Peter Falk passed away on Thursday, June 23. A lot of us remember him as Columbo. He personified this television detective.
Recently, my family has been making our way through all of the Columbo television movies. And, of course, those movies simply would not be the same without Peter Falk’s wonderful portrayal of Columbo. Actually, his portrayal of the disheveled, hyperactive, distracted detective was too good! Any time I see him in anything… either from before or after his Columbo days, I immediately think of … Columbo.
As soon as Columbo arrives on the scene of a crime, in his banged-up Peugeot convertible, with his trademark stub-of-a-cigar in his mouth, his overcoat looking like it had been worn for an entire month (even while he slept!), he walks around, scratching his head while muttering to himself. He then “befriends” a character – usually the biggest guest star – and that is when the fun begins…
The Columbo television movies are different in that they always begin by showing us who the culprit is, and how he/she commits the crime by using some type of elaborate ruse. This is actually the opening scene! So, there is no denying the who, what, when, or where. The fun is watching Peter Falk fumble around, acting like he really hasn’t a clue about what he is doing. And, the culprit, thinking that this simpleton is going to make it possible to get away with… murder, usually begins to feel annoyed that this idiot is always asking “Just one more thing”, which, incidentally is the title of Peter Falk’s autobiography.
I am always saddened to hear about the passing of an actor/actress who has given so many hours of entertainment to so many people.
PS>>> For those few of you who have not yet seen the Columbo television movies, you might recognize Peter Falk as the grandfather in The Princess Bride movie.
Donna says
I’ve always been a Peter Falk fan because of the Columbo series, and in recent years my admiration for the actor has grown through the discovery of some of his older films like the hilarious spoof Murder By Death. He was truly a talented man and by all accounts a gracious man as well.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, I love that movie!
kent says
Murder by Death, a terrific movie! I went to see it on a rainy Wednesday at the Egyptian in Hollywood after a nice lunch at Hamburger Hamlet. Being the middle of the day in the middle of the week and raining, the theater was mostly empty. A small group of people came in and sat right in front of us. We moved. Then we recognized one of the women. It was Elsa Lanchester (Bride of Frankenstein) who plays Miss Marple, with nurse, in the movie come to show her friends her new movie. Later she left in an old classic green cadillac. Nice.
Julia says
Murder By Death is a fabulous movie, but if you want to see an even better example of Peter Falk’s particular genius, try The Cheap Detective (also a Neil Simon script). I had never seen The Maltese Falcon or Casablanca before, and when I saw them after seeing The Cheap Detective…well, I love Bogey but even he can’t beat Peter Falk AS Bogey
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julia, I am now going to share Murder by Death AND The Cheap Detective with my husband. I sometimes simply cannot wait until he has time to watch movies with me, so I go ahead and watch them on my own. (I had forgotten about The Cheap Detective…)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh my gosh, Kent! What a thrill to see Elsa Lanchester watching herself in an Elsa Lanchester role! And then to see her leave in an old classic green Cadillac!!!
Edie Dykeman says
I religiously watched Columbo for many years – a huge fan of Peter Falk. No one could have played that character any better then he did. What an iconic role he created. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. May he rest in peace!
Petie says
Columbo was such a great series, and I didn’t know until I read about him on MSNBC that the old wrinkled trench coat was actually his own coat. What a terrific actor – will certainly be missed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Isn’t that wild, Petie, about Peter Falk owning that old (Columbo) trench coat?!
Julia says
I used to love watching Columbo in the Monday Night Mystery Wheel (which was on after my bedtime…but Mom and Dad like the Mystery Wheel too so they cut me some slack ). The other police officers they had on TV then were either really hip or really square (to use the vernacular of the times ) but Columbo was just…comfy. Approachable.
Oh, and if you want to see a great Peter Falk comedy, try the original version of The In-Laws, with Alan Arkin. It is pure genius.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh my goodness, Julia. Those Monday Night Mystery wheels/umbrellas! I just searched to see what all of the shows were that rotated: Columbo, McMillan & Wife, and McCloud seemed to have been the staples, with several other mystery shows thrown into the mix. I didn’t know that Quincy, M. E. was originally one of the rotating mysteries. I also didn’t know Jessica Walters was in a mystery show called Amy Prentiss that highlighted San Francisco’s first female police chief!
Nan says
I think my favorite appearance was in Wings of Desire. Have you seen this wonderful movie?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nan, I haven’t seen Wings of Desire. Thanks for telling us about it.
lenore says
Don’t miss Peter Falk in the original The In Laws movie with Alan Arkin. It was fabulous, laughed till I cried. He will be missed. Lenore
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lenore, I think I saw the original The In-Laws movie years ago. I remember liking it a lot more than the newer 2003 version… which I think I actually didn’t finish!
Ellen says
So glad to hear someone mention The In Laws. There are so many funny scenes in that movie thanks to Peter Falk (& Alan Arkin of course). One I’m remembering is when he tells the story of the tsetse flies “as big as eagles” in some So. American country carrying babies away & that he took pictures but he left the film in the pocket of his suit & his wife had the suit MARTINIZED. Love it. Alan Arkin’s reaction is hilarious.
And another quote from that movie that seems appropriate here….
“What a guy!”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
OK >>> You all have convinced me to watch the 1970s version of The In-Laws again!
Eva says
Danna,
I love Peter Falk in his Columbo series. But then again, I just love Peter Falk in any movie that he’s been in – drama, comedy, and even a couple of war movies. I have not seen any other actor that I can compare in his method of acting – there simply isn’t anyone even close to him.
For those of you who do not know, Peter Falk was blind in one eye. In fact, that one eye is fake. He suffered from lack of vitamin D (according to his doctor) when he was about seven or eight years old.
Peter Falk was also a great painter. This great actor and wonderful human being will surely be missed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks for the info, Eva. Peter Falk really was a great character actor.
Eva says
Julia, I agree with you on how fabulous the movie Murder By Death is. I just saw it again a couple of nights ago. Every time I find some shows wanting, I just watch Murder by Death. I must have seen it at least six times, and I realize that I love watching it because of Peter Falk.
Eva says
Danna, I have not seen the Cheap Detective. Now, I have to go look for it.
Also, upon reading the list on your Monday Night Mystery, do you realize that those were the great shows that A&E used to carry until that Channel decided to cancel all these wonderful shows and replaced them with crappy ones? Oh, and don’t forget, Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marples were in that line-up, too.
To this day, I cannot think of any good reason why A&E changed the format. It is entirely possible that they hired a new program director who doesn’t really know the meaning of arts and entertainment. I called my cable company to get rid of this channel but, unfortunately, it is part of a package.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Eva, years ago, A & E was a channel my family watched a lot. Now I don’t even know what number it is on our television. They certainly lost us when they made all of those changes…
Lili says
I just finished reading the first book of the Sophie Green Mysteries (I, Spy?) written by Kate Johnson. Really fun. She works in a British airport and is recruited to be a spy and help with airport security issues (catching smugglers, counterfeiters, etc.). Look and see if you want to add it to your list.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Lili, for telling us about Kate Johnson. Are her books Cozy Mysteries?