There have been a lot of good TV movies over the years. Here's my pick...
The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) In Massachusetts in 1893, Lizzie Borden is put on trial for murdering her father and stepmother with an axe.
Cast: Elizabeth Montgomery (Lizzie Borden), Fionnula Flanagan (Bridget Sullivan), Ed Flanders (Hosea Knowlton), Katherine Helmond (Emma Borden), Don Porter (George Robinson)
Do you have any favorites?
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I think "Columbo"'s "Murder By The Book" would be his first film -- which is also well worth seeking out.
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That's him. If you're ever interested in watching one of TV's greatest sleuths "Murder By The Book" is a good place to start.
Spielberg also directed one of the segments of the "Night Gallery" movie.
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You owe to it yourself to; the episodes aren't always first-rate but invariably the great Peter Falk is.
shareJack Cassidy was the killer.
shareWhich episode is thatk Turnip? You know the general plot.
I just watched "Etude in Black" the other nite. I've seen it 20 times and it's still a blast.
You talking about the Night Gallery one? I don't know the name only the actors involved: Tom Bosley and Joan Crawford.
Considering Falk did "Husbands" and other Cassavete's movies it's no surprise how well he and Cassavetes work alongside one another in their lone Columbo episode together; and you're right: it's a blast.
My fav Columbo is probably "Candidate for a Crime"; the ending is just a great "gotcha" moment.
No, I was talking about Columbo and the "By The Book" episode you mentioned.
shareIt called "Murder By The Book" and it stars Jack Cassidy ( a series regular and maybe the best at playing Columbo's quarry) who portrays a mystery writer whose partner decides to go AWOL. Pissed-off Cassidy's character kills his partner, makes it look like gangsters did it, and then reaps his partner's insurance policy.
shareYep, another stout one. Cassidy was fantastic with Columbo. That is a great episode. That woman tries to blackmail him. And she's pitch perfect for the part. Can you imagine getting stuck with her? Oh, Lord.
shareSome of these idiots who blackmail the killers on Columbo are just asking for it.
share[[[My fav Columbo is probably "Candidate for a Crime"; the ending is just a great "gotcha" moment.]]]
Absolutely! Never grows old. I see the synopsis on the TV listing I get all excited even though I've seen it many, many times. Cooper does a fabulous job there. Columbo sees him a mile away, but, Cooper keeps the act going as long as possible. LOL.
You're hittin' 'em tonite, Turnip, one after another!
Thanks.
Yeah, Columbo is always reliable and fun. The one with Dick Van Dyke is also great -- though, like "Candidate," it has one flaw: it's a little long. The early Columbo episodes, which ran shorter and thus avoided some of the filler of later and longer episodes, are in many ways the apex of the series (though, like I made clear, "Candidate"'s ending is so memorable that I excuse some of the episode's excesses -- like Columbo's trip to the dentist).
& "Candidate" the guy Cooper murders. He was perfect. Hard ass, driven, would not give an inch. "C'mon, dude, please." -Nope._ & it had to be that way in order to get Cooper to the point of murder. What a production group.
share"I dug this bullet out of that wall three hours before you said that someone fired it at you three minutes ago."
"Mic drop"
lol!!!!!!
shareIt's the "It's a cookbook!"' moment in the series for me; it's a show with a lot of "gotcha" moments, and while another equally badass "gotcha" moment may be out there (and that's a distinct possibility),for the time being, I'm comfortable calling this "my premier Columbo 'gotcha' moment."
And Cooper and Falk, masters that they are, turn this scene into a work of art.
Testify, Turnip, testify. You have testified in the matter of Columbo & MC.
I'm gonna bestow upon a Direct Hit for your Columbo knowledge & wherewithal.
Sleep well my fine fellow!
Thanks again. Always fun speaking with someone who shares my affinity for arguably TV's greatest sleuth.
And you as well.
The one where Jack Cassidy plays the Nazi magician
shareAn ingenious episode.
Cassidy was top shelf talent. Made it look effortless.
Falk was a generous man. He never hogged the episode. He let the guests have as much time as they needed. There was never a sense of rush to the formula.
Any episode where Robert Culp, Jack Cassidy, or Patrick McGoohan played Columbo's quarry you knew you were in for a good time.
shareExactly, Turnip. That's why they're re-watchable without any reservation, or, consideration.
