Murder by the Book
- Episode aired Sep 15, 1971
- TV-PGTV-PG
- 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
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
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Leon Alton
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
Frank Baker
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
Robert Buckingham
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
Anitra Ford
- Woman at Theatre
- (uncredited)
Ralph Gambina
- Hot Dog Vendor
- (uncredited)
Bobby Gilbert
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
George Golden
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
Jack Griffin
- Delivery Driver
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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).
- GoofsWhen 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
Lieutenant Columbo: Suddenly I thought of something. How clever that first murder was. The phone gimmick, working late in the office - brilliant.
Ken Franklin: Are you awarding gold medals today?
Lieutenant Columbo: Yes. For the first one. Not for the second one. That was sloppy. Mrs. Melville, she'd have been very disappointed.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1972)
Review
Featured review
First "Columbo" series episode
Peter Falk's third appearance as Columbo (after a pair of two-hour NBC World Premiere Movies) officially kicked off the "Columbo" series, as well as the "NBC Mystery Movie" in September 1971.
Filmed after the superior "Death Lends a Hand," but aired first, it has the distinction of having been directed by Steven Spielberg in those days before "Jaws" when he was still cranking out episodic television on the backlot of Universal. There are some smart directorial touches, particularly in the opening scenes where the sound of Martin Milner's typewriter serves as the sole soundtrack, but this a disappointing episode overall.
As the less talented half of a famous mystery writing team (not unlike Richard Levinson and William Link, "Columbo"'s creators), Jack Cassidy makes a classy villain, one who would be invited to square off against Peter Falk on two more occasions (including season three's "Publish or Perish" which was also set against a publishing background). Unfortunately, Steven Bochco's script drags along, making this a frequently dull episode. Worse, the denouement finds Columbo wrapping things up based on flimsier than usual evidence. Had the killer not confessed, he could have walked away from his crime.
Still, Peter Falk is terrific, and makes it worth watching.
Brian W. Fairbanks
Filmed after the superior "Death Lends a Hand," but aired first, it has the distinction of having been directed by Steven Spielberg in those days before "Jaws" when he was still cranking out episodic television on the backlot of Universal. There are some smart directorial touches, particularly in the opening scenes where the sound of Martin Milner's typewriter serves as the sole soundtrack, but this a disappointing episode overall.
As the less talented half of a famous mystery writing team (not unlike Richard Levinson and William Link, "Columbo"'s creators), Jack Cassidy makes a classy villain, one who would be invited to square off against Peter Falk on two more occasions (including season three's "Publish or Perish" which was also set against a publishing background). Unfortunately, Steven Bochco's script drags along, making this a frequently dull episode. Worse, the denouement finds Columbo wrapping things up based on flimsier than usual evidence. Had the killer not confessed, he could have walked away from his crime.
Still, Peter Falk is terrific, and makes it worth watching.
Brian W. Fairbanks
helpful•266
- bwaynef
- Apr 21, 2007
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Murder by the Book (1971) in Australia?
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