Columbo - Season 3 (Remastered) (1973)

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General		Extras
Category	Crime Drama	None
Rating
Year Of Production	1973
Running Time	657
RSDL / Flipper	No/No Multi Disc Set (4)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jeannot Szwarc Leo Penn Boris Sagal Richard Quine
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Peter Falk Vincent Price Martin Sheen Vera Miles Donald Pleasence Jackie Cooper Robert Culp Jack Cassidy Mickey Spillane Johnny Cash
Case	?
RPI	$39.95	Music	None Given

    An undeniable television staple, Columbo initially ran for seven consecutive seasons on NBC, before being picked up by ABC in the late 1980s for a few more seasons and separate specials, leading up to the final episode in 2003. Season 3 of Columbo ran from 1973-1974, and by this point in the program’s production history, the trademark formula had been established, and makes for an enjoyable sit more often than not. It’s hard to deny the charms of the series if you give the show a chance, with the late great Peter Falk always delivering an irresistible performance as the titular LAPD lieutenant.

    Season 3 is littered with notable guest stars, with the likes of Donald Pleasance, Martin Sheen, and even legendary singer Johnny Cash making their mark. This particular season comprises of eight telemovies, with a number of genuine masterworks thrown in. Not every instalment is a home run of course; the ending usually makes or breaks a potential keeper, and sometimes the key bit of evidence is a bit squiffy. In other instances, however, the “gotcha” moment is wholly satisfying.

    Here are the episodes included, spread out over four discs. Note that all episodes have a certain amount of chapters, but there is no chapter selection menu.

Disc 1:

Lovely But Lethal (70:51)

    Viveca Scott (Vera Miles) is a cosmetics queen struggling to keep her company alive in the face of stiff competition in the form of David Lang (Vincent Price). She hopes that a revolutionary new beauty cream will boost her sales, but chemist assistant Karl Lessing (Martin Sheen) steals the formula, threatening to sell it to Lang if Viveca doesn’t comply with his demands. Unhappy with Lessing’s terms, Viveca bludgeons him in a fit of rage, and tries to mask her involvement in the homicide. As always, though, she meets her match in the form of Lt. Columbo.

    "Lovely But Lethal" is a star-studded way to kick off Season 3, and it was directed by Jeannot Szwarc (who would go on to helm Jaws 2). It’s a fairly by-the-numbers entry to the Columbo oeuvre, but it does have its moments, including some amusing dialogue regarding a “fat camp” that Viveca runs. (Try to get away with using that term in today’s politically correct world). It is also easily digestible at 70 minutes, making this pleasant viewing for fans of the show.

Any Old Port in a Storm (91:32)

    Fanatical wine connoisseur Adrian Carsini (Donald Pleasance) runs an elite California winery, but treats the business like a hobby, failing to turn a profit. However, Adrian’s half-brother Rick (Gary Conway) owns the land on which the winery is situated, and has grown tired of Adrian’s indulgences. Rick seeks to sell the winery for a tidy sum, but this does not sit well with Adrian, who bludgeons him unconscious and leaves him to die in an airtight wine cellar. Disposing of Rick’s body to make his death look like a diving accident, Adrian thinks he’s in the clear, but Lt. Columbo soon starts sniffing around, and he’s not convinced by the official line.

    Unhurried, tactful and skilfully-written, this is among the better episodes of the season for sure, especially with the presence of Pleasance, who once delivered an unforgettable performance as Blofeld in the James Bond adventure You Only Live Twice. The interplay between Pleasance and Falk is consistently engaging, and even though the telemovie is beefy at over an hour-and-a-half, there’s hardly a dull moment. "Any Old Port in a Storm" was one of Falk’s favourites, and it’s easy to see why.

Disc 2:

Candidate For Crime (94:25)

    An election is approaching, and senatorial candidate Nelson Hayward (Jackie Cooper) is in the throes of his campaign. However, Hayward’s demanding campaign manager Harry Stone (Ken Swofford) is getting on the candidate’s nerves, with Stone ordering him to dump his mistress. Seeking to fabricate death threats as a publicity stunt, Hayward murders Stone, slyly making it look like a case of mistaken identity. Although investigators are quick to believe that Stone’s death was the result of an assassination attempt on Hayward, the inimitable Lt. Columbo is on the case, and as usual, not everything adds up in his mind.

    The superlative "Any Old Port in a Storm" was a touch act to follow, yet this particular Columbo outing represents another winner for Season 3, with the usual formula being moulded into an enjoyable, satisfying telemovie. Falk is as good as ever - bumbling, unassuming and calm - and he’s well-matched with Cooper, who’s more of a hot-head. As to be expected, their interactions are dynamite. It’s a well-written episode, perfectly-paced and with a terrific build-up, and the trademark “gotcha” moment is one of the cleverer endings of the series. Great stuff!

Double Exposure (70:35)

    A “motivational research specialist,” Dr. Bart Keppel (Robert Culp) is an expert in the field of subliminal advertising, but also makes a buck on the side through blackmail. However, Vic Norris (Robert Middleton) refuses to give into Dr. Keppel’s blackmail demands, and threatens to expose him. Keppel therefore schemes what he believes to be the perfect murder, setting up a seemingly iron-clad alibi for himself in the process. Of course, though, there are imperfections in his plan, and Lt. Columbo is a professional when it comes to finding them.

