Columbo (TV Series) Death Hits the Jackpot (1991) User Reviews

fun episode

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 6 December 2017]

I think my favorite part of any Columbo episode is that closeup on the killer when he realizes that he's not dealing with an idiot. When Rip Torn is the killer, you just can't wait for him to crash.

Freddy (Gary Kroeger) is going through an awful divorce because his wife (Jamie Rose) is refusing to be part of a debt he incurred. Consequently he is unable to convince her to sign the papers.

Then he finds out he has won $30 million in the lottery, and now he's afraid since they're not divorced, his wife can claim half. His Uncle Leon (Rip Torn), a jeweler, suggests that he claim the money for Freddy. They draw up a letter of agreement.

But Uncle Leon is going to find it difficult to part with that money, even if he is getting 10 percent off the top. He makes it look as if Freddy drowned while taking a bath, and changes the time on the victim's watch to give him a perfect alibi.

Columbo picks up problems with the scene immediately. He comes to believe it was not an accidental death, and not so slowly begins to put the pieces together.

Torn is a riot, using a very broad accent (sounds like Texas) and being a real scum. Betsy Palmer plays his dizzy wife.

Lots of atmosphere here, including a party of hippies singing songs like Where Have All the Flowers Gone, a chimpanzee in a romper, and a millionaires masquerade party. Highly entertaining.

Could Freddy be one of the dumbest folks to ever be on "Columbo"?! Could be....

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 12 August 2021]

When the episode begins, Freddy is arguing with his estranged wife. They apparently are in the process of getting a divorce and he wants to either get it over with or get back together. But as he's talking to her, he notices they are giving out the winning lottery numbers on TV....and he just won the $30,000,000 jackpot! But Freddy is greedy and knows he will have to split this with his wife...but the wife doesn't love him and makes no bones about it. So, he and his uncle (Rip Torn) come up with a really dumb and poorly thought out plan...to have the uncle claim the money and give it to Freddy later. Of course, this is NOT an easy thing due to taxes and laws governing transfers of money...and he never even considers that his uncle MIGHT be a crook and will try to cheat him....which, of course, he does because Freddy is an idiot.

I mostly enjoyed this installment of "Columbo" although for the life of me, I have no idea why they included a chimp in the show! Yes, a chimp!! But in spite of this, it is an entertaining episode and is well worth seeing...even if the victim was amazingly foolish.

Affectionate, amiable detective offering

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 19 October 2015]

A nice cosy little mystery for Columbo and one of the better revamped TV movies I've watched. So far, this one seems closest to the spirit of the '70s originals, with a rather complicated murder scene and lots of clues for the detective to pick up on. No twists with the formula here, just straightforward detective work.

The delightfully rascally Rip Torn stars as an unscrupulous fellow who takes immediate action when his nephew wins thirty million dollars on the lottery. Due to the guy's soon-to-be ex wife's entitlement to half the sum, he convinces his nephew that he himself will cash in the cheque and pretend to be the winner, and pass on the cash further down the line. Inevitably he bumps his nephew off instead, making it look like an accident, which is where Columbo comes in.

Torn makes for a fine guest star villain. He doesn't really have any big or shouty moments with the crumpled gumshoe, but he exudes an air of quiet menace which works well. Falk acquits himself well with the material and has quite a few comic scenes in the midsection which work well in a gently humorous way. Betsy Palmer (FRIDAY THE 13TH) shows up playing Torn's wife, and there are enough twists and turns along the way to keep viewers enthused. Watch out for the chimp!

Uncle Leon has ideas of his own...

