Columbo (TV Series)
Murder by the Book (1971)
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- TV-PG
- 1h 16min
- Crime, Drama
- 24 Feb 1972
- TV Episode
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:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Peter Falk | ... |
Columbo
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| Jack Cassidy | ... |
Ken Franklin
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| Rosemary Forsyth | ... |
Joanna Ferris
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| Martin Milner | ... |
Jim Ferris
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| Barbara Colby | ... |
Lilly La Sanka
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Lynnette Mettey | ... |
Gloria Jr.
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| Bernie Kuby | ... |
Mike Tucker
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| Hoke Howell | ... |
Sergeant
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| Marcia Wallace | ... |
Woman
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Haven Earle Haley | ... |
2nd Reporter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Leon Alton | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Frank Baker | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Robert Buckingham | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Anitra Ford | ... |
Woman at Theatre (uncredited)
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Ralph Gambina | ... |
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
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Bobby Gilbert | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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George Golden | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Jack Griffin | ... |
Delivery Driver (uncredited)
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| Elizabeth Harrower | ... |
Maid (uncredited)
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Paul King | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Joseph La Cava | ... |
Medical Examiner (uncredited)
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| Louise Lane | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Ethelreda Leopold | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Jay Loft-Lynn | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Anthony Redondo | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Leoda Richards | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Mark Russell | ... |
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Sayre | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Robert Strong | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Steven Spielberg | ||
Written by
| Steven Bochco | ... | (written by) |
| Richard Levinson | ... | (created by) (creator) & |
| William Link | ... | (created by) (creator) |
Produced by
| Richard Levinson | ... | producer |
| William Link | ... | producer |
| Robert F. O'Neill | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Billy Goldenberg | ||
Cinematography by
| Russell Metty | ... | director of photography (as Russell L. Metty) |
Film Editing by
| John Kaufman | ... | (as John Kaufman Jr.) |
Editorial Department
| Richard Belding | ... | editorial supervisor |
Art Direction by
| Archie J. Bacon | ... | (as Arch Bacon) |
Set Decoration by
| Richard Friedman | ||
Production Management
| Henry Kline | ... | unit manager |
| Charles Clement | ... | post production operations head (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ralph Ferrin | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| David H. Moriarty | ... | sound |
Stunts
| Hubie Kerns Jr. | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Burton Miller | ... | costumes |
Music Department
| Henry Mancini | ... | composer: theme |
| James D. Young | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Steven Bochco | ... | story editor |
| Attila De Lado | ... | main title design (as Attila de Lado) |
| Hank Simms | ... | announcer |
Production Companies
- Universal Television (from Universal City, California)
- Universal Studios
Distributors
- MCA-TV (1971) (United States) (tv) (MCA-TV Exclusive Distributor)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (United States) (tv)
- Universal Pictures Finland (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD) (Included in "Colombo: The Complete First Season")
- TV2 (2005) (Hungary) (tv)
- DeAgostini Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
- 1ère chaîne ORTF (1973) (France) (tv) (dubbed version) (monochrome broadcast)
- 1ère chaîne ORTF (1974) (France) (tv) (dubbed version) (monochrome broadcast)
- CIC Video (1993) (France) (VHS) (dubbed version)
- PolyGram Vidéo (France) (DVD) (Collection DVD Officielle Columbo)
- TF1 (2012) (France) (tv)
- TV Breizh (2010) (France) (tv)
- TV Breizh (2019) (France) (tv)
- Télé Monté Carlo (TMC) (2016) (France) (tv)
- Télé Monté Carlo (TMC) (2021) (France) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Universal Title (titles & optical effects)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| 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). See more » |
| 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."] See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Love Theme from 'Red Sky At Morning' See more » |
| 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. See more » |