Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaA popular film composer murders his talented protege, who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years, after he threatened to expose their secret to the public. Lt.... Leggi tuttoA popular film composer murders his talented protege, who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years, after he threatened to expose their secret to the public. Lt. Columbo investigates.A popular film composer murders his talented protege, who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years, after he threatened to expose their secret to the public. Lt. Columbo investigates.
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Recensioni in evidenza
Strongly enough plotted; a rather good platform is established in the early stages, but the momentum is barely maintained simply because the supporting clues are patchy in nature and moreover, the screen chemistry between Falk and Connelly is decidedly hit-and-miss; in fact Connelly's portrayal struggles to make an decent impact as he seems to be caught between a serious and a comedic interpretation of his character.
The finale is also on the bizarre side and is staged at the murder scene on top of a building: Columbo's evidence is not particularly overwhelming and Connelly's character more or less turns round and gives himself up. Also, in an odd error of fact, Columbo asks the deceased's partner to teach him to play Columbo's trademark song "this old man" on the piano, but he says that it is something that his wife hums; when we know that it is actually him who usually whistles the song.
A largely disappointing effort, which stands to date, as the penultimate Columbo adventure in its history and one that will not be recalled in a positive light.
This is the most recent Columbo that I have seen and I was therefore very worried that it would be terrible as some of the ones I've seen from around 1990 have been mostly average at best. However the directing presence of Columbo regular McGoohan made me think again plus the plot summary suggested that, having already caught a Spielberg clone, Columbo was going after John Williams. This may be the case but given that I don't know much about Williams outside of his music so any sly digs at him were lost on me. The plot is pretty clever and it was developed well enough to hold my interest but the ending is really weak and is not enough to trap Crawford even in the world of TV detectives. The direction is good and the film feels quite modern, which I know it is but it was still a new feel for the Columbo movies for me.
The cast are so-so and mostly good. Falk was good for the most part but at times his Columbo seemed to be almost an impression of Columbo; this is most evident when trying to "name that tune" with Crawford's orchestra. Outside of this he is good but it is not his best turn in the mac. Connolly is a solid choice of guest star and he works well with Falk it is nice to have a genuine big name in the suspect's chair. He is a big character as well and, although toned down from his comic personae, he still provides a good presence. The support isn't that great but it doesn't really matter that much (although Willett looks about 12 years old).
Overall an enjoyable film from the Columbo series despite the weak ending and a performance that isn't Falk's best. Maybe not enough to convince unbelievers that the long running series is deserved but fans will find it easy to enjoy.
But, I've gotta say - out of the long list of episodes I've seen, this is by far the most disappointing. Not only was it very unrealistic - the forensics (for a 2000 movie) were very out of date, but the plot [the ending specifically] left us dangling.
I didn't even realize it was over! When he confessed and joked about prison, we were like "huh?? what happened?? why would he confess??".. Columbo is a brilliant detective, and this one sold him short.
I know future episodes will make up for it.. [hint hint].. he's not ready to be put down.. I hope if the powers that be read this, they will realize that Columbo has a lot of life left in him, but I hope they also choose scripts that really are his traditional style: the Columbo style we've grown to love.
For this episode specifically, definitely not the best.. but if you're a Columbo junkie, definitely worth a watch - even a bad Columbo makes you smile. =)
Lo sapevi?
- QuizBilly Connolly's character name, "Findlay Crawford", is taken from his stand-up comedy, in which he mocks the names wealthy parents give their children. "Findlay" and "Crawford" are two separate names he cites as being particularly irksome.
- BlooperWhen Columbo is on the roof after the body falls, his hair is blowing in the wind and the Sergeant's tie is waving about, but the sheet music remains where it fell.
- Citazioni
Lt. Columbo: Oh, sorry to disturb you, sir. I realize this is a bad time.
Findlay Crawford: Have a drink. It's a good time to be drinking.
Lt. Columbo: Uh, not right now, thank you, sir. Still on duty. Would it be all right, sir, if I, uh, smoked a small cigar?
Findlay Crawford: Of course. I love a good cigar myself. There's a humidor over there. Help yourself.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, I'm kind of used to these here, thank you.
Findlay Crawford: Please yourself. Light up, sit down, and make yourself at home. No more home for poor Gabriel, I'm afraid.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, that was unfortunate, sir.
Findlay Crawford: It was a tragedy, Mr. Columbo, a tragedy. A wonderful young man with a great future.
Lt. Columbo: So I heard, sir.
Findlay Crawford: He was like a son to me. Let's have some music.
[classical instrumental music starts playing loudly. Crawford starts acting as a composer and then turns the music off]
Findlay Crawford: Tchaikovsky.
Lt. Columbo: Well, uh, sir, I...
Findlay Crawford: Perhaps you'd rather hear some rock and roll?
Lt. Columbo: I wouldn't say that, sir.
Findlay Crawford: [singing] In a cabin, in a canyon, excavating for a mine, lived a miner
Lt. Columbo: A forty-niner.
Lt. Columbo, Findlay Crawford: And his daughter, Clementine. Oh, my darlin', oh, my darlin', oh my darlin' Clementine, you are lost and gone forever...
Lt. Columbo: Dreadful sorry...
Lt. Columbo, Findlay Crawford: Clementine.
Findlay Crawford: At least we established part of your taste. But I think it's time for some sad music. More befitting the mood of the evening. A little cello, perhaps. Nothing weeps like a cello.
[instrumental cello music starts playing]
Lt. Columbo: Uh, Mr. Crawford... Mr. Crawford, I'm sure you could play wonderful music all night long, but there are a few questions. I realize that this has been a shock to you, but it has to be done.
Findlay Crawford: What did you have in mind, Mr. Columbo?
Lt. Columbo: Where were you, sir, when the deceased fell off the roof?
Findlay Crawford: I was on stage, conducting a concert.
Lt. Columbo: And when was the last time that you saw Mr. McEnry alive, sir?
Findlay Crawford: That would be last evening. In here, in the bungalow.
Lt. Columbo: And sort of mood was he in?
Findlay Crawford: Since I had just informed him he would be conducting the theme from The Killer in tonight's program, ecstatic.
Lt. Columbo: Ecstatic day before... Day before. So, uh... Oh, so he wasn't here when you arrived today?
Findlay Crawford: I arrived at the studio a few minutes before the performance. I didn't see Gabriel. I just assumed, as was his normal practice, he'd be on the roof, conducting along with me, and would appear when he was due on stage.
Lt. Columbo: So the first time that you saw him today he was on the ground. I can imagine how you felt, sir.
Findlay Crawford: I was devastated.
Lt. Columbo: And what did you do right after that?
Findlay Crawford: Some members of the audience had come outside to gawk. I told them to go back indoors. I announced that the performance for this evening was cancelled, and assured those present that the tickets would be good for next Saturday, when an additional piece would be added to the program. A piece that I would compose myself as a trib...
[sniffs]
Findlay Crawford: ... as a tribute to Gabriel.
Lt. Columbo: Oh, very nice gesture, sir. Uh, tell me, did Mr. Gabriel, when he was conducting, did he always use a baton?
Findlay Crawford: Of course. We all use batons. Why do you ask?
Lt. Columbo: Well... Well, you never know, sir. Somebody said he was a bit eccentric.
Findlay Crawford: [scoffs] Not that eccentric.
- ConnessioniFeatured in Colombo: Murder with Too Many Notes
- Colonne sonore1812 Overture
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
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