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Columbo

Murder by the Book

  • Episode aired Sep 15, 1971
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
S1.E1
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  • Cast & crew
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Jack Cassidy in Murder by the Book (1971)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Steven Bochco
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Jack Cassidy
    • Rosemary Forsyth
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Steven Bochco
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Jack Cassidy
    • Rosemary Forsyth
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Peter Falk and Rosemary Forsyth in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Peter Falk in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Murder by the Book (1971)
    Barbara Colby in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Jack Cassidy and Martin Milner in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Murder by the Book (1971)
    Jack Cassidy in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Jack Cassidy in Murder by the Book (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Columboas Columbo
    Jack Cassidy
    Jack Cassidy
    • Ken Franklinas Ken Franklin
    Rosemary Forsyth
    Rosemary Forsyth
    • Joanna Ferrisas Joanna Ferris
    Martin Milner
    Martin Milner
    • Jim Ferrisas Jim Ferris
    Barbara Colby
    Barbara Colby
    • Lilly La Sankaas Lilly La Sanka
    Lynnette Mettey
    • Gloria Jr.as Gloria Jr.
    Bernie Kuby
    Bernie Kuby
    • Mike Tuckeras Mike Tucker
    Hoke Howell
    Hoke Howell
    • Sergeantas Sergeant
    Marcia Wallace
    Marcia Wallace
    • Womanas Woman
    • (credit only)
    Haven Earle Haley
    • 2nd Reporteras 2nd Reporter
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Baker
    Frank Baker
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Anitra Ford
    Anitra Ford
    • Woman at Theatreas Woman at Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Gilbert
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    George Golden
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Paul King
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph La Cava
    • Medical Examineras Medical Examiner
    • (uncredited)
    Ethelreda Leopold
    Ethelreda Leopold
    • Theatre Patronas Theatre Patron
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Steven Bochco
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    One half of a murder-mystery writing team kills his more talented partner after the latter announces his intentions to go solo which would ultimately leave the former in financial ruin. Later a grocery store owner, who has important information pertaining to the case and has romantic desires for the killer, sees this incident as an opportunity to blackmail him into having a relationship with her. Feeling cornered, he kills her and tries to make it look like she'd fallen off a boat and drowned in a drunken stupor.
    • mercedes benz
    • dunhill cigarette lighter
    • murder disguised as accident
    • dead body in a car trunk
    • water fountain
    • 82 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The inscribed mystery novel that Ken Franklin gives to Miss LaSanka is titled "Prescription: Murder", the same title as the first Columbo movie, Prescription: Murder (1968).
    • Goofs
      When Columbo makes Joanna Ferris an omelet, he says: "I'll tell you what the secret is to a good omelet -- no eggs, just milk." She laughs at Columbo's mistake. [In the original script, the line is: "The secret is just eggs, no milk."]
    • Quotes

      Lilly La Sanka: I trust you, Ken - really - but we all have our dark sides, don't we? Just wouldn't be very intelligent of me to be alone with you in a small boat.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Theme from 'Red Sky At Morning'
      Composed by Billy Goldenberg

      Heard during the bar scene

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    "Murder by the Book" (1971)
    PLOT: One member of a popular mystery writing team (Jack Cassidy) murders his partner (Martin Milner) after he threatens to go off on his own. He claims he was 2 hours away at his cabin-on-the-lake while his partner was shot at the office in Los Angeles. Rosemary Forsyth plays the victim's wife while Barbara Colby is on hand as a flirtatious neighbor at the cabin.

    COMMENTARY: This was the first episode of the series after the two pilot movies and therefore has a shorter runtime of 75 minutes. It was directed & co-written by Steven Spielberg when he only 24 years-old, just a few years before his great success with "Jaws" (1975).

    This is one of my favorite episodes of the series, highlighted by the conniving Cassidy, who would reappear in two future installments, the problematic "Publish or Perish" (1974) and the excellent "Now You See Him" (1976). He made for such a sly antagonist, but perished prematurely at the age of 49 in late 1976 from a house fire.

    GRADE: A-
    helpful•2
    0
    • Wuchakk
    • Jan 19, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tödliche Trennung
    • Filming locations
      • Deer Trail Lane, Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Television
      • Universal Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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