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

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Any COLUMBO/PETER FALK Fans Out There?

Author	Comment
bobzilla		#121	[-]
Feb 23 11 4:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I thought about that, but then I would have put THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS before I put A&C.
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Rakshasa		#122	[-]
Feb 23 11 5:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	bobzilla wrote: I thought about that, but then I would have put THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS before I put A&C. Right, but regardless of which title they chose to put in there, I'll bet that was the reason (that it was a Universal film). I'll also bet that someone "not in the know" probably just scanned a list of possible choices and, not knowing how little Price was in the film, chose A&CMF simply because they recognized the title; "Eh, I'll pick that one. Everybody's heard of Abbott And Costello". Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758 Last Edited By: Rakshasa Feb 23 11 5:29 PM. Edited 2 times.
bobzilla		#123	[-]
Feb 23 11 5:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yeah, you're probably right. These suits aren't as fanatical as we are!
Rakshasa		#124	[-]
Feb 23 11 5:32 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	bobzilla wrote: These suits aren't as fanatical as we are! Have no doubt, Count Bobula! Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
Grant		#125	[-]
Feb 23 11 5:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Not to get completely hung up on the subject of the blurbs, but there's one more complaint. It isn't a BIG deal, but the Season One set only singles out one director on the label, and that of course is Steven Spielberg. That becomes an aggravation when you remember that Season One had the only episode directed by Peter Falk himself.
Rakshasa		#126	[-]
Feb 23 11 6:04 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Grant wrote: Not to get completely hung up on the subject of the blurbs, but there's one more complaint. It isn't a BIG deal, but the Season One set only singles out one director on the label, and that of course is Steven Spielberg. That becomes an aggravation when you remember that Season One had the only episode directed by Peter Falk himself. Yeah, I guess that sort of thing is really for the benefit of non-fans who's eyes might be caught by recognizable big names. Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
bobzilla		#127	[-]
Mar 4 11 9:43 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just watched the episode MIND OVER MAYHEM with the boy genius named Steven SPELLberg.
Rakshasa		#128	[-]
Mar 4 11 10:05 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	bobzilla wrote: Just watched the episode MIND OVER MAYHEM with the boy genius named Steven SPELLberg. Good catch, Bob! In Mark Dawidziak's fabulous book THE COLUMBO PHILE, he says that was a not-so-subtle inside joke aimed at Spielberg, who himself had directed a Columbo episode, season one's "Murder By The Book". MIND OVER MAYHEM featured ROBBY THE ROBOT and Jose Ferrer. A good one! Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
Bill Warren		#129	[-]
Mar 4 11 12:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The latest COLUMBO DVD set includes, unfortunately, at least one of those unfortunate adaptations of 87th Precinct novels, which aren't inside-out mysteries as the other episodes are. I suspect these were concessions to Falk.
delgadosaur		#130	[-]
Mar 4 11 12:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I saw Mr. Fallk once on the Universal Lot, and I was in awe. As he walked by, I wanted to say, "Just a minute, Mr, Falk." lol
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bobzilla		#131	[-]
Mar 4 11 1:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I wasn't too crazy about the later TV movies. They were painfully slow and seemed stretched to fit a two hour time slot. The late 60s and 70s were the best for me.
Grant		#132	[-]
Mar 4 11 9:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Speakin of "concessions," I've said this one the Columbo site, but one of my complaints about the later series was the little concessions to "formula" police shows that you wouldn't see in the original series, like guns being fired by the police, handcuffs, and general tough TV cop talk (that "Come on, punk!" kind). They were sensible enough not to have Columbo HIMSELF do those things, but they felt the need to have his partners do them, and on a show called "Columbo" even that was a sore thumb.
Bill Warren		#133	[-]
Mar 4 11 10:55 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As a group, the NBC Columbo episodes are better--usually much better--than the ABC episodes, though there is a scattered handful of very good outings in the ABC group, such as COLUMBO CRIES WOLF. Every now and then, in these later episodes, we see Columbo at his office, sometimes reluctantly following orders given by a supervisor. I like it much better when Columbo simply drifts onto the scene in his beloved but rattletrap old car, briefly interacts with other cops, soon spots the killer, then spends the rest of the show outwitting the murderer. The question always persists: how much of Columbo's mannerisms are real and how much feigned to lure the killer into a false sense of security? I think he really IS absent-minded, overly polite and deferential--but underneath that, a brilliant, sharp mind is always at work--sometimes even when Columbo doesn't quite know it. The script for a final COLUMBO episode was prepared, but unfortunately, Alzheimer's claimed Falk before it could be filmed. Last Edited By: Bill Warren Mar 4 11 10:58 PM. Edited 1 times.