That one "A Stitch in Crime." with Nimoy. Columbo quietly enters his office while Nimoy is being informed of the nurse's death over his phone, but, he adjusting the desk clock as he's getting the death notice. GAME OVER, but, I watch anyway.
Columbo genially toying with these people is a large part of the fun.
Though I take issue with this episode in one respect: Columbo gets mad at one point. He rarely gets mad -- I remember him getting irate in an episode with George Hamilton and another with William Conrad -- and, honestly, it doesn't fit the character. If I want to watch a short-tempered TV sleuth I'll watch pretty much any other TV crime show. The fact that Columbo held his anger in check, even when his quarry treated him with all the respect one affords something stuck to one's shoe, is what makes Columbo such a singular and iconic standout in the TV sleuthing sub-genre.
Columbo had to save a life in "A Stitch in Crime" - the doctor played by Will Geer. Hence the anger.
shareI understand what you're saying and it's certainly not out of order how he reacts; it's just I love Columbo's Zen calm (which I know is a pretense) and feel momentarily disoriented when he, from time to time, sheds it.
shareYou're right he has slipped a few times especially in the Conrad episode. It's almost alarming to behold there.
Grand oversight, you big, beautiful Turnip, you.
Night all, I'm headin' to couch early. I'll fall asleep to something b&w upon the TCM.
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The Haunted (1991) Good haunted house one based on a true story. ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0102007/?ref_=m_nmfmd_act_74
By Dawn's Early Light (1990) ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0099197/?ref=m_nv_sr_1
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0352520/?ref=m_nv_sr_1
Shackleton (2002) ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0272839/?ref=m_nv_sr_2
To Catch a Killer (1992) Terrifying performance by Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy. Oscar worthy in my opinion.⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0105604/?ref=m_nv_sr_2
World War III (1998) ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0180657/reviews?ref_=m_tt_urv
In The Line of Duty : The FBI Murders (1988) Classic ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0095366/?ref=m_nv_sr_1
[In The Line of Duty : The FBI Murders (1988) Classic ⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0095366/?ref=m_nv_sr_1]
Remember it well. Soul & Gross absolutely without conscience & just flat lethal.
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[To Catch a Killer (1992) Terrifying performance by Brian Dennehy as John Wayne Gacy. Oscar worthy in my opinion.⤵️
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0105604/?ref=m_nv_sr_2]
Best Gacy treatment I've seen.
Some of these sound like my cup of tea! I don't believe I have seen any of them. Once again, I must seek and find! Thank you so very much!
shareYou're welcome, hope you manage to track them down. The Haunted is on YouTube but it's not the best of copies ⤵️
https://youtu.be/9BaF-YgmBNk
To Catch a Killer ⤵️
https://youtu.be/dLXm_YbMqDQ
In the Line of Duty : The FBI Murders ⤵️
https://youtu.be/Vp1FoWi1nx0
World War III ⤵️
https://youtu.be/q1m7opOGSmQ
By Dawn's Early Light ⤵️
https://youtu.be/k4mkSCVZ0Ec
Here are two and they both star Carla Gugino.
A good old fashioned scary movies called Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature[/b]
And a very good Christmas movie called [b]A Season for Miracles
Both made for TV Movies.
[And a very good Christmas movie called [b]A Season for Miracles]
I'll keep a watch out of this one, Sand. Though anything that John Schneider appears in is the better for it. A fine human being is he.
Another really good one! I highly recommend this!
A Winner Never Quits (1986) (movie): Fact-based story of a young boy, Pete Gray, who lost his right arm in a childhood accident, but went on to fulfill his dreams of playing major-league baseball.
Cast: Keith Carradine (Pete Gray), Mare Winningham (Annie), G.W. Bailey (Tatum), Dennis Weaver (Mr. Wyshner), Huckleberry Fox (Nelson Gary Jr.)
Any of the Jesse Stone movies
Monte Walsh (2003)
Crossfire Trail (2001)
Last Stand at Saber River (1997)
The Long Hot Summer (1985)
Perry Mason TV movies - I enjoyed them all , but especially the ones where William Katt played Paul Drake , Jr.
[Any of the Jesse Stone movies]
Though watching William Devane chew his cud in each one drives me to distraction.
The Perry Mason movies are among my favorites too. I have always loved courtroom dramas. I think part of the reason is because I was born in the mid 50s, so I grew up in the 60s watching Perry Mason.
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