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"Columbo" Murder, a Self Portrait (1989)
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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips"Columbo" Murder, a Self Portrait (1989)
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
TV Series:
Original Air Date:
25 November 1989
(Season 9, Episode 1)
Plot:
Columbo investigates the apparent drowning of a famous painters first wife. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Painter
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Psychologist
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Model
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Artist
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Police Detective
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User Comments:
An OK Columbo film but not one of the better ones
more (9 total)
Cast
(Episode Credited cast) | Peter Falk | ... | Columbo |
 | Patrick Bauchau | ... | Max Barsini |
 | Fionnula Flanagan | ... | Louise |
| Shera Danese | ... | Vanessa Barsini |
| Isabel García Lorca | ... | Julie (as Isabel Lorca) |
| Vito Scotti | ... | Vito |
| George Coe | ... | Dr. Hammer |
| David Byrd | ... | Ralph |
| Don Bovingloh | ... | Customer |
| Lenny Hicks | ... | Morgue Attendant |
| Danny Hassel | ... | Lifeguard |
| Roger Etienne | ... | Night Visitor |
| Frank L. Wiltse | ... | Officer |
| Harold Harris | ... | Harry Chudnow |
| Don Schneider | ... | Bystander at Beach |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
Germany:86 min | USA:120 min (including commercials) | Netherlands:88 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Denmark:15 (2007) (DVD) |
Sweden:15 (2007) (DVD) |
Norway:15 (2007) (DVD) |
Finland:K-18 (2007) (DVD) (self applied) |
UK:PG |
Netherlands:6
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Quotes:
Vanessa Barsini:
You know your trouble, Max? All you want is all there is.
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Movie Connections:
Followed by "Columbo: Columbo Cries Wolf (#9.2)" (1990)
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FAQ
Is the basset hound in this new Columbo series supposed to be the same one from the old series?What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
What is Patrick Bauchau's connection to psychiatry?
more
more (9 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Columbo" (1971)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| What is the Aria played in this episode? | belphegor |
| Isabel Lorca (Julie) | kanuuuuuu |
Related Links
| Main series | Episode guide | Full cast and crew |
| Company credits | External reviews | IMDb TV section |
| IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
Some say he is a contrary sort but painter Max Barsini is certainly a bit of a character. He lives with his current wife and his model under one roof, while his ex-wife lives next door. It is a complicated situation that seems to work quite easily – until that is, Max's ex starts seeing her psychologist and potentially revealing a secret from his past. To ensure that this does not happen, Max kills her and makes it look like a swimming accident. However for Columbo it doesn't quite add up and he starts asking just one more question to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The Columbo films are enjoyable to those that enjoy them mainly because they just follow the same reliable formula. With the new Columbo films some have tried to vary this with differing degrees of success. Here we have a fairly straight shot at the formula with the usual cat and mouse games, a new world or career for Columbo to be interested in (or feign interest in) and a murder to be solved. At this level the plot does work and fans of the series will find some stuff to enjoy but I didn't think it was one of the better of the series. The dream sequence stuff put me off a little bit and the development of the case left much to be desired – I must confess I wasn't totally engaged in it at any point. That said I did find it distracting and it had enough moments that were typically Columbo to suffice.
The cast are reasonably good. Falk is as enjoyable as ever and he works well with the material. Bauchau is not as good as the series usually demands but he is still a fun presence. Support is not as good from Flanagan, Danese and Lorca but generally they are good enough to do the job. The chemistry between the lead two is pretty good and I would have quite liked to see them served with better material.
Overall this is an OK Columbo film that will please fans of the series but seems unlikely to be good enough to win over new ones. The acting from the lead two is good enough to do the job even if the material is not quite as consistently engaging as at times it is. Worth a look for the formula but there are better Columbo films.