It's All in the Game (31 Oct. 1993)

Lauren Staton and Lisa Martin kill their two-timing lover Nick Franco. Lauren's the one who pulled the trigger and they've made it look like Franco was killed by a burglar in his apartment.... See full summary »

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writers:

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

Stars:

Peter Falk, Faye Dunaway, Claudia Christian

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Faye Dunaway	...	Lauren Staton
Claudia Christian	...	Lisa Martin
Armando Pucci	...	Nick Franco
Bill Macy	...	Ruddick
John Finnegan	...	Barney
Doug Sheehan	...	Riley
Shelley Morrison	...	Nick's Maid
Tom Henschel	...	Fingerprint Man
Jack Shearer	...	Investigator #1
Shashawnee Hall	...	Investigator #2
Stewart J. Zully	...	Investigator #3
Bruce Ed Morrow	...	Medical Examiner (as Bruce E. Morrow)
Heath Kizzier	...	Photo Clerk
Daniel Trent	...	Detective #1 (as Daniel T. Trent)

Storyline

Lauren Staton and Lisa Martin kill their two-timing lover Nick Franco. Lauren's the one who pulled the trigger and they've made it look like Franco was killed by a burglar in his apartment. They've prepared well with both having solid alibis. Lt. Colombo is in charge of the case and is very much attracted to the beautiful Lauren. She uses that to her advantage and is soon buying him gifts and giving him the odd kiss. Colombo is flattered but begins to see anomalies in some of the physical evidence. He becomes certain that Laura is involved in Franco's death but realizes he will only be able to make an arrest if he gets a confession. He manages to get that but even he is surprised when learns of her true relationship to Lisa.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | detective | murder investigation | gambling | investigation | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1993 (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

With the exception of the two pilot episodes, this is the only episode where the phrase "Peter Falk as Columbo" appears in one frame at the beginning. Usually, "Peter Falk as" is shown first, followed by "Columbo" in a separate frame.

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Goofs

Most women wore long at the Lauren's party but one women entered the house in a short gold-spangled cocktail dress with matching hip-length open jacket. At the end of the party she left in just the dress -- with a fur coat/jacket over her arm.

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Quotes

Laura Staton: Do you have a first name I can call you by?
Lt. Columbo: Yeah. "Lieutenant."

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Connections

Followed by Columbo: Undercover (1994)

User Reviews

It's All in the Game is a fine latter-day episode of Columbo

It's All in the Game is one of the more fascinating of the latter-day Columbo movies for three reasons: 1. Peter Falk wrote this episode. 2. Faye Dunaway plays a character who flirts with the Leutenant in order to distract him from his suspicions. 3. Columbo almost seems to fall for her. As another poster mentioned, I did see some kind of lesbian subtext in an early scene between Dunaway's character and that of Claudia Christian's in the latter's apartment before the big reveal at the end. Also appearing were Bill Macy as the building super and Shelley Morrison, years before playing Karen's maid in Will and Grace, as the murdered victim's maid who is amusing showing Falk how she cleans the refrigerator. So the Leutenant likes peanut butter and raisins. O-k-a-y! Highly amusing and suspenseful and Ms. Dunaway deserved her Emmy. Definitely recommended for Columbo fans.