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Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Columbo Television Mystery Movies

I have a confession to make >>> one of my favorite detectives of all time doesn’t come from a long pedigree of books written over the last century. He wasn’t the original brainchild of some brilliant British author, laboring alone long into the night over their antique typewriter. Instead, he originated in a television anthology series, and all his greatest works were written by… *shudder* television writers.

OK, so this isn’t strictly true – Columbo was adapted from a short story that first appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine… but he apparently wasn’t an actual character in that short story, which unfortunately I’ve never been able to track down. Instead he first appeared in a 1960s episode of The Chevy Mystery Show, back in an era when evidently any self-respecting automobile manufacturer absolutely must have its own mystery-themed anthology series. This is all true – I cannot make this stuff up, I’m not that clever.

Anyway, the character certainly isn’t a literary powerhouse with dozens of books to his name, unless you count the adaptations from television to book – hardly the standard for a classic mystery character. And that’s just fine – it actually fits his character perfectly. All joking aside, Columbo truly is one of the great mystery detectives – he’s clever and tenacious, observant and perceptive. But Columbo’s true genius is that he doesn’t show his genius. Although Peter Falk wasn’t the first pick to play Columbo, after you have watched a few of the episodes you will see that the part was absolutely written for him! He is phenomenal in this part.

From the moment Columbo (Peter Falk) arrives on the killer’s doorstep, he looks like a tired little man in a rumpled suit, chewing a cheap cigar and driving a battered, beat-up old import car that should terrify anyone who sees it on the road. The killer is usually some educated, wealthy, “clever” guy – the sort who sees Columbo and thinks “I’m free and clear – this guy will never catch me.”

But catch them he does! Columbo might not look it, but he’s always paying attention, and even the slightest detail out of place will let him know who REALLY did it… and from then on, he’s the best friend the killer wishes he didn’t have. He’s always there, an unwanted presence asking “just one more question” and “maybe you can help me clear this up, just to make my boss happy.” By the end, most of the killers seem to confess just to get some time alone, even if it is in a prison cell.

Perhaps the greatest twist the Columbo television mystery series has for us long-time mystery viewers is that it isn’t a mystery for us – it’s a mystery for Columbo. In almost every episode of Columbo, we the audience have the privilege of seeing the act itself – the preparation, the execution, and the aftermath. After seeing even a few episodes of the show, the savvy viewer will be watching the tiny mistakes that Columbo will later latch onto and worry about – like a dog with a bone. We already know, and we know that despite his bedraggled appearance, despite the cheap cigars, despite his fumbling attitude, Columbo knows almost as quickly as we do!

For more Cozy viewing ideas, click on my Cozy Mystery TV & Movies page.

P.S. These are available on Netflix.

Comments

    • Karen, I’m going to have to think about that. They have such different personalities… (I’m not sure Monk could stand to be around a man who puts his peeled hard boiled eggs into his pockets, let alone walks around with his cigar ashes ready to drop!)

      Reply

        • Thanks, Danna for bringing up Columbo, an all time favorite
          of mine as well. Peter Falk was also known in later years to
          portray an Angel named Max in several Hallmark Christmas
          shows. He did a short stint as Max during a “Touched by an
          Angel” Christmas special. A gifted actor.

          I wanted to ask as my computer went on the fritz when you
          were showing December Hallmark movies and you showed the
          “Mr. Miracle” on December 6th but I didn’t look to see if you
          had the time. I’m checking it at 7 and 8pm as well as the
          tv schedule for the times. If I find them, I’ll post a note for you and your readers. Rob Lowe is portraying Harry so it should be a good production.

          Happy Thanksgiving. I’m waiting for my apple pie to finish
          and it will be dessert later. Dad and I didn’t want to make a
          whole T-giving meal today so we’re going out to Bob Evans.
          You know it will be good with them in the kitchen!