    Goodness, it’s classic after classic for this season, with another exceptional episode continuing the winning streak. "Double Exposure" does adhere to the set formula, but the execution is truly extraordinary, introducing a psychology angle and an intriguing murder method, while the finale is superb. This is one of the tighter episodes at a bit over 70 minutes, and each frame is put to good use, with great interplay and a sly antagonist. Culp returns for his third murderer role in as many seasons, and it’s one of his best efforts on the show; cool, calculated, and devilishly clever, but as usual, he underestimates Columbo just a bit too much. This is an exceptional episode, and it even won an Emmy.

Disc 3:

Publish or Perish (71:21)

    Alan Mallory (Mickey Spillane) is a prolific best-selling author whose novels are published by Riley Greenleaf (Jack Cassidy). However, Mallory plans to jump ship to a rival firm, which does not sit right with Greenleaf, whose company has a sizable life insurance policy on the writer. Scheming to kill Mallory, Greenleaf recruits Vietnam veteran Eddie Kane (John Chandler) to carry out the assassination, with Greenleaf establishing an iron-clad alibi for himself while the deed is carried out. Seeking to further avoid from becoming a suspect, Greenleaf orders Kane to plant evidence which would implicate Greenleaf, to make it look like a frame-up. Although the plan seems to work, Lt. Columbo remains unconvinced of the obvious, with various things not adding up.

    Although "Publish or Perish" is a step down compared to the previous three episodes, it’s still a charming Columbo episode, which sees Cassidy playing his second murderer on the show (he previously featured in "Murder by the Book" in Season 1). This is also a stylish instalment, with polished photography and even clever use of split-screen. There are some twists and turns, and the conceit behind the murder is mightily clever indeed, but it didn’t engage me as much as some of the other episodes in this particular season.

Mind Over Mayhem (70:38)

    Dr. Marshall Cahill (José Ferrer) heads a government think tank, a distinguished institute where great minds around the country investigate scientific advances. However, Cahill’s son Neil (Robert Walker) plagiarises a late scientist’s theory of molecular structure, and his misdeed is discovered by the elderly Howard Nicholson (Lew Ayres). Nicholson threatens to expose Neil and ruin his career, which drives Dr. Cahill to murder him, and make it look as if the murderer was a heroin addict seeking a fix. Dr. Cahill concocts an ostensibly fool-proof alibi for himself, but Lt. Columbo soon begins to suspect the scientist in the killing.

    This is not a bad episode per se, but "Mind Over Mayhem" is the lesser telemovie of the season, a modestly enjoyable entry that’s brought down by an ending that doesn’t quite sit right. It’s also insanely out-dated, with the technology often looking laughably silly, especially a goofy robot. Still, Falk carries the episode well enough, and he’s surrounded by a capable cast of supporting players. A young boy genius here is actually named Steven Spelberg, an obvious homage to Spielberg, who famously directed the first episode of Columbo’s first season.

Disc 4:

Swan Song (94:10)

    A successful gospel-singing superstar, Tommy Brown (Johnny Cash) has had enough of his domineering wife Edna (Ida Lupino), who forbids him from enjoying the usual perks of wealth and fame. Edna can expose Tommy for bedding underage back-up singer Tina (Janit Baldwin), a threat that she uses to keep him on a tight leash. Tommy is an accomplished private pilot, and decides to kill Edna and Tina in a plane crash, whilst making it look like he escaped with only minor injuries when he actually parachuted to the ground. Investigators believe the case to be a simple accident, but Lt. Columbo is unconvinced, with a few factors that simply do not add up.

    "Swan Song" is my favourite episode of Season 3, and one of my favourite Columbo episodes of all time. The legendary Cash makes for a excellent murderer, even being permitted to use his remarkable vocal talents, and he’s well-matched with Falk. But what really elevates the episode is its smart writing; it may use the trademark formula, but the murder scenario is original and ingenious, dialogue is exceptional, and it’s tightly-scripted, with no dead air. Columbo’s investigation is consistently involving, and he actually harbours a degree of respect for Tommy Brown, leading to a smart finale which has more depth than expected. "Swan Song" is classic Columbo, one of the telemovies that I will never grow tired of. If I was rating episodes individually, "Swan Song" would be awarded the full five stars.

A Friend in Deed (94:16)

    When Hugh Caldwell (Michael McGuire) accidentally murders his wife in the midst of a heated argument, he calls upon deputy police commissioner Mark Halperin (Richard Kiley) for help. The pair hatch a scheme, establishing an alibi for Caldwell while Halperin makes it look as the killing was the work of a cat burglar who has been active in the neighbourhood lately. Seeing an opportunity, Halperin murders his own wife, calling upon Caldwell to return the favour. The investigators are quick to pin the murders on the cat burglar, but Lt. Columbo remains unconvinced, hoping to get to the bottom of the case despite mounting pressure from Halperin.

    I love this episode. Love love love love. Following up "Swan Song" would be intimidating for any filmmaker, yet "A Friend in Deed" maintains the high quality, resulting in another instant classic that stands as one of the show’s greatest episodes. Introducing Columbo’s senior as one of the crooks is a sly twist, with the Lieutenant constantly treading on eggshells throughout his investigation. Halperin is extremely intelligent, using his knowledge as a policemen to cover up the murders, but Columbo is smarter. Dialogue constantly sparkles, the build-up is enthralling, and the finale is memorable. This really is one of the best uses - and subversions - of the show’s formula. It’s a masterful way to close an excellent season of a great show.

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    The Region 1 release contains a bonus episode of Mrs. Columbo. Since you can probably watch it on YouTube, I doubt this is much of a loss, especially since we get remastered video. I'll leave the choice up to you.

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