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 27 June 2010]

For me, Death Hits the Jackpot is one of the better later Columbo episodes. It starts off a little slow perhaps, but it picks up significantly and doesn't have any more problems as far as I am aware. The story is interesting and well-structured, and the script has a lot of nice humorous touches between Lamarr and Columbo which was a delight to see, in fact I liked this episode especially for its less-serious yet somewhat light-hearted tone. The direction is as solid as rocks, and there are several good scenes, any scene between Lamarr and Columbo is winning, but the murder scene is quite intense, the denouncement is clever and the party itself was a nice touch for those sumptuous costumes. The music is great once again, and the acting is too. Peter Falk is exceptional as always, and Rip Torn is simply brilliant and seems to be relishing a very interesting character. Overall, delightful and one of the better later episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A Great Introduction To A Great Series

[stubbers · 9/10 · 18 September 2009]

I'm going to try and review all the Columbo episodes I have ever seen, which will certainly keep me busy over the next few weeks, if not months. I'm going to start with the newer episodes and work backwards. Having just watched the 10th Season DVDs repeatedly, "Death Hits The Jackpot" is the standout episode of the series, and a fitting way to kick off my reviews.

Two words make this episode so special and memorable: Rip and Torn. He must be one of the very best Columbo murderers of all time, and this episode makes an excellent way of introducing people to the series (some of the colours and fashions of the 70s episodes may scare some younger viewers off!). But Rip Torn, infamous as Artie in The Larry Sanders Show, plays the archetypal Columbo villain here, and he plays the role to perfection. Like many Columbo murderers, Leon Lemarr comes across to his friends and family as funny, charming and lovable. He is a high-calibre jewellery salesman who gives the outward appearance of being wealthy, successful and well-respected. But the truth is, his finances are in dire straits, and his creditors are starting to close in on him.

When Leon's rather naive nephew Freddie Brower reveals that he has won the lottery jackpot, but doesn't want to go public in case his soon-to-be-ex-wife claims half the winnings, Leon comes up with the perfect plan. He persuades Freddie to pass over the winning ticket, Leon will publicly claim the jackpot and then privately pay Freddie the money. Whether or not he immediately plans to deceive his nephew is not made clear; I would imagine that at first he genuinely wants to help out but soon hatches a much darker plot once he realises just how much money he could make if he kills Freddie and keeps the cash for himself.

The rest of the plot is typical Columbo - the "perfect" murder is carried out, Lt Columbo comes on the scene to investigate and is the only one not to believe the death was merely a tragic accident. Gradually Columbo picks away at the loose ends that don't tie up, pestering away at his suspect until eventually he has all the proof he needs to make an arrest. This happens in all but one Columbo episode that I've seen and the fun comes from watching Columbo slowly but surely close the net on the murderer. More often than not, Columbo has already suspected the killer from his first few meetings with him.

What makes an episode better or worse than the others is down to many things: the believability of the plot, the quality of the acting, and the gradually shifting dynamic between smart and elegant killer/scruffy and apparently-stupid Columbo, ultimately leading to worn-out killer/triumphant Columbo. So an actor playing a Columbo villain has to cover a wide arc of emotions - from arrogant good humour through to desperate paranoia. "Death Hits The Jackpot" scores very well on all three counts.

The plot is made slightly more complex by the addition of an accomplice, and Rip Torn's furious outburst aimed at her when the inevitable finally happens is an excellent conclusion to an excellent episode. The lottery scenario might at first seem a little contrived, but then people win the lottery every week, and it's a common occurrence for fights and arguments to surround the sudden acquisition of a lot of money. The murder itself and Columbo's conclusive evidence are both watertight in terms of logic. Well, nothing I can find fault with, anyway.

This ranks as one of my favourite ever episodes. Brilliant stuff!

Rip Torn is Brilliant

[mountain227 · 16 August 2006]

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.

The ship comes in and sinks in the harbor.

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 8 August 2017]

Gary Kroeger, a rather shiftless sort who ekes out a living as a free lance photographer has finally had his ship come in. He's the proud possessor of a 30 million dollar lottery ticket. Unfortunately he also has a greedy wife in Jamie Rose.

So he decides to ask his uncle Rip Torn to cash the check then give him the proceedings when the final divorce decree between Kroeger and Rose is signed. Big mistake because Torn is both greedy and murderous.

Between the estranged wife and the greedy uncle Kroeger never stood a chance. Still Peter Falk has a case to solve and find a motive. A few of those small details that Columbo always harps on do the trick.

