Any COLUMBO/PETER FALK Fans Out There? in Off Topic Discussions Forum

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Any COLUMBO/PETER FALK Fans Out There?

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capmonte		#21	[-]
Jun 7 08 9:59 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh, I love that scene when Columbo smashes something on Nimoy's desk and he basically tells him that he knows he killed the girl and he's going to get him; I don't remember the exact dialogue, but that was huge to see him explode like that. Also loved when Jourdan and Columbo both admit they don't like each other; that's something that rarely happened. Are there any others where Columbo flat out tells a suspect he doesn't like him? Culp and McGoohan are definitely tops on my Columbo rogues gallery. Culp appeared in one of the revival movies, but not as the killer, if I recall correctly. I kind of see the sympathetic woman idea, particularly in the Ruth Gordon, Janet Leigh (since she has Alzheimers and doesn't even remember killing poor old Sam Jaffe), and Trish Van Devere installments, but I think the cold, calculating ones, like Lee Grant in the second pilot and Vera Miles (though hers is not one of my favorite installments), were right on the money and just as good as the smarmy male villains. Anne Baxter, too. I liked Faye Dunaway in one of the 80s ones..."Butterfly in Shades of Grey" I think it was called. Actually no, "Butterfly" was the second Shatner, now that I think of it. My top 5 Columbos: Try and Catch Me (Ruth Gordon) By Dawn's Early Light (McGoohan) Murder Under Glass (Jourdan) Fade in to Murder (Shatner) Double Exposure (Culp) My least favorite (of the originals) is probably The Bye Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case, with Theodore Bikel. Just can't get worked up about that one. "The important question is not, are there aliens on other worlds? No. The important question is, do they have ray guns?" Last Edited By: capmonte Jun 8 08 3:02 AM. Edited 2 times.
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Whatsallthis		#22	[-]
Jun 7 08 11:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I hated (and I think most everyone else does) the one where Columbo had to save his nephew's bride-to-be from a kidnapper. The plot formula was totally ditched and becomes something totally different (and not very entertaining). Did anyone mention that there was a TV drama in the '50s with Bert Freed as Lt. Columbo? I like the ABC one with Dabney Coleman who drugs his wife and her lover then strangles the wife, leaving the boyfriend with a murder rap. The ABC one with Andrew Stevens had a bit of a twist to it and became (like the commodore one) more of a "whodunnit" than a "howdtheyscrewup" I think the final Columbo had Matther Rhys (with whom Falk appeared in the A&E version of THE LOST WORLD)as a nightclub owner being the villain. Of course falk was too old 5 years ago to play the part so that's it for ol' Pete as the detective. I do hope that those ipecac incarnates at the hollywood remake factories let this one pass by. "How can I handcuff a bloomin' shirt??!?"
capmonte		#23	[-]
Jun 7 08 11:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Whatsallthis wrote: I hated (and I think most everyone else does) the one where Columbo had to save his nephew's bride-to-be from a kidnapper. The plot formula was totally ditched and becomes something totally different (and not very entertaining). Did anyone mention that there was a TV drama in the '50s with Bert Freed as Lt. Columbo? I like the ABC one with Dabney Coleman who drugs his wife and her lover then strangles the wife, leaving the boyfriend with a murder rap. The ABC one with Andrew Stevens had a bit of a twist to it and became (like the commodore one) more of a "whodunnit" than a "howdtheyscrewup" I think the final Columbo had Matther Rhys (with whom Falk appeared in the A&E version of THE LOST WORLD)as a nightclub owner being the villain. Of course falk was too old 5 years ago to play the part so that's it for ol' Pete as the detective. I do hope that those ipecac incarnates at the hollywood remake factories let this one pass by. That was the one where the body was hidden under the floor of the nightclub, right? "The important question is not, are there aliens on other worlds? No. The important question is, do they have ray guns?"
Bill Warren		#24	[-]
Jun 8 08 1:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The two episodes based on 87th Precinct novels were "Undercover" in 1992 and "No Time to Die" in 1994. One of those is the episode about the kidnapping.
