Death Hits the Jackpot

Episode aired Dec 15, 1991
TV-PGTV-PG
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

Peter Falk and Rip Torn in Death Hits the Jackpot (1991)

Crime Drama Mystery

Freddie Brower, a down-on-his-luck photographer in the final stages of a divorce, wins $30 million in the lottery. In order to not share it with his wife before the divorce is finalized, he ... Read allFreddie Brower, a down-on-his-luck photographer in the final stages of a divorce, wins $30 million in the lottery. In order to not share it with his wife before the divorce is finalized, he arranges for his uncle Leon to cash in the ticket and give Freddy the money after the divo... Read allFreddie Brower, a down-on-his-luck photographer in the final stages of a divorce, wins $30 million in the lottery. In order to not share it with his wife before the divorce is finalized, he arranges for his uncle Leon to cash in the ticket and give Freddy the money after the divorce, but uncle Leon Lamarr has ideas of his own.

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

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Peter Falk in Death Hits the Jackpot (1991)

Peter Falk, Rip Torn, and Marilyn Tokuda in Death Hits the Jackpot (1991)

Storyline

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Trivia
This is the third episode in which Columbo speaks fluent Italian.

Goofs
A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." There are no names on it; whoever turns it in wins the money. Once it is learned that Leon has killed his nephew, the money would not go to the nephew's wife, as Columbo says. There's no legal way to prove Freddy ever had the ticket. Had he dropped it in the street, whoever picked it up and cashed it in would get the money. He didn't sign his ticket. There is a line on the back to sign your name, which you are advised to do if you win.

However, Columbo might very well be aware of this. He is trying to elicit a confession, and all he needs for this to work is the two other characters believing him.

Quotes
Columbo: Well, the bad news, ma'am, is that Mr. Lamarr here is going to be arrested for the murder of your husband.
Nancy Brower: Oh, my God. Leon, how could you?
Leon Lamarr: Ha!
Nancy Brower: And what's the good news?
Columbo: That you've just inherited the better part of $24 million after taxes. It wasn't Mr. Lamarr who won the lottery, it was your late husband.
Nancy Brower: [pretending surprise] What?
Columbo: And even though you were in the process of getting a divorce, you were still legally married at the time of the drawing.
Nancy Brower: I get the money?
Columbo: All of it. All of those millions.
Leon Lamarr: It'll be a cold day in hell.
Nancy Brower: Leon!
Leon Lamarr: You lying, treacherous bitch, you sold ol' Leon out, didn't you? You want to see some cooperation? Girl, I'm gonna show you some cooperation.
[to Columbo]
Leon Lamarr: Who do you think it was pretending to be Freddie calling me from the studio that night?
[with Nancy ranting and raving, and with Leon chuckling]
Columbo: That's it.
[to another officer]
Columbo: All right, book 'em. Both of 'em.

Soundtracks
Where Have All The Flowers Gone
(uncredited)
Written by Pete Seeger

User reviews30

Review

Featured review

Rip Torn is Brilliant

Wow.This has got to be one of my favorite mystery/detective thrillers of all time.(And not just Columbo titles)To say the plot of this is ingenious would actually be an understatement.I just fell in love with the storyline,everything.Rip Torn takes the character of Leon Lamarr and turns him into one of my most favorite villains ever.Torn was simply brilliant.Death Hits the Jackpot is all peaks and no valleys.

The costuming at the Halloween party was delightful, and the performance of Betsy Palmer was very solid.I could watch this countless times over and never cease to be amazed with the quality of this mystery, the cast, the subtle clues and tidbits of evidence, the whole package is right up my alley.I give it a 10 out of 10.

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