Columbo

[bobbie22]

I have been watching an episode of Columbo. It’s the one starring Gene Barry. I think it was the first one, made . It’s hard to believe it’s over 50 years ago.. I like Columbo, and I have seen them all

[Bazile]

Yes , I don't think there are many episodes I haven't seen .

They are showing wall to wall episodes on USA TV on Sundays

[bobbie22]

Yes, I have recorded two. But I have seen them. It’s better recorded because There are so many ads

[choux]

It is amazing to think 59 years, bobbie. I looked up Gene Barry tonight, he died in 2009, aged 90. I enjoy the programme too. I wondered what the fascination was that Patrick McGoohan had with the series, appearing in 4 episodes and directing 5 in all.

[Bazile]

Peter Falk wasn't the first choice to play the character

Can you imagine anyone else in the role , now ?

[bobbie22]

Who was the first one. I have forgotten ?

[chrissa1]

I love Columbo. Even if you’ve seen an episode and you know how he finds out who did it, it’s still fun to watch.

[bobbie22]

He was fairly nasty in this episode but it all changed and he was totally different in later episodes calm and cool

[choux]

That poor old coat he wore - makes Vera look like she was dressed by Hartnell or YSL!

[bobbie22]

Yes I have seen Patrick mcgoohan episodes. There was even one with Johnny cash

[brainiac]

Amazing list of people involved in it over the years - Steven Spielberg directed one episode!

[bobbie22]

I have probably seen the one with the dentist about ten times. I will probably watch again if it comes on

[Buenchico]

The Columbo TV series started 50 years ago, in 1971. The storyline you've been watching ('Prescription Murder) was actually filmed as a one-off TV movie three years earlier, as a re-working of a 1962 stage play which, in turn, had been derived from a single 1960 episode of a TV mystery series.

The movie spawned a successor movie and then 67 episodes of the TV series. So it obviously had some merit to it in the eyes of TV executives ;-)

[sanmac]

They are always interesting shows. I really like his "trade-marks": his rumpled rain-coat; the old car; the ever-present stogie' the "Oh, yes Sir, there's just one more thing bothering me" (as he's about to leave); and his pretended deference to the suspect leading to their feeling of superiority towards this mere detective, and which in turn, leads to their eventual down-fall.

[naomi24]

Love Colombo. Brilliant format .... but I haven't watched it for ages.

Note to self: search Colombo tomorrow.

[Buenchico]

Out of interest, can anyone think of any other TV crime series which always started by telling its viewers who committed the crime and how they did it? I can't!

[bobbie22]

No I can’t think of another show like this

[naomi24]

No, I don't think I can either, Chris. That's why I say it's a great format. Unique I think.

[brainiac]

This has reminded me of another programme from that era, one my father absolutely loved: The Rockford Files. Haven't seen one of them for a long, long time.

[bobbie22]

I liked that too James Garner

[Jackdaw33]

Not a film but a novel. The first Ruth Rendell book I read, 'A Judgement in Stone', has the opening sentence, "If Eunice Parchman could read she would not now be serving a life sentence for murder." I was fascinated.