Murder by the Book
- Episode aired Sep 15, 1971
- TV-PG
- 1h 16m
When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
- Woman at Theatre
- (uncredited)
- Hot Dog Vendor
- (uncredited)
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
- Theatre Patron
- (uncredited)
- Delivery Driver
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSteven Spielberg was just 24 when he helmed this episode. He had to be approved by Peter Falk before being allowed to direct. The two had a meeting beforehand and Falk was immediately won over by the young director's enthusiasm.
- GoofsWhen Columbo makes Joanna Ferris an omelet, he says: "I'll tell you what the secret is to a good omelet -- no eggs, just milk." She laughs at Columbo's mistake. [In the original script, the line is: "The secret is just eggs, no milk."]
- Quotes
Lieutenant Columbo: Suddenly I thought of something. How clever that first murder was. The phone gimmick, working late in the office - brilliant.
Ken Franklin: Are you awarding gold medals today?
Lieutenant Columbo: Yes. For the first one. Not for the second one. That was sloppy. Mrs. Melville, she'd have been very disappointed.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1972)
A note to would be blackmailers. Don't think that you can blackmail somebody, even for a nominal sum, and that they'll be your friend, or in the widow's case, return your romantic interest. By definition, they see you as an enemy because that is what you are.
In this episode, Columbo does something he normally does not do onscreen. He talks to the widow of the murder victim and tells her exactly who he thinks the killer is and what he thinks about him and enlists her help in trying to catch him. Normally, although you may suspect what Columbo thinks, he saves how he came to his deductions until the final scene. Also, the motive is not revealed until the end. Franklin is a cool customer, so it was probably not anger that made him carry out such a premeditated crime, and with Ferris planning on breaking up their partnership, murder is not going to change that, so I was anxious to know what possible motive there could be. To that I'd say, watch and find out.
- AlsExGal
- Oct 28, 2023
Details
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- Also known as
- Tödliche Trennung
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