Rakshasa		#25	[-]
Jun 9 08 8:59 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree with Bill about George Wendt (sp?). I happened to catch some of that episode on TV once and it was not good. Truth be told, I have not seen all of the 80's/90's Columbos, the reason being that the ones I DID see turned me off to the point that I didn't want to see any more of 'em. The few good ones that some of you mention sound interesting, so perhaps one day I'll get to check those out. I too love the Leonard Nemoy "A Stitch In Crime" episode. The scene were Columbo slams his hand down on the desk and looses his temper is one of the most powerful scenes in the series. Agreed though, the scene is so powerful because we rarely (if ever) saw his true anger come out like that. Man, I didn't realize Dawidziak's book The Columbo Phile was out of print and fetching such big prices. I bought mine new for $14.99 at a Borders back in the mid/late 90's. It really is a great book and it, along with Mark D's "The Night Stalker Companion", should be back in print! Another favorite of mine is the Johnny Cash episode "Swan Song". I think Cash is great in it, and he's definitely one of those killers that Columbo has an affection for (much like Donald Pleasance in another favorite of mine, "Any Port In A Storm"). Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758 Last Edited By: Rakshasa Jun 9 08 10:05 AM. Edited 2 times.
capmonte		#26	[-]
Jun 9 08 12:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always liked how Johnny Cash kept calling Columbo some nickname throughout the show, "little buddy" or something like that. And how sweet that Columbo brought a dessert wine for Donald Pleasance when he arrested him. Based on all the talk here, I watched three Columbos in a row yesterday: Stitch in Crime, Requiem for a Fallen Star (didn't like that as much on rewatch as I had before), and Double Exposure, the Robert Culp "subliminal cut" one. Definitely one of my absolute faves. "The important question is not, are there aliens on other worlds? No. The important question is, do they have ray guns?"
Bill Warren		#27	[-]
Jun 9 08 12:54 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've been exchanging eMails with Mark Dawidziak. He, too, would like to see the COLUMBO PHILE back in print, but right now, he has other irons in the fire. He and his wife run a rep theater in his home area, and that takes up a lot of time. He said that he, Falk and Link had all offered to provide supplemental material for the COLUMBO DVDs, but Universal proceded without dealing with them. The first any of them new the discs were beginning to be issued is when the first one went on sale. These discs are very poorly packaged; not only are there no supplements on the discs, but the episode descriptions on the containers do not cite the actors. It's dismayingly bare-bones treatment for a series as notable as this.
Rakshasa		#28	[-]
Jun 9 08 1:58 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Cap, you're right, I love all that "Little Buddy" stuff in Swan Song. Cash is obviously patronizing Columbo, and it's very amusing. Bill, a friend once got me a signed book from Mark Dawidziak. It was a copy of his Kolchak novel called "Grave Secrets", and Mark wrote "To Doug, A Rakshasa Told Me That You Were A Fan - Best Wishes, Mark". Sadly, I lost the book! I was reading it at a club in Allentown, PA where I was performing and I accidentally left it there. The next day, I called the club and they said it wasn't anywhere to be found. I was (and still am) bummed out about it. According to his return address, Mark lived in Ohio when he sent me that book (this was back in the late 1990's I think). It would have been GREAT if Universal had Mark do commentaries on the Columbo DVDS as well as the Kolchak DVDs, but obviously, both sets are about as bare-boned as you can get. Still, I'm happy to have all original seven seasons on my shelf. Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758 Last Edited By: Rakshasa Jun 9 08 2:02 PM. Edited 2 times.
luisj40	Peter Falk	#29	[-]
Jun 9 08 3:59 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I love COLUMBO and I'm a big fan of Peter Falk in general but did anyone catch this sad incident capture by the jerks of TMZ? Luis
Rakshasa		#30	[-]
Jun 9 08 5:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yeah, I've seen those pics, Louis. From what I hear, Falk had misplaced the keys to his car and was upset, that's all. Unfortunately the parasitic paparazzi were there to capture Peter at that moment. Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
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PShields79		#31	[-]
Jun 9 08 8:46 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Those 90's Columbos brought in fantasy elements that were out-of-place. Two I can think of are when he nailed a young, Spielberg-like director with an elaborate special effects reveal of how the murderer did it. Another (might have been with Robert Foxworth as the murderer) had, as a closing shot, a Columbo figurine on a battlefield of military figurines. The 70s shows had a 70s sensibility. Being an L.A. native, I always feel a warmth to those episodes because there are frequent glimpses of the L.A. of my youth, plus the references to then-current pop culture takes me back. You can't go home again. For reference, see The Munster's Revenge, Wild Wild West Revisited, Get Smart Again, and any 15-20 year later attempt to revive a TV series. I feel that Star Trek was the only successfully executed revival of a post-TV series with the original cast, and even at 10 years later, it was shaky. It did hit its stride with STII: TWOK. Perry Shields Member, Torrance Theatre Company
Rakshasa		#32	[-]
Jun 9 08 8:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good points and well said, PShields79. Think I'll watch a Columbo when I hit the sack tonight.... Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