And Torn is made a chump of by a chimpanzee. Believe me Columbo never could have put this one together without the chimp.

Highly entertaining.

"Death Hits the Jackpot" (1991)

[Wuchakk · 8/10 · 9 January 2019]

PLOT: Ready to finalize his divorce, a struggling photographer (Gary Kroeger) wins $30 million in the lottery, but doesn't want his wife (Jamie Rose) to get half of it, so he gives the ticket to his secretly bankrupt uncle (Rip Torn) to cash it in, promising him 10%. But the uncle wants the whole shebang and is willing to murder to get it.

COMMENTARY: Everything clicks. There's a good sense of reality with the photographer's apartment/studio, his friends/family, the costume party and the pet chimpanzee. The air is kinetic, sprinkled with elements of amusement, like the swank auction sequence. Torn makes for an effective antagonist and redhead Rose is striking head-to-toe.

GRADE: A-/B+

A bit of a less serious Columbo movie, with a great Rip Torn in it.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 30 October 2008]

All Columbo movies had a certain amount of relieving comedy in it but this movie can really be seen as a true comedy. It's more comical than other Columbo entries and its made more as a real comedy. It perhaps makes this movie harder to take serious than other Columbo movie entries but it of course also makes it more fun to watch as well. In that regard "Columbo: Death Hits the Jackpot" is a good and welcome, slightly different, Columbo movie entry.

It's not like the movie isn't offering any mystery-thriller elements. It of course is still a Columbo movie with all of the right required genre elements in it and it still sticks to the usual successful Columbo movie formula as well. It's not like the movie is offering the best or most original story though. It's like a combination of many other previous Columbo movies in more than just a couple of ways, even more than usually is the case. But just because the movie isn't the most original doesn't mean is not the best one to watch. It's simply too well made for that. It also has some nice twists to it, though not all of them feel very likely.

Not in the least the movie works out so well due to the acting performances. Rip Torn is just great in this. He's of course also part of the reason why this movie feels as such a comical one. He at first sight doesn't seem like the most logical choice to play the murderer in a Columbo movie but he simply truly suits his role very well. There also is some nice interaction between him and Peter Falk, who himself also seemed to be a bit improvising at times, which works out nice.

The movie also has a great ending. Again, it's not really the most likely conclusion and way for Lt. Columbo to solve the murder but it nevertheless is a nice and original one.

A pleasant little Columbo movie entry. Nothing too great or original but perfectly watchable due to its entertainment value.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Another great columbo movie

[dlemon-43650 · 10/10 · 6 June 2021]

With Peter falk,Rip Torn and Betsy Palmer you know it's going to be a good one🤘

Rip Torn saves the day.

[punishmentpark · 7/10 · 19 October 2015]

This one's not as much fun as I remembered it to be. Some typical 'Columbo moments' just didn't come off right, which is a rare thing for me to say about Peter Falk's acting, because I think that's mainly where the problem lies. The bunch of happy house-mates (gathering round, singing 'Kumbaya') and the monkey were no great addition either. Jamie Rose's contribution was only so-so, even if she's easy on the eyes. But Gary Kroeger and especially Rip Torn made this episode still a pretty good one. Torn's interpretation of yet another sleazy murdering Columbo scumbag was a mere delight to witness.

The plot had a lot of potential, but it drowned farther and farther into the quicksand of whimsical and / or far-fetched details. This is particularly regrettable, since the ending partly had the right idea of playing out the two baddies against each other.

A small 7 out of 10, mostly thanks to Rip Torn's terrific performance.

A Jackpot of an Episode!

[ratssaidskinner · 9/10 · 25 January 2015]

SPOILERS INCLUDED. _____________________________________________________

I'm a huge fan of Mr. Falk particularly in his Columbo character. I can't imagine any other actor making these episodes so wonderful! RIP, Mr. Falk.

I thought I saw ALL of the Columbo episodes multiple times. But for some reason, do not recall seeing this one. My loss.

