Murder by the Book 

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.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Steven Bochco, Richard Levinson (created by)

Stars:

Peter Falk, Jack Cassidy, Rosemary Forsyth

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Jack Cassidy	...	Ken Franklin
Rosemary Forsyth	...	Joanna Ferris
Martin Milner	...	Jim Ferris
Barbara Colby	...	Lilly La Sanka
Lynnette Mettey	...	Gloria Jr.
Bernie Kuby	...	Mike Tucker
Hoke Howell	...	Sergeant
Marcia Wallace	...	Woman (credit only)
Haven Earle Haley	...	2nd Reporter

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

mercedes benz | dunhill cigarette lighter | murder disguised as accident | dead body in a car trunk | water fountain | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Martin Milner's character is married to Rosemary Forsyth's character. In real life, Rosemary Forsyth was romantically involved with Milner's good friend David Janssen.

---

Goofs

As one of his final lines, the murderer says the murder took place in accordance with a book idea that he told the victim five years ago. The victim even wrote it down. Hard to believe the victim could be fooled into that very same set up for his own murder.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
[Jim works in his office]
Jim Ferris: [knock on the door] Who is it?
[another knock on the door]
Jim Ferris: [He opens the door - Ken is aiming a gun at his face. Jim laughs]
Ken Franklin: Oh, you're not intimidated.
Jim Ferris: Oh, come on, Ken. You're forgetting that I'm one-half of the world's greatest mystery-writing team? You, ah, don't have gloves on, your finger's not on the trigger, and there are no bullets in the cylinder.
Ken Franklin: [smiling] You're right. I'm a lousy practical joker.

---

Connections

Featured in Steven Spielberg and the Small Screen (2004)

---

Soundtracks

Love Theme from 'Red Sky At Morning'
Composed by Billy Goldenberg
Heard during the bar scene

User Reviews

Showed promise at an early stage - especially for the director.

Originally, this TV movie was only a curiosity to me. I purchased the video and found myself captivated to the brilliant plot written for TV by the then unknown Steven Bochco.

Even though the story does not stand to too much examining, as you know from the start who the murderer is and, because it IS an episode of "Columbo", you also know who will win in the end, it still is a very enjoyable movie with a stunning cast.

Early in his career, you can still tell who is directing just by the sheer artistry of the camera angles and placement of actors and props. Steven Spielberg's fingerprints are all over this movie, using techniques that he still uses today in his most recent movies.

I recommend that you watch it, just out of curiosity.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Homicidio de acuerdo con el libro

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television, Universal Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1