JessieLilley		#33	[-]
Jun 9 08 9:54 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Big, big Columbo fan here. Never missed it on NBC in the 70s; it was a highlight every three or four weeks. The only other series I watched in that wheel was "McMillan and Wife." I recommend a now-outdated book called The Columbo Phile written by Mark Dawidziak. It was published in the 80s before Columbo was revived on ABC, but is very thorough in its coverage of the original run. Dawidziak is a lovely man. VERY funny and with a love of COLUMBO, NIGHT STALKER, DARK SHADOWS etc that is greater than mine own. He once tried to talk me into writing one of the DARK SHADOWS novels. He had it all set! But I'm not a fiction writer and told him there was no way I was going to screw him up with these people by saying yes and then not being able to deliver. He told me I COULD write fiction but man, I don't see where he gets that idea. Anyway.... Columbo. LOVED Columbo. And I agree, the 70s run was the best. I too watched Mac & Wife (remember when John Shuck got shot in the pastrami sandwich?) but I also got into the Dennis Weaver thing. Now I can't think of the name. But the horse in NYC always gave me a charge for some reason. What can I say. I like my horsies. When I worked at Universl I got such a charge out of some of the poeple who would call me looking for help. I worked in A/V and of course, the number they would call for help was mine or Debbi's. You'd think these characters would have a secretary call, but no. You never knew WHO you'd be talking to when the phone rang. So one day I get this call. It's Falk. Damned near died. Here's the approximate conversation. FALK: Yeah, can you help me?" LILLEY: I'll try. FALK: Yeah. This thing doesn't work. LILLEY: What thing? FALK: The thing. With the thing you stick in it. LILLEY: I'll send Harald. FALK: Yeah. Thanks. LILLEY: Sure So Harald wanders down to Falk's office and he told me later that he walked in and there was Falk and McGoohan was with him and they were smoking cigars (in the non-smoking building of course) and Falk pointed to the VCR. This was the thing that you stuck the thing in. So Harald hit the power button and looked at Falk because it turned right on. FALK: Wow. What did you do? HARALD: I turned it on. FALK: Wise ass. McGOOHAN: Didn't think of that, eh? FALK: No. That's about when Harald collapsed. So help me, it's true. The problem was dead batteries in the remote. Never occurred to him to try pushing the button on the machine. Then I get a call from DiLaurentiis. "I need the game, the game! It's no here." "I'll send Harald." Harald was my ace in the hole. He is THE BEST tech on the lot. Nobody does it better. Off he went. The DTV was out again. Some wire that didn't like to stay in was out. So Harald did the very technical "gozinta gozoutta" and there was the game and Maestro was happy. Years later (after many harried calls because Dino couldn't see his soccer game) I went to a book signing at Rocket Video with Brad Linaweaver. Dino was speaking and then signing his book. I bought the book and went up to have it signed. He asked to whom he should sign. I told him Jessie Lilley. He looked up, his jaw dropped and up he jumped and gave me a huge bear hug and kissed each cheek. "YOU! You save my game! You send Harald." Brad fell over. For that matter, so did I! I had no idea he knew my name for crying out loud! I told Harald about it the next day and he laughed and said, "Yeah. He wanted to know who the calm lady was in my office." So, not all Columbo, but I love the Dino story as much as I love the Falk story so... ya' know. McCloud! Ha. I remembered. Last Edited By: JessieLilley Jun 9 08 10:44 PM. Edited 1 times.
Gord Shriver		#34	[-]
Jun 9 08 10:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Terrific post, Jessie! And you told it so well, because we can visualize all of it. BTW, everyone, I highly recommend the movie THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS from a couple of years ago. Paul Reiser--a big fan of Falk--wrote it with him in mind. He and Falk play father and son, and Falk gives an excellent performance. Olympia Dukakis was the mother. It's well worth seeing. Wish I'd seen Falk onstage (in anything, actually) when he was in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS in the mid-80's. Little did I know at that time I'd appear in that play here years later.
JessieLilley		#35	[-]
Jun 9 08 10:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hey Gordo! How the hell are ya'?
ARGumshoe		#36	[-]
Jun 9 08 10:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wonderful stories, Jessie. Thanks much for sharing them.
Rakshasa		#37	[-]
Jun 10 08 7:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great stories, Jess! Hey Gord ~ thanks for reminding me about THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS. I remember when it came out and I was dying to see it. I never did. Then, I forgot all about it for the last few years. I'll have to track down a copy. Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
MikeTheMook		#38	[-]
Jun 10 08 8:56 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts
MikeTheMook		#39	[-]
Jun 10 08 8:59 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My favorite Columbo villain!
catmandu7		#40	[-]
Jun 10 08 3:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have read that they originally offered the role of Columbo to Bing Crosby, which would have worked if Crosby was about 20 years too old. He laughed out loud and said that he was too rich to work, that all he wanted to do was play golf, and that except for the odd concert that he was retired. Bing was a very good actor and I think that he would have made an interesting Columbo had they come to him, say in 1959.
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Any COLUMBO/PETER FALK Fans Out There?