We have a 1991 episode with the creativity, surprises, and brilliant clues along with Mr. Falk's sharpness as Columbo that was more commonly seen in the early episodes. In my opinion, episodes of the 90's and beyond lacked that spark of genius and "Oh, wow!" effect from the many clues that we see here. I'm into photography and even I didn't pick up on the f-stop numbers as the winning lottery numbers! Plus the fact that chimps have fingerprints. Amazing and clever!

Not really buying it

[Rick-34 · 6/10 · 14 June 2016]

The best Columbos depend on the interaction between the detective and the murderer. They also depend on the intricacy of the plot - usually the murderer puts together a elaborate charade and we get to watch Columbo gradually pull it apart by tugging a thread here and a thread there.

The supporting cast in this Columbo is not very strong - a bunch of no-name actors and Rip Torn. We really need Torn to carry the episode. But he doesn't pull it off. It's not entirely his fault. But partly it is.

His accent is grating. Is this his natural accent? But worse is the general blandness of the plot. And then, inexplicably, he's having an affair with his nephew's wife. The writing completely fails to motivate this affair. Why is this woman having an affair with a man nearly twice her age? And of all the much older men to hook up with, her husband's uncle? It's not like Rip Torn is exuding charm towards her. It's just unconvincing.

The whole story doesn't make sense. The nephew doesn't have the cash to pay his rent, but he spends $500 on a case of champagne?

The biggest problem is the lack of chemistry between Falk and Torn. There are two ways the Columbo mysteries work. The most common way is for the culprit to think that Columbo is just an idiot, and then the episode enjoys Falk playing the fool. Occasionally the culprit realizes Columbo is a genius, and the two have a good game of cat- and-mouse.

Torn does neither. He treats Columbo as an annoyance that he wants to avoid. While this is a realistic strategy, it doesn't make for a very entertaining mystery.

And then the story ends out of the blue, with very little in the lead-up that suggests that Columbo has anything close to evidence. Boom, it's over. Oh well. Torn's talent was wasted and nobody else looked capable of contributing much.

Plot Makes No Sense

[dn2002 · 5/10 · 10 May 2014]

I'm a huge fan of Columbo. I bought the entire series. This episode follows the formula and would deserve a vote of 10 except for the flaw in the plot. Freddy wins the lottery and agrees to give the ticket to his uncle to hide his fortune from his estranged wife. Then Uncle murders his nephew. That part is believable. The twist makes absolutely no sense. (Spoiler alert) Then we find out that the uncle includes the estranged wife of his nephew in on the murder. 1)Why would the Uncle tell his nephew's wife about the money Jeffrey won. Without her, there would be no way that the wife could mess up the deal and he could keep all the money. 2)Why would the estranged wife even go along with the murder. All she would have to do is immediately call the police, report the uncle and the courts would hand her all the money. As I said, it just doesn't make sense. Rip Torn was great though.

Excellent episode

[david_louisson · 22 January 2007]

Along with "Columbo Cries Wolf", this is one of my all-time favorite Columbo plots, from the 30 or so episodes that I've watched.

Apart from the top drawer plot, it's smoothly paced and edited, contains some ingeniously subtle evidence, there are solid performances from the supporting cast, and the conclusion is very satisfying (however, it could have perhaps been ever so slightly better - see my comment on the message board).

Peter Falk is his usual brilliant self as the crumpled little detective, harassing Lamarr constantly, while he pieces all of the clues together in his own inimitable fashion. The elderly Italian woman provides a nice comedic touch.

I will give this one 9.8 out of 10.

dn2002 Plot problems

[eckesg1-800-663207 · 9/10 · 28 December 2014]

Dn2002 appeared to have some questions regarding the wife's role in this case.

I think the implication is that the wife and uncle were already together, having an affair before the lottery win and when the uncle found out about the lottery win, a plan involving her crept into his head involving her.

My guess for the second point is that once she found out about it, if she didn't tell, she would become an accessory to the crime, if she didn't report it immediately, before the murder. She would go to jail and probably lose the money.

