Columbo - Mystery Movie Collection, 1989 (1989) Review

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(More customer reviews)This latest boxed set of excellent DVD releases of the classic Columbo TV detective series represent the first of the later produced feature-lenghth episodes that were aired.
Universal, which owns Columbo, has called this set "Columbo: Mystery Movie Collection 1989." Included are all of the episodes that fans consider comprise Season Eight, along with the first episode of Season Nine, which ultimately had six episodes. Those episodes apparently are going to be released in the next boxed set of these later movies.
In addition to the episodes in 1990, the franchise churned out 13 more terrific episodes between 1991 and 2003 featuring the rumpled (and ultimately attractively graying) Peter Falk in the title role, which has truly and deservedly become an iconic TV character. Hopefully, the entire Columbo catalog will be released on DVD.
This boxed set includes a cornucopia of great stories and stellar acting, a trademark of the series. The last episode included is my favorite episode of the entire series. This three-disc set includes:
Disc 1: "Columbo goes to the Guillotine," which aired Feb. 9, 1989. Lt. Columbo delves into the world of magic, ESP and slight of hand as he investigates the death of a magician, Matt Dyson, who appears to have been beheaded by his own invention, a trick guillotine. There appears to be a tie to a prodigal psychic supported by a government founded institute on parapsychology. Primary Guest Star Anthony Andrews as Eliot Blake.
"Murder, Smoke, And Shadows," which aired Feb. 27, 1989. An egocentric film director resorts to his mastery of special effects to murder a vengeful friend who discovers the director's role in the movie-stunt death of the friend's sister years before. Filmed on University Studio's backlots. Primary Guest Star is Fisher Stevens as Alex Brady.
Disc 2: "Sex and The Married Detective," which aired April 3, 1989. A radio personality billed as "The Sex Therapist of the Airwaves" finds she must counsel herself when her personal assistant ends up in bed with her business manager/lover. The scorned lady murders the cheating beau and tries to pin the blame on her assistant. Lt. Columbo smells a beautiful rat. Primary Guest Star Lindsay Crouse as Dr. Joan Allenby.
"Grand Deceptions," which aired June 1989. A man heads a private military think tank, First Foundation for American Thought, for for would-be soldiers. The foundation is owned by a wheel-chair-bound General, who has become suspicious because a large amount of money seems to be siphoned off into to a "Special Project Fund" that he knows nothing about. The General tell a close college to investigate, but instead of reporting the fraud he discovers, the "friend" decides to blackmail the foundation operator. Primary Guest Stars Robert Foxworth as Frank Braile and Stephen Elliott as General Padget.
Disc 3: "Murder: A Self Portrait," which aired Nov. 25, 1989. A famous artist, lives very unconventionally with his wife and a beautiful live-in model at his beach house/studio. The artist's ex-wife lives in the beach house next door. Together, these women comprise Max's private little harem. He loves them all in different ways, but, more importantly, he likes to control them. In fact, Max derives a great deal of satisfaction from the fact that they all fight for his attention and are reliant upon him financially, emotionally and sexually. The competitive jealousy between the women reaches a crescendo at the dinner table one night when he asks each of them what they think of the other. Their answers prove the intense rivalry between the women, and one of them winds up murdered. Primary Guest Stars Patrick Bauchau as Artist Max Barsini, Fionnula Flanagan as Louise Barsini and Shera Danese as Vanessa Barsini.
Patrick Bauchau is a familiar face on TV, having guest starred on numerous shows, and had been a regular on the cult classic The Pretender as Sidney. In an interview, Bauchau has called his role as Max Barsini his favorite in his long and successful career in the US and Europe. It is also my favorite Columbo episode ever produced. The cast is amazing and the story so compelling that it will stay with you long after the well-deserved credits have rolled.
Shera Danese is Peter Falk's wife, and appeared in five other Columbo episodes during the run of the series.
Fans should continue to thank Universal for releasing these episodes on DVD, helping new generations of viewers discover why is series was such a TV landmark.

