That night the Lieutenant was pitted against a psychiatrist who murders his wife played by Gene Barry in a rare role as a villain. Barry was best known for his leading roles in TV shows like Bat Masterson, Burke's Law and later The Name of The Game. Compared to his appearance during the 1970's, Falk has much shorter hair and looks downright buttoned down even with his raincoat. But in those more formal days, Falk's attire and blue collar demeanor earn him the condescension of his superiors and his adversary alike. Both would sorely underestimate him and not for the last time.
It would be another three years before Falk reprised the role and then starred in 43 more episodes from 1971 to 1978 becoming one of the cultural icons of the 1970's and a recognizable figure the world over. After an appearance in Wim Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire where Falk is repeatedly referred to as Columbo, the series was revived by ABC in 1989 aired 24 episodes over the next 14 years. Unfortunately, these episodes do not measure up to the original series in terms of writing, plot, production value and even Falk himself. Nevertheless, Columbo left an indelible imprint on TV all over the world. Did you know there is a bronze statue of Columbo in Budapest, Hungary?
Amazingly, Columbo creators Richard Levinson and William Link were originally looking to cast Bing Crosby for the role. Thankfully Bing preferred hitting the links. Levinson and Link had envisioned an older actor to play the apparently befuddled sleuth. Falk was 40 at the time he donned the raincoat for the first time. Needless to say, Falk would age into the role playing the Lieutenant from LA for the last time in 2003 when he was 75. Falk died in 2011.
If you've ever watched an episode of Columbo you will see the homicide, know who committed the homicide and about ten seconds after meeting the murderer the Lieutenant knew it was him or her. It was just a question of how Columbo would figure it out. In a way, Columbo is a purgatorial figure. He will keep coming back to ask his suspect questions turning up at their home, their work, their place of leisure. Nearly all of the perpetrators had never committed a murder and Columbo's repeated visits served as a growing guilty conscience until Columbo's final clue compelled them to confess or simply surrender unable to endure another "just one more thing."
Columbo is my Dad's favorite show. This is fascinating because Dad does not think highly of police officers. But then Columbo was no run of the mill detective. Although Columbo lived in LA and was an Italian Catholic, Dad viewed him as the New York Jew which Peter Falk was. My Dad grew up in the Bronx in a working class neighborhood where not much was expected of its residents. Dad was the first in his family not only to go to university, but would eventually earn a Ph.D spending 40 years as a university professor. Yet Dad retained that Bronx accent and was often underestimated by his peers much to their detriment. Dad identified with Columbo's ability to out think and outwit his adversaries without the use of a gun or so much as raising a hand in violence. He also admired Columbo's ability to have empathy and compassion for his adversaries and be able to see the good in them while firm in the knowledge he would have to bring them to justice. Columbo even reminds me of Dad whether it's his wavy, curly black hair and his propensity for scratching it. For all these reasons it has become my favorite show as well.
There is a possibility of a ColumboCon being organized this summer in Falk's hometown of Osining, New York. If this comes to pass, I hope to go there with Dad as it is only an hour's train ride from New York City.
If Columbo fans are unable to gather physically this summer, we do gather virtually to watch selected Columbo epsiodes on Twitter at #ColumboTV. In October, I hosted a viewing of "A Case of Immunity" with Hector Elizondo and Sal Mineo in one of his last roles before his own murder. This Saturday at 5:30 pm EST, we will be watching "A Deadly State of Mind" with George Hamilton IV and Lesley Ann Warren. Please feel free to join the party.
Just one more thing. Original episodes of Columbo currently air weekdays at 7 a.m. EST on the Hallmark Movie & Mystery Channel and on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. EST on COZI TV. Episodes from the ABC version air Sunday night at 8 p.m. EST on MeTV.
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