The interesting thing about this story is that everything is driven by greed. The victim would have still ended up with 15 million dollars or so which is a lot of money, but he wanted the lot. And that ultimately sealed his fate.

Rip Torn...A++++

[mozart-73268 · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

To watch the great Rip Torn deliver such a stellar performance is worth watching the entire episode of "Death Hits the Jackpot". I have seen him in many movies and always delivers incredible performances. He is such a natural, and very believable in what ever part he is playing.

All this being said, I knocked one star down for Gary Krueger. What a lug! The guy is not only a bad actor, but he is a very unlikeable actor. I'm glad they got rid of him quickly! How did he get that part? The rest of the cast is also sub-par, however it was good to see Warren Berlinger as the portly Detective Jack Stroller, Columbo's assistant, who I remember him from the old "Love, American Style" days.

Good second series episode, solid as ever

[cashimor · 7/10 · 4 February 2001]

Again Columbo performs brilliantly, with all the usual details. But also the plot is quite good, with the killer acting more wise than usual. Some of the evidence is excellent and there is a wonderful side role for an Italian woman, which is subtitled.

Greed hit the Jackpot. Good episode.

[reb-warrior · 8/10 · 6 April 2022]

Pretty good as Columbo follows the path of clues. Seems weak at first, but then they gradually add up. The counterfeit watch which isn't waterproof, the money Freddie was spending on champagne, the car he ordered. Freddie never had a costume, etc. Things are just not making sense to Columbo.

Rip Torn was great as the charismatic flamboyant antagonist. You can see the wheels turning in his eyes when Freddie tells him he won. What is a little confusing is it seems apparent Leon was really good to Freddie, perhaps even loving, given Freddie's affection for him. So his killing Freddie seems really cold. Which I suppose is correct for a murderer. Yet it doesn't fit the attitude with Freddie. Leon does act as if tho Freddie is an annoyance to him. I mean if this was always there, you would think Freddie would have been more reluctant to go to his uncle with his revelation.

I've heard of a few real stories where a spouse tried to cheat the other out of lotto winnings. So this isn't far-fetched. I think I also heard that a murder was involved one time.

Freddie was himself kind of greedy too. I mean the law is the law. He certainly was willing to have his wife, Nancy, share half of his debt, but not half of his wealth. I'd say karma came full circle on him. I mean, yes I know Nancy was bad, but like I said the law is the law. He could have taken her to court instead. But anyway, half ain't so bad. 15 million. Ah, Freddie you greedy idiot.

Why was Nancy hooking up with Leon? Talk about a weird pairing. Also, Nancy could have just reported the fraud to lottery officials. She would have gotten at least half, if not all due to the fraud. So she was pretty greedy too.

Loved the scene when Columbo had to bang on his car door in order to get it open. Lol.

Columbo's anniversary woes were amusing, but not overly funny. But did fit his oddball self.

I loved the gang of friends Freddie had. Kind of eccentric and odd. Perfect match with Columbo. The Italian lady was so suspicious of him. Lol. And we got to hear Columbo speak fluent Italian. So that was cool.

Two great gotcha moments are when Columbo sees the numbers on the camera, and when he sees the pictures of the monkey always going after a shiny object.

Columbo's scene with the monkey was cute.

Anyway, a fun entertaining one. 8/10.

The Lottery

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 6 March 2016]

Rip Torn stars as Leon Lamarr, a jeweler about to go bankrupt who gets an unexpected visit from his nephew Freddy Brower(played by Gary Kroeger) an equally broke photographer who has just won the lottery of 30 million dollars! Unfortunately, he is getting a divorce from his wife Nancy(played by Jamie Rose) and would have to pay her half, which he does not want to do, so instead devises a scheme with his uncle Leo who will collect the winnings himself, then take a percentage with Freddy. Sadly, Leo gets greedy, and instead murders his nephew to keep all the money, but Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) is suspicious of course, and must find the evidence to prove it. Rip Torn is indeed a hoot here in fun episode, even if the conclusion becomes a bit cliché.

