Columbo: Murder by the Book (1971)

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(547 ratings)

Ken Franklin is a rich socialite living in a luxurious coastal mansion bought from his years of writing crime and mystery books. However, what he once wrote as fiction becomes reality as he murders a man and then desperatly tries to cover up his crime when he is blackmailed by a witness. As usual,… More Ken Franklin is a rich socialite living in a luxurious coastal mansion bought from his years of writing crime and mystery books. However, what he once wrote as fiction becomes reality as he murders a man and then desperatly tries to cover up his crime when he is blackmailed by a witness. As usual, Columbo arrives on the scene and begins to pester his suspect with questions about the murder. Mr. Franklin soon realises though, that no murder is perfect, and that one of his books may return to haunt him.

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 16 min.
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Television, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Sep 15, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Mar 8, 1994
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

One half of a mystery writing team murders his partner after being told that he plans to go solo. The very first episode proper of Columbo started as it meant to go on; an intriguing plot, interesting characters and the classic Columbo ploy of playing the bedazzled, dimwitted… More
One half of a mystery writing team murders his partner after being told that he plans to go solo. The very first episode proper of Columbo started as it meant to go on; an intriguing plot, interesting characters and the classic Columbo ploy of playing the bedazzled, dimwitted flatfoot, all the while taking in every detail as he plans to unravel a seemingly water tight murder plot. Falk is perfect in the role of Columbo, playing the affable innocent although his steel trap of a mind has solved the case within minutes and it's great to watch Jack Cassidy's arrogant slimeball get more and more tetchy with him as he sees himself gradually becoming undone, thread by thread. There is also some nice support from a very believable Rosemary Forsyth as the grieving widow and Barbara Colby as the star struck small towner who foolishly tries to blackmail the killer. Hardly over stocked with big names, but it's a well written, well acted, intelligent detective story and it certainly didn't hurt to have a little known young director by the name of Steven Spielberg at the helm...
David S

I wouldn't usually comment about a Columbo movie as it was made for TV and there are loads of them but this one is a bit special as it's directed by a Mr Spielberg. I'm a Columbo fan anyway but this is the original pilot and already you can see most of the things that… More
I wouldn't usually comment about a Columbo movie as it was made for TV and there are loads of them but this one is a bit special as it's directed by a Mr Spielberg. I'm a Columbo fan anyway but this is the original pilot and already you can see most of the things that make Columbo great in place. Flak is excellent and Cassidy makes a great villain. Not many Spielberg flourishes but still a great start for an enduring detective.