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This is a fascinating early outing for one of the greatest TV characters ever created. Filmed about three years before the great man was given a regular series, in an uncanny way it both stands alone and acts as a guide to what was to come.

The Columbo formula is in place: immediate suspicion leads to the hounding of the suspect until Columbo's psychological pressure is too much to bear and the victim is helplessly trapped.

I like to think that Columbo spent the years between 1968 and 1971 refining his methods, becoming subtler and more suggestive in his probing while letting his appearance become dowdier and even less threatening. Certainly this is one of the few occasions when he loses his temper on a case. Even when Columbo loses his temper, he is generally working to provoke a reaction.

There are some nice directorial touches here, too, particularly a cut based on the murderer's hands, a hand hitting a piano keyboard with a discordant 'plunk' (very Hitchcock) and Columbo's reflection materialising in a broken mirror.

After years of watching Columbo I am surprised anyone in Los Angeles even thinks about committing a murder. Surely the man is a legend in the local media? What do you mean: 'He's not real'?

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.

For the legion of Columbo fans, this is the one that began it all, "Prescription: Murder," a play about a sloppy, fumbling, genius detective that was to star Thomas Mitchell on Broadway. We can thank, sadly, Mitchell's sudden death for the fact that they play never made it and was turned into a teleplay.

This particular episode sets up the formula for future Columbos: A powerful, wealthy, and/or privileged person commits a clever murder, can't believe their luck that this idiot is on the case, and goes down in flames. The powerful, wealthy, and/or privileged person is psychiatrist Gene Barry, who kills his wife (the always excellent Nina Foch) and sets himself up with an alibi with the help of his young patient, an actress. Brilliant though his scheme may be, Columbo is on to him immediately. And, as usual, 'twas ego killed the beast.

It took a while for Columbo to actually become a series, but it eventually did, rotating with other shows on the NBC Sunday Night Mystery Movie. But this is where it all began, with a surprisingly youthful but ever sloppy Columbo matching wits with a criminal. A classic.

Prescription: Murder does have its slow moments and personally I think there were better entries in the series, nonetheless this is a strong start to a wonderful detective series. The story is not too hard to follow but it isn't exactly simple either with a fine denouncement, while the script is superb and allows the actors to have fun. The photography and locations are striking, the score is suitably intense and the direction is secure. The acting is very good too. The supporting players are good particularly Katherine Justice, but the two leads are excellent, Peter Falk owns the part of Columbo while Gene Barry is perfect as the smug psychiatrist who murders his wife. Columbo's methods of bringing down Fleming is somewhat haphazard, but it is still a delight to watch. Overall, a very strong start. 9/10 Bethany Cox

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.