
David Huddleston	...	The Mayor
Deidre Hall	...	Dian Hunter
Jeanne Wolf	...	Herself
Gigi Rice	...	Dian's Secretary
Ralph Wilcox	...	Chef
Peter Zapp	...	Mayor's Aide
Morgan Jones	...	Wilson
Darrell Kunitomi	...	Factotum
Daphne Cheung	...	Next Nymph of the Month

Storyline

What happened to businesswoman Diane Hunter? Everyone thinks she went on a trip to England to sell her majority share of men's magazine Bachelor's World, but she never showed up to her meeting. Lieutenant Columbo is sure that her business partner and ex-lover, photographer Sean Brantley, killed her to keep her from selling. But proving it is another thing entirely, and Sean has a few surprises for everyone's favorite homicide cop...

---

Plot Keywords:

magazine | detective | photographer | publicity | ex lover | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 1990 (USA)

Filming Locations:

LAX Airport, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In "Columbo Cries Wolf", Columbo suspects the murder of a Los Angeles woman who failed to arrive at an important meeting in London. Columbo says he is investigating the disappearance as a favor to his old friend, Detective Chief Superintendent Durk of Scotland Yard, a character from Columbo: Dagger of the Mind.

---

Goofs

Although Dian sends messages to Sean from various European countries (and she - or her murderer - left the United States entirely), no mention is ever made of trying to track or stop either of them by way of international Customs authorities.

---

Quotes

Lt. Columbo: The end of a perfect day.

---

Connections

Follows Columbo: Murder, a Self Portrait (1989)

---

Soundtracks

"Mystery Movie Theme"
by Mike Post

User Reviews

One of the better "newer" entries to the series...

To me, Columbo is one of the best detective series of all time, and one of my favourites ever. Columbo Cries Wolf is not among my absolute favourites of the series, but it is for me one of the better "newer" entries and one of the more successful change-in-formula episodes. Much better than for example Last Salute to the Commodore, another attempt to be different from the usual formula but fell flat, anyhow. Like with all Columbo episodes, Columbo Cries Wolf is beautifully shot, and the location(s) great. The fashions are nice to look at as well, and I liked the rock soundtrack at the start. The writing is smart and always maintains interest, and while I agree about the chauffeur business(the three or four times I've seen this episode, that has always bugged me also) the story(somewhat re-calling Prescription Murder at times) is well paced and makes the most of the formula used. It also has a very clever ending. Peter Falk as he always was is brilliant as Columbo, looking very lively and natural throughout. Ian Bucchanan is not my definition of a great performance, never quite as flamboyant as his character promised to be, but he is solid enough and works well with Falk. Deidre Hall is gorgeous and very convincing. Overall, a favourite it isn't, but I enjoy it very much. 9/10 Bethany Cox