Prescription: Murder

A baby-faced Peter Falk makes his first appearance in this 1967 TV movie as the world-famous detective Columbo, which was followed 4 years later by another TV movie and an exceptionally successful TV series.

An excellent, well-paced, cleverly-crafted mystery which spends a lot of time establishing and developing Columbo's characterisation - the dogged determination and persistence through seemingly trivial questions; the display of deceptive absent-mindedness and ineptitude; the constant references to his family etc. are all underpinned by the cigar, the mac and the generally scruffy appearance (although his overall appearance here is rather more tidy).

Undeniably, in hindsight, Columbo characterisation and Falk's performance is a little raw here, for it would take a little more time to fine-tune both things: nevertheless, Falk still does a great job with the complexities of the character and gives a smooth, unruffled performance.

The plot is purposely straightforward and relatively thin and there are not the plethora of accompanying clues and trivial pieces of evidence that invigorate the vintage episodes of the series, but you have to remember that this TV movies was the platform for the Columbo character.

Gene Barry gives a fine performance as the murderer: he certainly relishes his role; effortlessly displaying his character's cold-heartedness, self-confidence and smugness in equal proportions. His scenes with Falk have a marked air of tension about them, as Barry's character progressively shows disdain and arrogance towards the protagonist.

The ending is clever, especially as the murderer continually thinks that he has got away with his crime; the way Columbo unmasks him is superbly ironical.

The only problem watching this film is that most people encountered the Columbo TV series, prior to watching the "introductory" TV movies, so it can be a little unnerving, yet, on its own account, it's a very accomplished piece of work. Furthermore, the best detective to hit our TV screens was born!

Now that the original 1967 pilot film for the Columbo character, PRESCRIPTION:MURDER (based on Levinson and Link's play), is available as part of the new Columbo DVD set, I hope that many more Columbo fans will be able to see the original interpretation of the character. I had never seen this before, and I was quite impressed. About 85% of the elements that comprised the Columbo "formula" are there, but Mr. Falk's hair is shorter and neater, the overcoat is not rumpled (as much), and Columbo is a bit more aggressive than we are used to based on the later shows. It took a second pilot film three years later for Columbo to get picked up as a series, but the magic was there in 1967 for this film. Don't miss it. Gene Barry is a fine sparring partner for Peter Falk, and no fan will be disappointed.

If you look up "Columbo" on IMDB, this episode isn't listed. Instead, it's listed as a separate movie. Regardless, "Prescription: Murder" is the first appearance of Lieutenant Columbo.

The first 35-40 minutes are all things leading up to a murder as well as working to conceal it. Columbo himself doesn't make an appearance until later.

Dr. Flemming (Gene Barry) is NOT a particularly nice psychiatrist. It seems he's been cheating on his rich wife and is tired of the pretense. So instead, he murders his wife in an elaborate way and uses his lover as an alibi. However, despite the crime appearing like a simple case of a robber killing a surprised housewife, Columbo isn't convinced and seems to think through most of the film that Dr. Flemming was responsible. The problem is that Flemming is a cool customer...and getting him to confess isn't going to happen. So how will Columbo manage to prove that the grieving husband is, in fact, a cold-blooded killer?

This is a very good beginning for the series. The writing is very good and how Columbo tricks Flemming is pretty cool. Overall, well worth seeing--particularly if you love murder mysteries.

Finally managed to catch the very first appearance of Colombo today and I must say my respect for the character and Peter Falk is not only supported but strengthened.

Looking back 35 years it's hard to think that this is in fact the first appearance. With most characters and shows there's some level of evolution, working out the flaws and building up the depth. But this is the first time I've seen a genesis of a character so purely defined from the very beginning.

Although the dirty long coat barely has a wrinkle, along with Falk's face, the man looks like he was born for the part. It's as if the character was thrust up from the earth already carved in granite.

Most of the time when an actor is so deeply associated with a role it is a pity he was not able to explore other characters and develop a broader identity as an actor. Most notably William Shatner, a great actor in the 60s who created a defining character for the next few decades but was never able to break from that limited role and instead largely wasted his given talents in the part. However Falk in his defining role cannot be considered to have wasted his skills. Instead redefining and refining the character to the point where it becomes as much as a living breathing person as fiction could be.

It is very fact that in this first appearance Falk is so suited to the role that you realise that the actor could not be wasting his time pursuing a role he was obviously born to play.

Everything is here for an excellent murder mystery, the perfect plan, the cunning criminal and the dogged detective. Very close to perfection.

A successful California psychiatrist plots the murder of his wife of ten years using his actress-girlfriend as a ruse; Lt. Columbo gets the case. Near-terrific yarn provided the introduction of Peter Falk in a role which soon became part of television legend. Writers William Link and Richard Levinson based their teleplay on an off-Broadway show of theirs, and they do not disappoint in this earliest incarnation of the wily, cigar-chomping lieutenant (Falk even says his famous line, "Oh, and just one more thing..."). The Universal production is smooth and spotless, the music score amusingly intense, and the performances couldn't be improved upon--particularly Gene Barry's as the too-cool, not-rumpled doctor. The only problems with Link and Levinson's script come late in the game, after Columbo gets uncharacteristically tough and mean with Barry's girlfriend and then plays a little dirty pool. The denouement is tricky and fun, if a bit unfair to the audience.