This was a theatrical release?
This came out 3 years before the TV series. The IMDB page gives the impression it was a movie released in theaters.
share
I remember it did get a theatrical release in the UK, at least, as did many US TV movies, such as Duel. I saw it in the botom half of a double bill (I can't remember what with, unfortunately) sometime in the early '70s, although that was in a local cinema so it had probably been released earlier than that.
I thought it was a tv-movie, a straight-to-small-screen film, but I'm not sure.
share
It was certainly a TV Movie in the US, I believe.
I've just checked the BBFC website (British film censcors) and they only list it as being passed on video, which is very odd because I clearly remember seeing it in the cinema. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a dream!
Actually, I retract my earlier tatement. I thought it over and realised it had to be the other, later, Columbo pilot, Ransom for a Dead Woman, that I saw at the cinema, which is even more odd as by then it was clearly a series, and the second pilot feels more a part of that. I checked the BBFC website and sure enough Ransom was passed for theatrical release in the UK on 22/05/1972.
Sorry about that.
Since I made my initial post, someone has updated Falk's acting credits as it now says "(Tv Movie)" next to the credit.
share