Jonatwork		#134	[-]
Mar 4 11 11:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was not a viewer of these when they were on, but my younger brother, who was born in the 70's, is an absolute fanatic about these. (He doesn't even talk about the later ones, which I assume were TV movies/specials--only the original run.) I had no idea there were so few of these. Anyway, he got me to watch some of them last year, and I really enjoyed seeing the various actors who were guest stars and who did such good work. I think my favorite was the very early episode with Lee Grant as a lawyer. I don't know enough about the show to make an educated guess, but it would not surprise me if the chemistry between her character and Columbo became a thumbnail sketch for the future shows--Grant's character is convinced Columbo is pulling an act, and she dresses him down--I just found the quote on IMDB: Leslie Williams: You know, Columbo, you're almost likable in a shabby sort of way. Maybe it's the way you come slouching in here with your shopworn bag of tricks. Lt. Columbo: Me? Tricks? Leslie Williams: The humility, the seeming absent-mindedness, the uh, homey anecdotes about the family: the wife, you know? [laughs] Lt. Columbo: Really? Leslie Williams: Yeah, Lieutenant Columbo, fumbling and stumbling along. But it's always the jugular that he's after. And I imagine that, more often than not, he's successful. Lt. Columbo: I appreciate that compliment, Mrs. Williams, and I particularly appreciate it coming from you. I really enjoyed that episode, and have enjoyed the others I've seen. So if it's any news to the old fans, I think this show will continue to make new fans as it goes along.
bobzilla		#135	[-]
Mar 5 11 12:05 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think Columbo may have been some of those things naturally (absent minded, etc.) but I think he did take them to the extreme to confuse the killer. Especially the out of context observations right in the middle of a serious conversation with the killer. Or, when he comes back with that "one more thing." That "one more thing" is really the point of the entire conversation, but he saves it to the end as if it's an afterthought and the killer then knows "he's on to me", but neither tip their hand at that point. I've been watching these lately two or three a week! I got a few seasons for Christmas. There's lots of things you pick up after watching so many in groups. I notice how much Columbo coughs. He does this thing where he coughs or clears his throat and covers his mouth with the back of his hand. I'm not sure if that's Falk choking on his cigars or just another Columboism he's worked into the character. To me, the only thing that comes close to this show today is Monk. Many shows reminded me of particular Columbo episodes. They even had a killer chess master with a scene of him playing multiple opponents in an episode.
Bill Warren		#136	[-]
Mar 5 11 2:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jackson Gillis, who wrote some COLUMBO episodes, also wrote a lot of PERRY MASON episodes--one of which he rewrote as a COLUMBO episode (I think it was "Murder in Malibu," but I haven't worked out which MASON it began as). Gillis was a very busy writer, working on all kinds of series (WONDER WOMAN, for instance), and usually did good, journeyman work. His COLUMBO "Last Salute to the Commodore" is one of the best in the series. There are 69 COLUMBO episodes overall. One I just finished watching, "It's All in the Game," stars Faye Dunaway, and is very good. The other one on the same disc, "A Bird in the Hand," has the imaginative touch of there being two murderers, working separately; the killers are Greg Evigan and Tyne Daly, who's excellent. A few years ago, while watching the COLUMBO episode "A Matter of Honor" (with Ricardo Montalban as a matador), I realized we get a good view of Columbo's driver's license, and there's his first name. There's nothing remarkable about what it is (Frank), but I thought I had scored a real coup, since his first name was never spoken in the series. (In one episode, he says it's "Lieutenant.") Then I checked the info-packed Wikipedia entry on COLUMBO and discovered his first name was revealed (in much the same way) in several other episodes. In the very first teleplay featuring Lt. Columbo, he was played by Bert Freed, and his first name was Philip. Incidentally, the COLUMBO with Lee Grant as the killer was the second one made; like the first, it was shown as a TV movie, not as part of a series. Last Edited By: Bill Warren Mar 5 11 3:11 PM. Edited 2 times.
bobzilla		#137	[-]
Mar 5 11 3:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Now we just have to figure out Quincy's first name.
rvoyttbots		#138	[-]
Mar 5 11 3:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always knew Vincent Price had been on a COLUMBO episode. I thought how cool is that, Columbo chasing after Price. Was I ever disappointed when I saw part of the episode. Price isn`t the murderer. He is just in the episode. Real letdown.
Bill Warren		#139	[-]
Mar 5 11 3:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The show made up for that gaffe by featuring William Shatner as the killer--twice. I myself was disappointed when George Wendt was cast as the killer. No way. He'd be the kind of guy to have a bowl of chili with Columbo--or to serve one to him. He's just too working-class/commonplace for a COLUMBO killer; they're usually snotty, arrogant millionaires, notably well groomed and usually handsome (or attractive) immediately prone to misjudge Columbo because he is, of course, so very lower middle class.
ryanbrennan		#140	[-]
Mar 5 11 4:16 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A few years ago, while watching the COLUMBO episode "A Matter of Honor" (with Ricardo Montalban as a matador), I realized we get a good view of Columbo's driver's license, and there's his first name. There's nothing remarkable about what it is (Frank), but I thought I had scored a real coup, since his first name was never spoken in the series. That's kind of how I learned Paladin's first name.
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Any COLUMBO/PETER FALK Fans Out There?