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Columbo: Fade in to Murder

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Fade In To Murder (Episode Clip)

An actor who plays a TV detective commits the perfect murder, but finds himself matching wits with real-life detective Columbo. Read full recap »

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Writers:: Peter S. Feibleman Lou Shaw

Director:: Bernard L. Kowalski

Stars:: Peter Falk (Lieutenant Columbo (no first name))

Recurring Role:: Shera Danese (Molly); Fred Draper (Joseph)

Guest Star:: J. P. Finnegan (Assistant Director); Timothy Carey (Tony); Danny Dayton (Director); Victor Izay (Conroy); Frank Baxter (Walter Gray); Walter Koenig (Sgt. Johnston); Bert Remsen (Mark Davis); Alan Manson (Sid Daley); Lola Albright (Claire Daley); William Shatner (Ward Fowler); Jimmy Joyce (Camera Operator)

During one scene, Columbo comes running up dockside and watches Bruce the Shark come bursting out of the water, before turning to speak with Sid Daley. You can clearly see a small circle chalked on the back of his raincoat. In the very next scene, the coat is clean, and Columbo has Ward Fowler chalk the circle on his raincoat to demonstrate that the bullet hole in Claire's dress had been made while she was holding her hands in the air. edit »
Why is Sgt. Johnston grinning like a loon when Columbo questions the deli owner? Walter Koenig seems to be extremely happy to be working, but it seems kinda inappropriate for the character. edit »
During one of the conversations between Columbo and Fowler, they sit on a hot set, i.e. a area that�s all set-up for filming. But both move things around, which would cause all kinds of continuity errors. edit »

This is one of very few Columbo episodes that can be said to "date". At the time, video recorders were a rarity, affordable only by the very wealthy. Nowadays no one would dream of attempting to create an alibi in such a manner. edit »
When Columbo visits Ward Fowler in his trailer while on location, the house where they're shooting should be familiar to fans of the 1980 film "9 to 5". It was used as the home of "sexist egotistical lying hypocritical bigot" boss, Franklin Hart (Dabney Coleman). edit »
Although the interior decor is altered slightly, the house used for Ward Fowler's home is the same one used for villain Patrick McGoohan in last season's "Identity Crisis". edit »
Along with Patrick McGoohan, Robert Culp, Jack Cassidy and George Hamilton, William Shatner is one of only five actors to play more than one murderer on the series. edit »
90 minutes long. edit »

Columbo: Tony, sir, he's the one who runs the delicatessen...
Fowler: I swear, if you tell me that one more time I'm going to kill myself. edit »
Columbo: There were no prints on the gun because you wiped the gun clean, sir. But there is a reason the lab report took so long. You remembered to clean the gun, but you didn't remember to do the same thing with the bullets.
Fowler: Damn! I had to forget something. That's always how the third act ends. edit »
Columbo: The parka and the ski mask, that's where they both came from.
Fowler: And the gun?
Columbo: Oh, come on, sir. You're putting me on. You know that guns don't come from the wardrobe department.
Fowler: Of course. How stupid of me.
Columbo: Nope, that's the props department, sir, not the wardrobe department. How does a smart man like Lt. Lucerne make a mistake like that?
Fowler: Because you're not talking to Lt. Lucerne at the moment, are you, Lieutenant? You're talking to Ward Fowler.
Columbo: Well, what's the difference, sir?
Fowler: The difference is Ward Fowler is under suspicion of murder and a man under that kind of threat is apt to make mistakes, apt to get rattled.
Columbo: Well, whoever said anything about Ward Fowler being under suspicion of murder?
Fowler: Lt. Lucerne did.
Columbo: He did? edit »
(Talking to the actor who plays a TV detective)
Columbo: Brilliant, sir! I'm very impressed! No wonder you solve more crimes than I do, sir. edit »
Ward Fowler: You think she was murdered, don't you?
Columbo: I, I beg your pardon, sir?
Fowler: You heard me.
Columbo: Yes sir, I did. Uh, I mean, yes, I do think it was a premeditated killing, sir. I mean I think the robbery was staged to cover up the murder. Um, (acts incredulous) HOW did you know, sir?
Fowler: Why else would you be here?
Columbo: It could be just a routine check, sir.
Fowler: No, Lieutenant. They don't send a police detective stumbling around, asking silly, fake, innocent questions on a routine check. I know that from my show.
Columbo: Silly, fake, innocent questions, like what, sir? edit »

Although a case could be made for a variety of famous detectives having inspired the character of Lt. Lucerne, it seems most likely that the episode alludes to Columbo himself: a favorite TV detective who always solves the murder.
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9.5
10
columbofan77
member since: Sep 22, 2007
Fade in to Murder
The Bottom Line: "Cleverly plotted"
Capt. James T. Kirk really hams it up here, as TV's Detective Lucerne. He bumps off his former-lover-turned-TV producer (played by Lola Albright), as revenge for blackmail. Columbo's humorous exchanges with his real-life counterpart make this a classic. ...Continue »
09/21/07 09:52pm | report abuse
8.6
10
jamoon2006
member since: Jun 21, 2005
Fade in to Murder
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
I'm not a detective, but I play one on TV... ...Continue »
02/19/07 07:33am | report abuse
9.9
00
LAntichristo
member since: Feb 1, 2006
Fade in to Murder
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
Spoilers

...Continue »
07/24/06 04:43am | report abuse