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COLUMBO:MYSTERY MOVIE COLLECTION 1989 - DVD Movie

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Columbo: Mystery Movie Collection 1990 Review

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(More customer reviews)He's back! Everyone's favorite rumpled detective, Lt. Columbo (portrayed with iconic perfection by Peter Falk), returns in this boxed set of some of his more recent mystery investigations.
Universal has been releasing the Columbo - Mystery Movie Collection on DVD. This DVD boxed set continues where the last one left off with installments that were produced in the 1990s. When I initially posted this review, I made an error and listed the episodes expected in the NEXT DVD boxed set, not this one. Thanks to Mike, Tom and Michael Todd for correcting this information.
For some viewers, these latter installments of the dirty-trench-coat-wearing, cigar-smoking sleuth are less satisfying and well-crafted than the original series, but for me, ANY Columbo is better than 99 percent of the current TV roster.
The six mysteries in this boxed set were the last to be produced in the miniseries format, meaning the episodes each run about two hours, while the remaining Columbo mysteries produced were originally shown as one-shot 90-minute movie length specials and are yet to be released on DVD.
Collected here are:
Columbo Cries Wolf (which originally aired Jan. 20, 1990): Two true iconic soap opera actors, Ian Buchanan and Deidra Hall, star in this episode as feuding business partners. Hall ends up dead and Columbo has to use all of his skills to "uncover" the crime.
Agenda for Murder (which aired Feb. 10, 1990): Fabulous actor Patrick McGoohan who has wowed fans since the 1960s Danger Man, is also a close friend of Falk's. That's very lucky for Columbo fans, because he has graced the series with some of the most memorable episodes of the series. This time out, he directs AND stars as a powerful attorney who has political aspirations - and a big secret. Soon, a longtime blackmailer is dead and Columbo is matching wits with an attorney who has never lost - until now.
Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo (which aired March 31, 1990): In an unusual episode, Columbo is the target in this episode. A vengeful woman wants him to pay for the death of her husband, whom Columbo arrested for murder and whom has recently died in prison. Look out for a classic Columbo twist at the end.
Uneasy Lies the Crown (which aired April 28, 1990): Iconic TV writer-producer Steven Bochco (famed creator of Hill Street Blues) wrote this story about a dentist who does away with a patient - who just happens to be his wife's lover - in a creative way. Look for a couple of fun cameos by Nancy Walker and Dick Sargent who play themselves.
Murder in Malibu (which aired May 14, 1990): A famed romance writer whose engaged to a much younger man (Andrew Stevens) learns that he is only after her money, so she calls off the wedding. Exit the author during an apparent burglary. Brenda Vaccaro guest stars.
Columbo Goes to College (which originally aired 12/09/1990): Columbo is on campus as a guest lecturer on criminology. His visit coincides with the machinations of two rich and arrogant frat boys (portrayed by Justin Rowe and Cooper Redman) who utilize "remote control" to kill the professor who's threatened to expel them. The obnoxious killers flaunt their intellectual superiority before the seemingly dull Columbo, who they are stunned to learn is a lot smarter than he looks. Look for the brilliant actor Robert Culp (I Spy), who himself has portrayed a murder in three prior Columbos.
Some of the mysteries yet to be released on DVD include: Caution: Murder Can be Hazardous to Your Health (which originally aired 02/20/1991); The Murder of a Rock Star (which originally aired 04/29/1991); It's All in the Game (which originally aired 10/31/1993); Butterfly in Shades of Grey (which originally aired 01/10/1994); and Undercover (which originally aired 05/02/1994).
Let's hope that Universal continues to release these wonderful episodes, because there ALWAYS will be one more question!

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The legendary Peter Falk returns in his four-time Primetime Emmy® award-winning role as rumpled and ready Police Lieutenant Columbo in this six TV-movie collection, now available on DVD for the first time!This must-own three-disc set features the iconic trenchcoat-wearing sleuth who’s still asking “just one more thing."Joining him is a roster of dazzling guest stars, including Deidre Hall, Mark Margolis, Stanley Kamel, Dick Sargent, Andrew Stevens, Brenda Vaccaro and Robert Culp.Smart, witty and entertaining, it’s no mystery why the Columbo Mystery Movie Collection 1990 is killer viewing for every fan of the genre.

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