Columbo
(1971–2003)
The commandant of a military academy murders the chairman of the board, who wants to oust him. Lt. Columbo takes up residence in the barracks to expose the killer.
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Title: By Dawn's Early Light (27 Oct 1974)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Peter Falk | ... | Columbo | |
| Patrick McGoohan | ... | Col. Lyle C. Rumford | |
| Burr DeBenning | ... | Capt. Loomis | |
| Madeleine Sherwood | ... | Miss Brady (as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood) | |
| Tom Simcox | ... | William Haynes | |
| Mark Wheeler | ... | Cadet Roy Springer | |
| Bruce Kirby | ... | Sergeant George Kramer (as Bruce Kirby Sr.) | |
 |
Sidney Armus | ... | Officer Corso |
| Robert Clotworthy | ... | Boodle Boy / Jonathan B. Miller | |
| Karen Lamm | ... | Susan Gerard | |
| Bruno Kirby | ... | Cadet Morgan (as B. Kirby Jr.) | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Colonel Lyle C. Rumford, the proud Commandant of a military academy, is incensed that William Haynes, the owner of the property, wants to turn it into a co-ed college. So, Rumford plots to kill Haynes with a back-firing cannon that Haynes is due to fire in a ceremony. Rumford arranges for the cannon to explode by blocking its discharge with a cleaning rag and thereby making the explosion seem an unfortunate accident caused by a clumsy attendant. Los Angeles Police Department's Lieutenant Columbo comes to the academy to investigate Haynes' death and instantly suspects that Rumford had something to do with the explosion, which Columbo believes was not accidental. Columbo unrelentingly seeks to prove that Rumford had motive and opportunity to rig the cannon. Written by Kevin McCorry <mmccorry@nb.sympatico.ca>
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This is the second of three episodes where the murderer is a military man. The others include Dead Weight and Grand Deceptions. See more »Goofs
Col. Rumford wears his cover (hat) indoors several times in the episode. Military hats are not to be worn indoors except in very special circumstances. See more »Quotes
Col. Lyle C. Rumford: This country is going to have the best damn army in the world!See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
27 October 1974 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Alle prime luci dell'alba See more »Filming Locations:
The Citadel - 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, South Carolina, USACompany Credits
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This is one of the few Columbo's in which the acting quality is so outstanding, it makes the detective element that much better.
I did not know much about Patrick McGoohan as an actor before seeing him in this episode as Colonel Lyle C. Rumford. While I was watching this mystery, I found myself more in awe with his acting than with the actual detective element. Watching him made me look into his work more and more. As a matter of fact, I learned that McGoohan won an Emmy Award in 1974 for "Best Guest Star on a TV Series", for this episode.
If you want to see acting at its best, watch this episode the next time it shows up on the Bravo! Channel.