Yesterday I was watching 'Troubled Water' (if that is the right title - with Robert Vaughn) and was pleased to see Columbo on after a few seconds - and then thought about the fact that sometimes he doesn't appear until the film is half over (or at least it feels that way), I was wondering if any statistics are available concerning his first appearence in each film
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
An interesting observation. This is one Columbo that varied from the tried-and-true formula and actually worked. It's been years since I've seen this episode but wonder if this change was made because the rest of the story was so different: He's on a vacation cruise won by his wife and he must solve the case without any aid from the department (lab, etc.)
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
It also happens in Candidate for Crime and Make Me a Perfect Murder.....and I believe also in A Matter of Honor.......
Oh Dear!! I haven't watched my Columbo tapes in so long.....I am getting rusty on the details!! But I am sure about Candidate.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Stephen, No Time To Die was a real stinkeroo episode. I can't stand it. It is the one where Columbo is at his nephew's wedding and the bride gets kidnapped by some whack-O! It is a very creeepy episode. And Peter's performance leaves a bit to be desired.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
I saw Forgotten Lady yesterday, the time of Columbo's first appearence was around 22 minutes not including the time taken by commercial breaks. (I timed this on my VCR counter so it might be slightly inaccurate)
How about if everytime someone watches a Columbo they leave the time of his first appearence on this thread (if no-one hasn't already done so) and that way we can build up list gradually (and say if this included commercial breaks or not)
An interesting point about this film was at the end when a puzzling moment from near the begining was cleared up. When the butler was banging on the bedroom door calling Dr Willis his wife in the next room looked puzzled - it seems she forgot she killed him straight after she did it.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
I saw 'Now you see him' yesterday and I timed it as 21.46 minutes, almost the same time as the film mentioned above which was 22 minutes, I wonder if this was a coincidence or were the writers aiming for a similar time in each Columbo if possible?
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
I saw 'An exercise in fatality' yesterday (faked barbell crushing neck accident in gym) and the first on-screen appearance of Columbo was approx. 16.30 minutes
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Two days ago I watched;
'Death lends a Hand' with Culp and Milland and Columbo's first appearence was 15.08 minutes.
'The Conspiritors' about the IRA terrorists and Columbo's first appearence was 19.33 minutes.
Channel 5 (uk) showed two films in a row - were they trying to take viewers from the BBC who were showing a 'Monk' repeat? (with the original theme tune and 'Sharona' - brilliant!)
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
I think Prescription Murder is possibly the episode where Columbo appears latest. On my DVD I noted it as over half an hour Before our hero first appears.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Yesterday I saw Double Exposure with Robert Culp where Columbo's first appearence was approx. 11.30 minutes followed by Try and catch Me (the locked in the safe episode) when his first appearence was 17.44 minutes
Re: Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Last Monday channel 5 put another Columbo film - on at last! It was 'Columbo Goes To The Guillotine' where his first appearance was at 24 minutes 31 seconds.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Last Monday I watched 'Murder - A Self Portrait' and Columbo's first appearence was 1 minute 29 seconds, unusually early and unusually he was only on briefly then was not seen again until the usual 20+ minutes.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
Yesterday I watched 'Rest In Piece, Mrs Columbo' where Columbo's first appearence is 0 minutes, 0 seconds - that is, he is in the very first shot of the film, although it is from a distance and as the camera slowly zooms in he is recognisable at about 21 seconds.
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
I watched A CASE OF IMMUNITY (Elizondo) yesterday and Columbo's first appearence was at 6 minutes 32 seconds (not counting the trailer which was about 28 seconds)
Re: Columbo's first on-screen appearence in each film
quoting gregg...
"I think Prescription Murder is possibly the episode where Columbo appears latest. On my DVD I noted it as over half an hour Before our hero first appears."
i'm just bumping this up because of culpable's 'delayed detective' thread.