Fade in to Murder
- Episode aired Oct 10, 1976
- TV-PG
- 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
An egotistical but successful star of a TV detective show murders his blackmailing producer and makes it look like a robbery.An egotistical but successful star of a TV detective show murders his blackmailing producer and makes it look like a robbery.An egotistical but successful star of a TV detective show murders his blackmailing producer and makes it look like a robbery.
Timothy Carey
- Tony
- (as Timothy Agoglia Carey)
John Finnegan
- Assistant Director
- (as J.P. Finnegan)
Frank Baxter
- Walter Gray
- (as Frank Emmett Baxter)
David Armstrong
- Stage Hand
- (uncredited)
Al Beaudine
- Stage Hand
- (uncredited)
Jack Berle
- Stage Hand
- (uncredited)
Dorothy Dells
- Julia
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe picture of Ward Fowler behind the couch in his living room is a head shot of William Shatner as Captain Kirk.
- GoofsWard Fowler draws a chalk circle on the back of Columbo's raincoat. Quite a bit earlier, when beside the "Jaws" pool, Columbo could be seen with that chalk circle already on his back.
- Quotes
Lieutenant Columbo: I sometimes have a silly effect on people. You know what I mean, just being a police lieutenant. You know, uh... At least I hope that's why.
- ConnectionsFeatured in VHS Revolution (2017)
- SoundtracksThis Old Man
(uncredited)
Traditional English children's counting folk song.
[Sung without words by Columbo (Peter Falk) while walking towards Fowler's dressing room.]
Featured review
As with most Columbo mysteries, very enjoyable
Columbo is one of my favourite TV series of all time, and once again Fade in To Murder is a solid and very enjoyable episode. I like Fade in To Murder especially for one of the most cleverly executed murders in Columbo history, the fact that the murderer leaves evidence, clues and questions helping Columbo in a sense, and the scenes between Columbo and Fowler which are very dynamic. What I didn't quite like so much was that was final solution was a little underwhelming, I liked Shatner's final line but other than that the ending could have done with a stronger build-up and at the end of the day considering how well-executed the murder itself was it felt somewhat amateurish introducing the incriminating clue that wasn't even mentioned until then.
However, it is slickly filmed, with everything looking beautiful especially the settings, the dialogue amuses and the story is clever and interesting a vast majority of the time. Pacing is solid and Kowalski's direction shows why he was one of the more consistent directors of the show. Peter Falk is as always brilliant as Columbo, playing with humour, an inquisitive air and cunning. William Shatner, whose performance is better than in Butterfly in Shades of Grey(an episode I was mixed on and I wasn't crazy about Shatner in it), can be seen as hammy and a little stiff at times, but considering the ego of his character and the story concept it works.
All in all, very enjoyable and a solid entry in one of the all-time great detective series. 8/10 Bethany Cox
However, it is slickly filmed, with everything looking beautiful especially the settings, the dialogue amuses and the story is clever and interesting a vast majority of the time. Pacing is solid and Kowalski's direction shows why he was one of the more consistent directors of the show. Peter Falk is as always brilliant as Columbo, playing with humour, an inquisitive air and cunning. William Shatner, whose performance is better than in Butterfly in Shades of Grey(an episode I was mixed on and I wasn't crazy about Shatner in it), can be seen as hammy and a little stiff at times, but considering the ego of his character and the story concept it works.
All in all, very enjoyable and a solid entry in one of the all-time great detective series. 8/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•182
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 9, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Mord im Bistro
- Filming locations
- The Enchanted Hill - 1441 North Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA(Ward Fowler's house, demolished)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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