A Trace of Murder (15 May 1997)

A beautiful wife and her forensic expert boyfriend try to frame her very rich husband for murder.

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writers:

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

Stars:

Peter Falk, David Rasche, Shera Danese

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
David Rasche	...	Patrick Kinsley
Shera Danese	...	Cathleen Calvert
Barry Corbin	...	Clifford Calvert
Raye Birk	...	Howard Seltzer
Will Nye	...	Officer Will
John Finnegan	...	Barney
Franklin Cover	...	Harry Jenkins
Alice Backes	...	Harriet Jenkins
Dion Anderson	...	Stuart March
Donna Bullock	...	Tracy Rose
John F. O'Donohue	...	Doherty
Dyana Ortelli	...	Colenari
Kymberly Newberry	...	District Attorney (as Kymberly S. Newberry)
Maury Sterling	...	Store Clerk

Storyline

A millionaire's being threatened with a lawsuit by a man he did business with. When he gets into a fight with the man, his trophy wife is more embarrassed than concerned about her husband. Now she can't divorce her husband because of a pre-nuptial agreement. And if she kills him, she would be the prime suspect. So she along with her lover decides to kill the man who is using her husband and frame her husband. Which they do. When Columbo investigates the murder, one of the forensic people helping him is the woman's lover.

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Plot Keywords:

lawsuit | millionaire | police | murderer | crime investigation | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Falk's actual actress-wife, Shera Danese, performs the role Cathleen Calvert, the conniving wife who wants to murder her husband.

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Goofs

When Columbo is showing Pat a map, he starts to lay the map out on a desk and says "This first". In the very next shot he once again says the same thing, "This first".

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Quotes

Lt. Columbo: Three eyes see more than one.

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Connections

Follows Columbo: Strange Bedfellows (1995)

User Reviews

One of the more watchable later episodes

By all means A Trace of Murder is not quite one of the best of the later episodes, but it is a more than watchable and worthy one. I wasn't too crazy about the ending though, I liked the twist, but the reveal itself too too dragged-out and contrived for my liking. Still, it is like all the Columbos a well made episode, with a score that fits well with the atmosphere and tension. The writing also convinces, especially in the pleasingly subtle comedy, and the story is diverting with a good mix of tense, charming and humorous scenes. Peter Falk is still excellent as Columbo, was there anything this man could not do, and while Shera Danese is solid in her most interesting role of the series I found Barry Corbin as the volatile framed husband even better. All in all, very watchable, and while not one of the best A Trace of Murder is a worthy episode still. 8/10 Bethany Cox