Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
Armchair sleuths, get out your trenchcoats: Universal has released the sophomore season (1972-73) of the classic detective series Columbo, starring Peter Falk as the sage but rumpled police lieutenant. As with the first season, there's plenty of star power in front of and behind the camera to abet Falk in these eight 90- and 120-minute episodes: John Cassavetes stars in the season premiere, Etude in Black, as a philandering symphony conductor, with Blythe Danner and Hollywood legend Myrna Loy in support; Oscar winner Ray Milland is a scheming orchid grower in "The Greenhouse Jungle," co-starring Bradford Dillman and William Smith; Robert Culp and Dean Stockwell are a football team manager and owner, respectively, whose disagreements blossom into murder in "The Most Crucial Game"; and Jeanette Nolan offers stellar comic relief in "Double Shock," which features Martin Landau as identical twins--one of whom has murdered their uncle. Performances by Richard Basehart, Laurence Harvey, Leonard Nimoy, Anne Francis, Anne Baxter, and Mel Ferrer also highlight the season; direction by small-screen stalwarts like Boris Sagal, Jeremy Paul Kagan, and Nicholas Colasanto ("Coach" on Cheers) and scripts by Stephen Bochco also bring quality and style to the proceedings. Sadly, no extras are available in this five-disc set, but the stellar image and sound quality (and lack of commercials) should appeal to series fans and newcomers alike. --Paul Gaita
Product Description
Complete second series of the popular 1970s American detective drama, following the investigations of the deceptively disheveled cop Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk), who always asks 'just one more thing' before getting his man. In 'Etude in Black', John Cassavetes guest stars as a conductor who is about to be exposed by his mistress for all his extra-marital affairs. In 'The Greenhouse Jungle', a horticulturist comes up with a phoney kidnapping scheme to get his hands on his nephew's trust fund, but when his nephew turns up dead, the case becomes a murder investigation. In 'The Most Crucial Game', the owner of a professional football team turns up dead, and Columbo has to track down his killer. In 'Dagger of the Mind', Columbo travels to London to study different policing methods, and gets involved in a blackmail and murder case based around a theatre production of Macbeth. Honor Blackman guest stars. In 'Requiem For a Falling Star', Columbo investigates a fading movie star who attempts to kill her cheating husband, but ends up killing her assistant instead. 'A Stitch in Crime' sees Columbo investigating a ruthless doctor (played by Leonard Nimoy) who murders a colleague who was standing in the way of his medical research. In 'The Most Dangerous Match', a chess grandmaster survives an attempted murder on the eve of an important match. Finally, in 'Double Shock', Martin Landau stars in two roles as the ruthless twin nephews of a recently-murdered wealthy businessman. Columbo investigates and tries to determine which twin was responsible for the crime. Also stars Julie Newmar.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By Colin C
Format:DVD
Season Two is when Columbo really starts to hit his stride. The opening season has its moments, but Lt Columbo isn't yet quite crumpled and disshevelled enough while his character is being developed. Now, his mannerisms are becoming more eccentric and therefore all the more watchable.
This series features (among others) John Cassavetes as the orchestra conductor, Martin Landau as the twins, Ray Milland as the greenhouse gardener and also Honor Blackman in a bizarre episode set in London (where Columbo is on holiday!). It's odd (and entertaining) to see him out of his usual California settings in that episode.
No extras, but 6 DVDs, ten hours of viewing and crisp picture quality make this an absolute must for Columbo fans, especially at this bargain price.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Despite being a short, scruffy detective who drives an ancient Peugeot, Columbo always winds up investigating the rich, famous and glamorous. Then he pretends to be dumb, and humbled by their greatness. This leads the murderers to give away more than they should, which is ultimately their undoing.
Formulaic yes, but boring? Never. Most of this is down to Peter Falk, of course, who is eminently watchable. The denouement is something we all look forward to: that delicious moment when the murderer realises he is hoist with his own petard, as it were. Falk never disappoints throughout this second series.
The first series, I'm sure, had more episodes, but never mind. This comes in the same attractive packaging, and the DVD transfer is very good indeed, though variable across the discs. Perhaps the source material wasn't perfect in each case. The very first episode struck me as being particularly gorgeous to look at. But at least one later on looks muddy and washed out in places. Overall though, no complaints. The sound is good too.
I'm a bit disappointed to find there are, once again, no special features at all.
But for fans of Columbo, and of the period, this is well worth getting.
Formulaic yes, but boring? Never. Most of this is down to Peter Falk, of course, who is eminently watchable. The denouement is something we all look forward to: that delicious moment when the murderer realises he is hoist with his own petard, as it were. Falk never disappoints throughout this second series.
The first series, I'm sure, had more episodes, but never mind. This comes in the same attractive packaging, and the DVD transfer is very good indeed, though variable across the discs. Perhaps the source material wasn't perfect in each case. The very first episode struck me as being particularly gorgeous to look at. But at least one later on looks muddy and washed out in places. Overall though, no complaints. The sound is good too.
I'm a bit disappointed to find there are, once again, no special features at all.
But for fans of Columbo, and of the period, this is well worth getting.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By jw12
Format:DVD
8 great episodes (74 minutes each). The only little drawback was the introduction to each episode - which for some reason showed a montage of scenes from the episode you are about to see. I couldn't see the point of this - it was pointless and a bit irritating, I didn't want my anticipation spoiled. They were hard to by-pass as well - I had to settle for closing my eyes while they were on!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 112 reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Peter Falk - not just Columbo
I'm not going to repeat previous reviewers, and give a synopsis of the best episodes or plots. This is a great series and you can get that info here or on a hundred other... Read more
Published 1 month ago by S J Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh! There is just one more thing.....
I love Columbo. Everybody does and anyone who says they don't is simply in denial.
Series two is full of genuinely good, clever, interesting and imaginative stuff that should... Read more
Series two is full of genuinely good, clever, interesting and imaginative stuff that should... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Wannabe Foody
4.0 out of 5 stars
columbo
received the item okay and it was exactly as we like to view as the telly these days including uro has no character.
Published 10 months ago by Bill Pearson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Columbo - Season 2 (DVD)
I started watching Columbo TV movies in the 1970's as a teenager, and was hooked! Peter Falk created a unique character (wearing his own raincoat so I understand), unmatched by any... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Paul Watson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Coumbo - Series 2
I love the Columbo series vary much. It was simply unique in that we always knew who the murderer was and how the deed was committed. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2011 by Traffic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Columbo
I know each and every story backwards - but still bought the series. They are classics. Great for wet Saturday afternoons. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2010 by R. Chrichlow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Columbo!
I always loved Columbo, since I was a child! The Amazon delivery was flawless and the series is fantastic, like every single other one!
Published on 28 Mar 2009 by Mia
3.0 out of 5 stars
The episodes are syndication cuts
Beginning with Season 2, Universal began releasing syndication cut episodes as "complete and uncut" episodes. Read more
Published on 3 May 2008 by MarxBrother3
5.0 out of 5 stars
GENIUS
I FIND WATCHING COLUMBO VERY RELAXING - you do not have to work out who the killer is?
the genius of columbo is the pattern of every episode-
have you worked out... Read more
the genius of columbo is the pattern of every episode-
have you worked out... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2007 by A. Girvan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
In 1968 America saw the advent of a new television detective, Lt. Columbo (played by Peter Falk). Columbo quickly became a favorite with audiences, and his trademark rumpled... Read more
Published on 28 July 2005 by Kurt A. Johnson
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
