Columbo - The 1970s Complete Collection (Fabulous Films)

[Kieran Seymour]

I've just noticed that Fabulous Films are releasing standalone versions of five Columbo episodes on 28 April. There's currently listings up at Amazon for Murder By the Book, Negative Reaction, Etude in Black, A Stitch in Crime and Any Old Port in a Storm.

But those covers... ouch!

[CouncilSpectre]

Yeah, they're....er.....something.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by Kieran Seymour

I've just noticed that Fabulous Films are releasing standalone versions of five Columbo episodes on 28 April. There's currently listings up at Amazon for Murder By the Book, Negative Reaction, Etude in Black, A Stitch in Crime and Any Old Port in a Storm.

But those covers... ouch!

The only one of those which leaves me cold is Etude in Black. The others are classics, and some of the very best of the entire run. Hell, A Stitch In Crime ties with Murder Under Glass as The Missus' favourite, and I watch Any Old Port in a Storm on my birthday every year. We know how to party!!

The art on the individual releases are dreadful AI-mangled homages to/rip-offs of the European theatrical posters. In short, bloody awful!!

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Yeah, they're....er.....something.

That's a funny spelling of "b*ll*cks".

[darlo16]

Originally Posted by Kieran Seymour

I've just noticed that Fabulous Films are releasing standalone versions of five Columbo episodes on 28 April. There's currently listings up at Amazon for Murder By the Book, Negative Reaction, Etude in Black, A Stitch in Crime and Any Old Port in a Storm.

But those covers... ouch!

So five individual releases at £65 vs. the complete 70s KL collection at £72 delivered. Am I glad I'm regionfree. It looks like a desperate attempt at making money back because their boxset is gathering dust.

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by Kieran Seymour

I've just noticed that Fabulous Films are releasing standalone versions of five Columbo episodes on 28 April. There's currently listings up at Amazon for Murder By the Book, Negative Reaction, Etude in Black, A Stitch in Crime and Any Old Port in a Storm.

But those covers... ouch!

The covers on those releases have to be currently in pole position to win the worst artwork prize for 2025.



[/IMG]

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by darlo16

So five individual releases at £65 vs. the complete 70s KL collection at £72 delivered. Am I glad I'm regionfree. It looks like a desperate attempt at making money back because their boxset is gathering dust.

When things have settled down on the finance front I will be helping them out by buying a copy from HMV with the 20% discount code, which should make it about £88.

[CompleteCount]

All together now:

"Old Fab Films had some covers,
AI, AI, ohhhhhh sh*t!!"

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

The only one of those which leaves me cold is Etude in Black. The others are classics, and some of the very best of the entire run. Hell, A Stitch In Crime ties with Murder Under Glass as The Missus' favourite, and I watch Any Old Port in a Storm on my birthday every year. We know how to party!!

Any Old Port in a Storm is one episode of Columbo I have never managed to see from the start, I always seem to catch it halfway through when I switched the TV on. A great episode of Columbo with Donald Pleasence who I like very much. I need to buy the The 1970 Complete Collection and finally watch that episode from the beginning.

I recall seeing a documentary about Steve McQueen and someone paying tribute to him says every man wanted to be Steve McQueen. If I had to choose between Steve McQueen or super cool Donald Pleasence it would be DP without a question.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by Number 28

A great episode of Columbo with Donald Pleasence who I like very much. I need to buy the The 1970 Complete Collection and finally watch that episode from the beginning.

You mean you tune in with the luxury of not knowing whodunnit??

Originally Posted by Number 28

If I had to choose between Steve McQueen or super cool Donald Pleasence it would be DP without a question.

Well, I look not unlike Pleasance anyway, so I'm halfway there...

[chip75]

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

You mean you tune in with the luxury of not knowing whodunnit??

I generally skip to Columbo's first scene when I'm watching, I know I'm missing the guest stars' moment, but I do a similar thing with The X-Files, I watch from Mulder's and Scully's first scene.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by chip75

I generally skip to Columbo's first scene when I'm watching

[Show spoiler]dpac.jpg

[Number 28]

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

You mean you tune in with the luxury of not knowing whodunnit??

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

[Show spoiler]Attachment 313838

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by Number 28

The covers on those releases have to be currently in pole position to win the worst artwork prize for 2025.

Dear God, I mean why they don't they just release season boxsets...

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by chip75

I generally skip to Columbo's first scene when I'm watching, I know I'm missing the guest stars' moment, but I do a similar thing with The X-Files, I watch from Mulder's and Scully's first scene.

You need to watch the murder scenes before Columbo comes into it. Otherwise it's not a cat and mouse game. You don't know what questions the killer does not want Columbo to ask. You don't get to see Columbo pulling the threads that you know are holding the whole balaclava together. (Now witness as I undermine my stated position with some poorly chosen examples )


Quite often, during the gotcha, Columbo will mention the he knows something that happened during the murder which seemed unimportant even to the audience at the time. But when the killer hears it, that's when he knows he's busted.

Not the best example since Columbo was already introduced by the time that Dep Commissioner Halperin kills his wife. But I love the moment when Columbo almost casually mentions, in the middle of the search of the "suspect"'s appartment, that the ME puts Mrs Halperin's death much earlier than previously thought. "In fact, rght around the time you came home from lunch ..."

I was going to say "The Most Dangerous Match" has details in the "murder" scene which are crucial to being able to understand the gotcha scene. But now that I think about it, that episode is still pretty messy from beginning to end. I don't think it makes a hell of a lot of difference if you miss Lawrence Harvey's first attempt. I just love watching Harvey in that episode. I've known people with exactly that kind of temperament. Not chess masters. Just neurotic narcissist basket cases.

[CouncilSpectre]

The missus always used to comment that she didn't see the point of Columbo given that you see who did it, and how, and why, up front.

Had to educate her that Columbo isn't a "Whodunnit", it's, as per the point above, the cat and mouse that Columbo and the antagonist engage in that drives the drama. The struggle for control, with the antagonist continually trying to push Columbo and the investigation down blind alleys, but Columbo annoyingly (for the antagonist) always seemingly by chance stumbling onto the right questions or approach. I equate this to Denzel Washington's "McCall" in the first Equalizer film. Throughout the movie the control sits with the antagonist as McCall attempts to stay one step ahead of them, until we get to the end and realize just how outclassed the antagonist always was. McCall has his training and skills, Columbo has his mental prowess. It's almost psychological rope-a-dope.

And of course, it's fun to also try and spot the minutely insignificant detail that Columbo finds early on that tips him off as to the culprit's guilt!

[chip75]

Yes, Columbo's not a Whodunnit it's a Howtheydunnit.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by chip75

Yes, Columbo's not a Whodunnit it's a Howtheydunnit.

I think it's more a "Howdhecatchem"

[Martoto]

Onemorethingem

[T4ffer]

Whatmorethingit?

[Martoto]

Justroutineit