          Rob

          Reply

          • Rob, Debbie Macomber’s Mr. Miracle will be airing at 7:00 central time zone. I am looking forward to seeing Rob Morrow as Mr. Miracle, although I will miss Doris Roberts. Maybe she will have a tiny part.

            What a great idea to have an apple pie waiting for you at home when you get back from eating at Bob Evans. I hope you didn’t have to wait too long to get a table. One year I wanted to go to Marie Callender’s for Thanksgiving, but when I called they said it was “first come, first served”. I had wanted to make reservations, since my husband is not good at standing in lines.

            Reply

  2. Columbo is also available on Sunday nights in my area on MeTV. I live in Charlotte, NC. He was a Sunday night favorite of mine on Mystery Theater and now I can relive those days. As they say, “check your local listings” to see if you have MeTV.

    Reply

    • Pat, I’m watching Columbo right now on MeTV, episode “Columbo Cries Wolf.” I love him and I love that show, and I never watched it when it was originally on. But just recently I started watching it daily on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel. I’m even getting the DVDs from the library. So far, (I’m in the middle of Season 3) Season 1 is my favorite. Peter Falk definitely deserved all of those Emmy awards and Golden Globe.

      Reply

    • Tori, thanks for the information about YouTube. I watch a lot of old things on our YouTube Plex. I love old, black and white game shows from before I was born! I know, that sounds odd, but I love seeing the actors and actresses from the 1940s movies who would appear on those old TV game shows.

      Reply

  4. He is one of my favorites too. I thought you had found re-runs of his show. Maybe I’ll have to get netflix just for him

    Reply

  5. I bought this same DVD collection with the first “real” check from my first novel! Columbo: The Complete Series contains every episode from the first series, including the pilot, “Prescription Murder”. AND it includes all the movies that were made later, in the 1980’s, 90’s and the final one in 2000. Every one holds up very well, even though they all change with the times, Columbo never changes – he only improves!

    Reply

      • Danna, I always like it when he had “Dog” on the show with him.
        A Basset Hound always makes me crack up. My Naval Reserve recruiter ‘s dad had a farm out in Tyler Texas and he had an old
        Basset named “Dude”. It fit him perfectly!

        You know Columbo loved that dog but I always thought he could
        have given him a name-you know his wife would have!

        Rob

        Reply

  6. I am so glad you wrote this post and reminded me of Columbo. I will be adding it to my Netflix list. The Alfred Hitchcock magazine issue was March 1960 – “May I Come In?” by Richard Levinson and William Link.

    Reply

  8. Dear Danna,

    Thanks for the funny & accurate reminder of my favorite detective!

    Gotta go check if it’s currently airing!

    Best,

    Marienne

    Reply

  9. I love Columbo! A few years back I stumbled on a book, written my William Link. It is called the “Columbo Collection.” It is a collection of 12 very short, new Columbo mysteries written by Link. Each story is written as the shows were written, with the killer being identified at the beginning and Columbo using his “tricks” to nab him/her. It was a really fun pool side summer read. I purchased it in hard copy from Barnes and Noble in 2011, I am sure it is still available. It is worth a look for any one who enjoys the shows.
    I am also a (surprise) fan of the Murder She Wrote books written by Donald Bain; but what makes the Columbo collection great, it is written by his creator.

    Reply

  11. Hi Danna
    I’m sorry if i haven’t noticed already, but was wondering if you have set up your writers into locations as well eg. Paris, or London or Berlin etc.

    I always love finding a novel which has a location as a backdrop so that i can muse on my next travel wish list!

    Reply

  12. The Columbo Phile: A Casebook

    Here is the book they quoted as liner notes on my Columbo Collection. They also said the Chevy one was called “Enough Rope” and it was played by Ben Freed.

    Funny, Peter Falk picked up a raincoat on 57th Street cause he thought that was what they said. Actually it was an overcoat that they wanted.

    So Columbo was born.

    Reply

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