Columbo: Murder by the Book **** (1971, Peter Falk, Jack Cassidy, Martin Milner, Rosemary Forsyth) – Classic Movie Review 13,642

The 1971 Universal/ NBC TV Movie Columbo: Murder by the Book is directed by the 24-year-old Steven Spielberg, written by Steven Bochco, and stars Peter Falk, Jack Cassidy, Martin Milner, and Rosemary Forsyth.

Director Steven Spielberg’s 1971 Universal/ NBC TV Movie Columbo: Murder by the Book is written by Steven Bochco, and stars Peter Falk, Jack Cassidy, Martin Milner, and Rosemary Forsyth.

This historic Spielberg directed and Bochco written episode is the first in the original Columbo series that ran 1971-77.

This time smug socialite/ crime-writer Ken Franklin (Jack Cassidy) thinks that he has committed the perfect murder and Lt Columbo (Peter Falk) is again on hand to persuade him otherwise.

Ken Franklin is the less talented half of a murder-mystery writing team, who kills his more talented partner Jim Ferris (played by Martin Milner), who wants to go solo. Then a near-by grocery store owner called Lilly La Sanka (Barbara Colby) tries to blackmail him into having a relationship with her. Rosemary Forsyth plays Joanna Ferris.

Columbo: Murder by the Book is top-notch mystery thriller stuff, still fresh and punchy, with notable performances by ideal sparring partners Falk and Cassidy.

It follows the original 1968 TV movie pilot, Columbo: Prescription Murder and the first series pilot episode, Columbo: Ransom for a Dead Man.

Brilliant villain Jack Cassidy returned as the killer in two more Columbo episodes: Publish or Perish (1974) and Now You See Him (1976).

Cast: Barbara Colby, Lynnette Mettey, Bernie Kuby, Hoke Howell, Marcia Wallace, Haven Earle Haley.

Columbo: Murder by the Book is directed by Steven Spielberg. runs 76 minutes, is made by Universal Television, is released by NBC (US), is written by Steven Bochco, is shot by Russell Metty, is produced by Richard Irving and Dean Hargrove, and is scored by Billy Goldenberg.

Release: 15 September, 1971 (US).

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,642

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