Bing Crosby was also offered the role of Columbo, but didn't accept it because he felt that it would interfere with his golfing.
Bing Crosby was also offered the role of Columbo, but didn't accept it because he felt that it would interfere with his golfing.
In "Prescription: Murder", the reception room at Dr. Fleming's office features a distinctive painting, of trees and white houses with red roofs, which is prominent in several scenes. This same painting later appears in Suitable for Framing, as part of the art collection sliced and stolen by Dale Kingston.
In "Prescription: Murder", the reception room at Dr. Fleming's office features a distinctive painting, of trees and white houses with red roofs, which is prominent in several scenes. This same painting later appears in Suitable for Framing, as part of the art collection sliced and stolen by Dale Kingston.
Originally written as a Broadway play, the production was out of town bound for Broadway in 1962 when Thomas Mitchell (who was playing Columbo) died. The production closed and the script was later reworked for television. This film, which established Peter Falk as the definitive Lt. Columbo, was adapted from the 1962 play by the same authors. The play in turn had been adapted from Enough Rope, in which Bert Freed originated the role of Columbo.
Originally written as a Broadway play, the production was out of town bound for Broadway in 1962 when Thomas Mitchell (who was playing Columbo) died. The production closed and the script was later reworked for television. This film, which established Peter Falk as the definitive Lt. Columbo, was adapted from the 1962 play by the same authors. The play in turn had been adapted from Enough Rope, in which Bert Freed originated the role of Columbo.
Several different sources have different first names for Columbo. By focusing in on his badge he occasionally flashed, some say it was Frank some say it was Joseph. Trivial Persuit has it as Philip, which they got from a trivia book that purposely made it up to see if anyone was paying attention. The writers say he definitely was not given a first name.
Several different sources have different first names for Columbo. By focusing in on his badge he occasionally flashed, some say it was Frank some say it was Joseph. Trivial Persuit has it as Philip, which they got from a trivia book that purposely made it up to see if anyone was paying attention. The writers say he definitely was not given a first name.
The house with pool used in the final scene is the same house and pool used in Backlash of the Hunter and later in The Most Crucial Game.
The house with pool used in the final scene is the same house and pool used in Backlash of the Hunter and later in The Most Crucial Game.
The role of Lt. Columbo was offered to Lee J. Cobb, but he had to decline due to a clash in scheduling.
The role of Lt. Columbo was offered to Lee J. Cobb, but he had to decline due to a clash in scheduling.
This film would later on become a subject of controversy due to a very politically incorrect line uttered to Dr. Flemming late in the film. Columbo says that Flemming will not be able to get away with the crime on account of the fact that he had employed a woman as an accomplice, since she wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut. The woman, Miss Hudson, does subsequently spill her guts and Flemming is apprehended. Later on, in most versions of the movie, this line was removed, as it was deemed chauvinistic.
This film would later on become a subject of controversy due to a very politically incorrect line uttered to Dr. Flemming late in the film. Columbo says that Flemming will not be able to get away with the crime on account of the fact that he had employed a woman as an accomplice, since she wouldn't be able to keep her mouth shut. The woman, Miss Hudson, does subsequently spill her guts and Flemming is apprehended. Later on, in most versions of the movie, this line was removed, as it was deemed chauvinistic.
This is the first of two pilot movies made before Columbo became part of the Mystery Movie wheel that played on television for most of the 1970s.
This is the first of two pilot movies made before Columbo became part of the Mystery Movie wheel that played on television for most of the 1970s.