Columbo: Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Alan J. Levi

Writers:

Richard Levinson (creator)
William Link (creator)

Release Date:

29 April 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Lt. Columbo matches wits with a defense lawyer who has never lost a case in his career.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Sergeant | Police | Rock Star | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Lt. Columbo
Shera Danese	...	Trish Fairbanks
Cheryl Paris	...	Marcy Edwards
Julian Stone	...	Neddy Malcolm
Sondra Currie	...	Sgt. Hubach
Little Richard	...	Himself
John Martin	...	Sam Marlowe
Steven Gilborn	...	George, medical examiner
John Finnegan	...	Chief Quentin Corbett
Dabney Coleman	...	Hugh Creighton
Grant Heslov
Deborah Rose	...	Housekeeper
Tad Horino	...	Gardener Ando Miaki
Joseph Chapman	...	Prosecutor
Ann Weldon	...	Judge

Also Known As:

Murder of a Rock Star (Canada: English title)

Runtime:

Germany:91 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Universal TV

Goofs:

Continuity: Miaki's calendar clipboard, seen in an early scene, indicates that the month is August 1991; but the alibi photo, taken the same day, shows the date as 3-11-91.

Quotes:

Lt. Columbo: You know, in all the years I've had this car, this is the first time I've ever had the top down!

Movie Connections:

Follows "Columbo: Any Old Port in a Storm (#3.2)" (1973)

better vehicle for the later run

I'm not a huge fan of Columbo's second run in the early 90's, as compared to the superior initial run from the 70's, but this episode is fairly well done and maintains some interesting scenes, plus has a notable villain and veteran actor, namely Dabney Coleman, who's convincing as a high powered and arrogant attorney, who also happens to be the murderer of a has-been rock singer, who's having an affair with a drummer. Coleman reminded me somewhat of 70's Columbo villain Robert Culp, with his cocky demeanor and overall personality. He thinks he's too smart for our favorite lieutenant, as he tries to manipulate by using his power as a high profile attorney and his acquaintance with the D.A. Look for Peter Falk's wife here as Coleman's assistant, Shera Danese, who's actually OK for once. Save for the rather silly ending with the cut out mask, this episode holds up fairly well and is interesting enough to include the one and only Little Richard, who's about as miscast as one can be, but still funny nonetheless.