Columbo: Butterfly in Shades of Grey (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Richard Levinson (creator) &
William Link (creator) ...

Release Date:

10 January 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Crime

Plot:

L.A. radio moderator Chase kills Jerry Winters, a member of his staff who tried to help Chase's daughter...

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Answering Machine | Murderer | Radio Station | Radio Show Host

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
William Shatner	...	Fielding Chase
Molly Hagan	...	Victoria Chase
Jack Laufer	...	Gerald 'Gerry' Winters
Richard Kline	...	Louis 'Lou' Cates
Yorgo Constantine	...	Station Manager
Mark Lonow	...	Theodore 'Ted' Malloy
Beverly Leech	...	Deirdre 'DeeDee' Ross
Brian Markinson	...	Deirdre's Agent
Robin Clarke	...	Senator Gordon Madison
Christopher Templeton	...	Marian Burke
John C. Anders	...	Officer Davis
Denice Kumagai	...	Martha (as Denice Kumagi)
Deryl Caitlin	...	Second Biker (as Deryl Caitlyn)
Glenn Taranto	...	Engineer

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Second appearance by William Shatner as the villain in an episode of Columbo.

Goofs:

Continuity: Radio commentator Fielding Chase wears a pencil-thin mustache, so wispy and light that it's barely visible even in most close-ups, except while he is talking to Columbo at the murder scene, when the mustache is suddenly, dramatically darker brown. Part of his disguise at the murder scene? Not likely, since the mustache was lighter during the murder itself, and is already back to its light and thin appearance when Fielding brings Columbo into his home afterward.

Quotes:

Soap Opera Director: Okay... homeless people, go home!

Movie Connections:

Follows "Columbo: Swan Song (1974) (#3.7)" (1974)

Fine Columbo story

William Shatner and Molly Hagan are reunited with Peter Falk for a second Columbo mystery, which is rather entertaining. Radio presenter Fielding Chase is very controlling of his adopted daughter Victoria (who is in the midst of writing a novel) thus killing her close friend Gerry Winters, who simply wanted her to branch out and lead her own life away from Chase. Actress Hagan is great as Victoria, a naive young woman who wants nothing but to please her murderous father. Shatner on the other hand has given better performances in his long career, and seems confused and over the top.

Peter Falk can portray the legendary Lt. with his eyes shut, and he simply (as always) brightens up the whole scenario. Funny gaffes include our Lt being mistaken for a homeless person, and mostly his beat up old (but also lovable) car continually backfiring! The case comes to a satisfying conclusion featuring many cunning tricks from our Lt....As usual Columbo outwits the murderer!

Butterfly In Shades of Grey is another enjoyable Columbo mystery and it's one I've seen many times, but there are stronger films in the Columbo franchise that eclipse this good but slightly weak 1993 edition. It's definitely not the best in the series. 7/10