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Murder by the Book
Murder by the Book
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Murder by the Book

Murder by the Book

1971
Drama, Crime
1h 16m
Columbo - Season: 1, Episode: 1 - All Episodes
Ken Franklin and James Ferris have become rich as the writing duo of the popular Mrs. Melville mystery novels. In reality, James Ferris writes the novels, while Ken Franklin handles all the publicity. When Jim wants to try serious writing on his own, Ken comes up with what he believes is a foolproof scheme to kill his partner and collect on the insurance policy they have on each other. What Ken Franklin doesn't count on is a rumpled police lieutenant who won't be led astray...and a witness. (IMDb.com)

Directed by:

Steven Spielberg

Screenwriter:

Steven Bochco, Richard Levinson, William Link

Starring:

Peter Falk, Martin Milner, Jack Cassidy, Rosemary Forsyth, Barbara Colby, Lynette Mettey

Franchise:

Columbo

Genres:

Drama, Crime, Mystery

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Murder by the Book

1971
Drama, Crime
1h 16m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 58.07% from 111 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

(113)
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spleenspleen
Rated 05 Jun 2012
87
88th
If you're anything like me, then you know who did it in the first two minutes but you still stick around for 88 minutes trying to figure out which one of Peter Falk's eyes is real.
Rated 05 Jun 2012
sheldrakeSheldrake
Rated 04 Oct 2013
80
86th
Spielberg really directs the hell out of this. That scene outside the theater when our villain-- who is basically doing all he can not to gloat to the police about his murder-- is met by a blackmailer is gorgeously shot and sinister. Kind of a lame ending, but tight in every other regard.
Rated 04 Oct 2013
lance20000lance20000
Rated 28 Feb 2020
100
92nd
Murder by the Book is such a smart first episode. The metacommentary of a writer of a detective series being murdered and Detective Columbo finding himself in the very idea of a novel by half of the Mrs. Melville series -- Ken Franklin. There are some very stylistic and subtle directing choices that link Columbo to the noir genre -- heavy use of shadows and deep focus, as well as moody interior shots that suggest Franklin's power.
Rated 28 Feb 2020
janusjanus
Rated 20 Aug 2014
65
41st
Not the best episode but a good establishing of the format. A number of interesting directorial choices here feel strongly Spielbergian, such as the lighting, but it could be a placebo; most Columbo episodes contain one or two flashy cinematic quirks.
Rated 20 Aug 2014
scuffedScuffed
Rated 01 Aug 2023
60
45th
I think the overall episode is pretty engaging, but the loose end that caught the killer was really disappointing. Watching the killer unravel and set up more potential ways for them to be caught... only for it to be something so uninspiring that does them in.
Rated 01 Aug 2023
evranaevrana
Rated 15 Aug 2022
74
58th
It both shows the talent of Spielberg and the potential of Columbo. The story is very strong and the main villain character is very well designed; it is not an exceptional work but for setting the first stone of what becomes a 30-40-year-old series it is an important milestone in TV history.
Rated 15 Aug 2022
bhajansunlobhajansunlo
Rated 26 Jul 2020
75
71st
The blackmail scene is incredible and Jack Cassidy is so deliciously evil.
Rated 26 Jul 2020
teftef
Rated 15 Feb 2017
85
75th
Anything Columbo is good.
Rated 15 Feb 2017
teeceeteecee
Rated 19 Nov 2008
30
35th
jeg er træt af Columbo...
Rated 19 Nov 2008
icebloxiceblox
Rated 17 Sep 2008
60
35th
Brilliant build-up, narration and pace, but a poor ending, thus throwing water on everything prior to that.
Rated 17 Sep 2008
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 24 Jul 2008
65
65th
Classic though unexceptional Columbo film, directed by young Steven Spielberg.
Rated 24 Jul 2008

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