Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Columbo
S1.E1
All episodes
All
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Murder by the Book

  • Episode aired Sep 15, 1971
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
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

    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
    excellent plot that makes this movie enjoyable...
    I saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I think that it was very well made. Peter Falk is as always very amusing to see, and the other characters interact very well with each other. --a well deserved 5/5--
    helpful•12
    9
    • triantafylloustefan
    • Feb 7, 2003

    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

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jack Cassidy in Murder by the Book (1971)
    Top Gap
    What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Murder by the Book (1971) in Australia?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.