Universal Television
Not part of a collection.
Prescription: Murder
The perfect crime had one flaw.
In Columbo's first outing, a psychiatrist uses a patient he is having an affair with to help him kill his wife, but his perfect alibi may come apart at the hands of a seemingly befuddled LAPD lieutenant.
- Original title
- Prescription: Murder
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
GenerationofSwine
Jan 11, 2023 · via TMDB
As far as detectives go, Columbo is my guy. He's the wrinkled low expectation mess that uses his appearance and working class persona to lull everyone into a felling of superiority that he can exploit... ... and that really works for the detective genre. Most everything else has more of a gimmick. Psyscic Powers, fake psychic powers, OCD, sports cars, Asperger, Dr. House as Sherlock Holmes, you get the point. Columbo seems more pure detective than all the others do. And Prescription: Murder, with a title that comes straight from the 60s is sort of the pinnacle, it's almost class warfare as Columbo takes on the countries educated elite only to best them in the end.
Wuchak
Jan 8, 2019 · via TMDB
***“Prescription: Murder” (1968)*** PLOT: An arrogant, nonchalant psychiatrist (Gene Barry) murders his wife and uses his naïve actress girlfriend to get away with it (Katherine Justice), but Lt. Columbo strongly suspects the therapist and steadfastly works to obtain evidence. William Windom is on hand as the doctor’s loyal professional friend. COMMENTARY: This was the first of two pilot movies for the Columbo series (1968-2003). It featured the inverted detective story, which starts by showing the murder and the murderer; and then focuses on HOW the perpetrator is ultimately caught and exposed. Because this format has no "whodunit" element, these shows/movies are sometimes referred to as a "howcatchem.” Since Falk was 40 during shooting, it features the youngest version of the detective (Falk was 75 when his last episode was shot in 2002, “Columbo Likes the Nightlife,” 69 installments in all). All the notable quirks of the famous detective are here, although some aren’t as pronounced yet. As he ages they would naturally become more prominent in future segments, like his disheveled appearance. This is easily one of the best Columbo episodes ever (which are actually TV movies). The script, cast and acting are of top caliber, which makes the story gripping despite the fact that it’s all drama and no violence beyond the original murder. It helps that the antagonist is a psychologist because he accurately psychoanalyses our beloved expert sleuth and by the end we feel we know and understand the Lieutenant, which lays a strong foundation for the forthcoming series. Katherine Justice is a winsome beauty and a highlight. GRADE: A
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Peacock Premium
Peacock Premium Plus
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Peter Falk
Columbo
Gene Barry
Ray Flemming
Katherine Justice
Joan Hudson
William Windom
Burt Gordon
Nina Foch
Carol Flemming
Virginia Gregg
Miss Petrie
Andrea King
Cynthia Gordon
Susanne Benton
Blonde
Ena Hartman
Nurse
Anthony James
Tommy
Frank Baker
Man in Park (uncredited)
Clark Howat
Doctor (uncredited)
Mark Russell
Policeman (uncredited)
Bud Westmore
Makeup Artist
Richard Irving
Director
Jerrold Freedman
Associate Producer
Richard Irving
Producer
Dave Grusin
Original Music Composer
Hinterkaifeck - Die wahre Geschichte hinter Tannöd
Silhouette
A Midsummer Nightmare
Forgotten
The Chaser
Girl, Interrupted
Suspect X
Frankenstein: The True Story
The Thin Man
The Butcher
Million Dollars Snatch
The Unloved Woman
Mr. Brooks
Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
The Hands of Orlac
Den of Thieves
Hindenburg: Titanic of the Skies
Battle of Memories
Backdraft
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Black Widow
24 Hours
A Kiss Before Dying
The Three Investigators and the Carpathian Dog
Nobody Else But You
Down Terrace
Night Shift
Stuck
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
Devil
Femme Fatal
The Kennel Murder Case
Black Friday
Suzy
The Witch Who Came from the Sea
B. Monkey
The Beast to Die
88 Minutes
The Scarf
Fear
Night School
A Stranger Among Us
The Infernal Trio
The Broken
Tiger by the Tail
The Dorm That Dripped Blood
Unhinged
The Wizard of Gore
The Enigma of the Folies-Bergère
My Daughter's Secret
Murder and the Computer
Murder by Proxy
Murder Impossible
O Taareee
The Beast in Man
A Little Bit Like Murder
Hard Day at Blue Nose
White Flag
Caves of Steel
“To Be, or Not To Be”
Twin Peaks
Rear Window
Witness for the Prosecution
Gone Girl
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
The Long Goodbye
Murder, My Sweet
Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors
A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
Gourmet Detective: A Healthy Place to Die
Garage Sale Mystery: A Case Of Murder
Farewell, My Lovely
Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage
Kiss the Girls
Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery
Dead Man's Folly
Out of Time
The Seven-Ups
A Walk Among the Tombstones
American Gigolo
Tightrope
Hollywoodland
The Mirror Crack'd
Marlowe
Mulholland Falls
The Locksmith
Murder in Three Acts
Suburbicon
Righteous Kill
Thirteen at Dinner
Feb 20, 1968
NBC