Good Entertainment Value

[gene-07202 · 7/10 · 20 December 2019]

All the villains in this piece? Instead of just taking their share which would amount to millions? Everyone, including the murder victim, is trying to cheat everyone out of the money. However, the acting and entertainment value is still up to the "Columbo Standards" with surprises.

Guest starring Rip Torn

[safenoe · 8/10 · 17 May 2023]

Just before Rip Torn became a TV sitcom superstar in the hit Larry Sanders, he plays a murderous and greedy uncle in Death Hits the Jackpot.

SNL alum Gary Kroeger plays the nephew and victim. I learned that Gary, a few years ago, ran for Congress. If he had won, he would have been the second SNL alum (I think) to be elected to Congress.

The premise of Death Hits the Jackpot is very juicy with greed, lust, money and a monkey being underlying themes as Columbo displays his mastery of Italian. Who would have thought that Columbo was Italian, especially as he never talks about his Italian heritage really.

Just going through the motions

[littlemisstilly · 6/10 · 10 April 2021]

Good plot but Peter Falk seems very weary of it all by now. From the time he arrives on the crime scene, none of his old pointed curiosity.

c- episode.

[wkozak221 · 3/10 · 8 September 2015]

I have the complete series on DVD. This is one episode I do not watch. There are certain actors I watch rarely and rip torn is one. I find the episode unfulfilling. The killer is annoying. The accent is abrasive. Also the method is not original. I also find the likelihood of the victim winning the lottery is too far fetched. There are some redeeming points but they are are few and far between. One of the redeeming points is the landlady. The actress is always a joy to watch. I watch this episode because it is a Columbo episode. I watch every episode even the ones I like less. I wish this episode was better it did have potential to be better.

Enjoyable adherence to Columbo formula that stands as one of the better of the new Columbo films (minor spoilers)

[bob the moo · 6 February 2006]

Going through a divorce and trying to keep his photography business afloat, Freddy Brower cannot believe his luck when he hits the jackpot on the lottery - $30 million. However he also knows that legally his ex-wife could get half of that as the divorce closes out. He goes to his trusted Uncle Leon and together they come up with the idea that Leon should claim the prize and, when the dust settles, hand the cash over to Freddy. This goes well but what Freddy doesn't know is that Leon is essentially bankrupt and isn't intending to give it all up. Using a party as an alibi, Leon sneaks to Freddy's apartment and murders him while destroying any evidence of their arrangement. Columbo looks into the apparent accident but something about the whole affair sticks in his mind.

Sticking nicely to the plot formula, this Columbo succeeds because it produces a solid story, good characters and a well-developed mystery. The plot starts obviously with some unlikely good fortune from Freddy, followed closely by a great bit of greed and naivety but soon it settles down to be the usual matter of Columbo digging and digging at minor things while his prey denies everything and tries to help the case move forward. The mystery is picked at in logical stages and the only weak spot is the way it is solved – it is too obvious and the presence of the monkey so "different" that I knew it would come into it somehow or other. Apart from this though it is enjoyable and will probably please those fans who were not generally that impressed with the standard of the new Columbo films. A side note to fellow saddos is that the external of the building used for Freddy's apartment is the same as the building where Columbo: Undercover opens with a double murder.

The cast are good and they help the formula deliver the goods. Falk is good as usual and enjoys good deduction as well as producing his usual brand of crumbled comedy (my favourite here being him at the auction). He works well with Torn, who was a good choice for the bad guy. Torn is a worthy foil for Columbo and he is a classy performer for the film series – more of a throwback to the original series than some of the no-names that appeared in the newer films; he is menacing and able to convince as a smooth character. The two men work well together throughout. Support is not quite as good, with average turns from Rose, Kroeger and Palmer to name a few.

Overall an enjoyable entry in the Columbo series that sticks to formula with a good guest star, a good story and a nice mix of mystery development and comedy. One of the stronger films out of the modern series of the later 80's and 90's.