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Fantasmes

Original title: Columbo: Sex and the Married Detective
  • TV Movie
  • 1989
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Peter Falk, Lindsay Crouse, Peter Jurasik, Ken Lerner, Stephen Macht, and Julia Montgomery in Fantasmes (1989)
Cop DramaPolice ProceduralCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

When a successful sex therapist with a best selling book and a hit TV show accidentally witnesses her business partner and lover cheating on her with an employee, she murders him. Lt. Columb... Read allWhen a successful sex therapist with a best selling book and a hit TV show accidentally witnesses her business partner and lover cheating on her with an employee, she murders him. Lt. Columbo is on the case.When a successful sex therapist with a best selling book and a hit TV show accidentally witnesses her business partner and lover cheating on her with an employee, she murders him. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

  • Director
    • James Frawley
  • Writers
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
    • Jerry Ludwig
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Lindsay Crouse
    • Julia Montgomery
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Frawley
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
      • Jerry Ludwig
    • Stars
      • Peter Falk
      • Lindsay Crouse
      • Julia Montgomery
    • 50User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Columbo
    Lindsay Crouse
    Lindsay Crouse
    • Dr. Joan Allenby
    Julia Montgomery
    Julia Montgomery
    • Cindy
    Peter Jurasik
    Peter Jurasik
    • Dr. Simon Ward
    Ken Lerner
    Ken Lerner
    • Dr. Walter Neff
    Marge Redmond
    Marge Redmond
    • Helen Hendrix
    Stephen Macht
    Stephen Macht
    • David Kincaid
    Dave Florek
    • Norm
    Harry Johnson
    Harry Johnson
    • Charlie
    Pierrino Mascarino
    Pierrino Mascarino
    • Tuba Player
    Stewart J. Zully
    Stewart J. Zully
    • Sergeant Burke
    Lisa Pera
    • Cleaning Woman
    • (as Leeza Vinnichenko)
    Susan Gibney
    Susan Gibney
    • Madge
    Peter Wise
    • Ozzie
    Michele Lamar Richards
    Michele Lamar Richards
    • Airline Clerk
    Doug MacHugh
    • Bartender #1
    • (as Doug Machugh)
    Janet Julian
    Janet Julian
    • Jill
    Gary Berner
    • Man in Bar
    • Director
      • James Frawley
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
      • Jerry Ludwig
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews50

    7.22.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10tomreynolds2004

    Brilliant performance by Lindsey Crouse

    Lindsey Crouse's tour-de-force performance as a nationally known sex therapist who is betrayed by fiancee Stephen Macht (himself, delightfully slimy) has a special place in my heart. The story is extremely well told with lots of humor and terrific supporting performances. The murder plan is ingenious and memorable executed. Columbo has a field day with the sex therapists. Columbo playing the tuba was a lot of fun also. The look Crouse comes up with for her courtesan alter ego is stunning. The scene where Columbo holds up a social event while he scans the Ladies' Room for clues is an all-time classic. The ending scene with the fireplace is very compellingly set up. This is one Columbo that should not be missed.
    9garrard

    Possibly the "sexiest" episode of the long-running crime drama

    Undergoing a personality/dress transformation that would rise the male libido, a sex therapist seeks revenge on her unfaithful lover. As she matches wits with the Peter Falk's wily "Columbo," guest star Lindsay Crouse is brilliant as the murderous doctor. The evocative musical score adds much to the story line and is appropriate seductive.

    Crouse's quick change from the straight-laced doctor to the no-holds-barred temptress is worth the viewing alone. Further evidence that we all have a bit of a villainy in us, just lying beneath the surface.

    This is one of the best of the television specials featuring Falk in his Emmy-winning role.
    9Dawnfrancis

    Columbo at his best

    Columbo playing the tuba? Yes, that's one of the highlights of this delightful and funny adventure, in which a famous sex therapist crosses wits with our hero. Another great moment is Peter Falk giving advice to a bunch of psychiatrists! This really is one of the best outings for Columbo and will delight fans, both old and new.
    7Sylviastel

    A Decent Columbo episode!

    Columbo's episodes are really quite a combination of serious, lightheartedness, good acting, an excellent cast, and drama mixed with comedy. Sex and the Married Detective casts Lindsay Crouse who is an excellent actress and does a superb job in this episode. She plays a sex therapist who discovers and learns of her lover's infidelity. She decides revenge. I found this episode to be much more entertaining than some others and still worth watching again and again. I found the interaction between Columbo and the Crouse to be the most interesting as well. Like most of Columbo episodes, one of the trademarks is to treat the audience and the suspect with intelligence rather than dumbing them down.
    7Leofwine_draca

    Columbo vs a female sex therapist

    SEX AND THE MARRIED DETECTIVE was one of the first outings for TV detective Columbo after an eleven-year hiatus for the show. It's certainly a return to the classy days of old, with strong production values, an effective soundtrack, and an above-average script which has a ball with the unusual premise.

    Guest star Lindsay Crouse plays a sex therapist who discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She decides to commit the perfect murder by disguising herself as another woman and bumping him off - only to have the crumpled sleuth turn up in an attempt to solve the crime. We're in cosy territory here with a very familiar format, but the sex angle of the screenplay allows for plenty of funny moments where we see Columbo actively embarrassed for once.

    In fact, there's a noticeable comedic angle to the whole film, and Peter Falk seems to be having a ball with it. The scene where he has a go at playing the tuba is a particular delight. Crouse is an effective star and the two have some great interplay. And it's not all comedy - the set-piece scene with the briefcase is a masterclass in building suspense to great effect.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The property used for Dr. Allenby's home also was used in the pilot of Clair de lune (1985) as the home of Madelyn Hayes.
    • Goofs
      When Dr Allenby is trying on her "murder outfit" at her house prior to going to the party, she is shown putting on a black silk undergarment (covering her chest). She then puts on a black dress. This dress has deep "V" neck which goes down to her stomach showing her skin - the black undergarment has disappeared.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Joan: Do you think less of me?

      Lt. Columbo: I'm only a policeman. Judging people... that's all up to somebody else, but I can tell you that I've enjoyed our talks very much, and I think I do understand.

    • Connections
      Featured in Columbo: Sex and the Married Detective (1989)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 20, 1992 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Black Lady
    • Filming locations
      • Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles County Music Center - 135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Peter Falk, Lindsay Crouse, Peter Jurasik, Ken Lerner, Stephen Macht, and Julia Montgomery in Fantasmes (1989)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Fantasmes (1989) officially released in Canada in English?
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