"Columbo" Candidate for Crime (1973)

Director:

Boris Sagal

Writers:

Irv Pearlberg (teleplay) &
Alvin R. Friedman (teleplay) ...

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

4 November 1973 (Season 3, Episode 3)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Senatorial candidate Nelson Hayward murders his domineering campaign manager, staging it to appear that Hayward himself was the intended victim of a mob hit gone wrong. Columbo hits the campaign trail to catch the killer.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Campaign Manager | Politician | Election | Detective

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Jackie Cooper	...	Nelson Hayward
Joanne Linville	...	Mrs. Hayward
Tisha Sterling	...	Linda Johnson
Ken Swofford	...	Harry Stone
Robert Karnes	...	Sgt. Vernon
Jay Varela	...	Sgt. Rojas
Vito Scotti	...	Chadwick
Regis Cordic	...	Deputy Commissioner
Sandy Kenyon	...	Harris
Jack Riley	...	Director
Mario Gallo	...	Dr. Perenchio
Jude Farese	...	Highway Patrolman
Clete Roberts	...	TV Anchor Man
Angelo Grisanti	...	1st Detective

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied)

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The children's song, "This Old Man" appears in almost every episode of the Columbo series, sometimes as background music, but more often Lt. Columbo is seen singing, humming, or whistling the tune. The episode, "Candidate for Crime" is the only episode where the murderer ('Jackie Cooper', as political candidate Nelson Hayward) is seen using it, in this case whistling it, as he prepares to film a campaign commercial.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just as Columbo leaves the senator's private Campaign Office, he turns around in the open door. In the background you can see a woman wearing a green jacket, holding papers. Next shot she is wearing a sleeveless green top and is holding a phone.

Quotes:

[Lt. Columbo wants to talk with Hayward but doesn't want to "inconvenience" him]
Nelson Hayward: No, no, no... let's understand something, Lieutenant: See, you think I'm reluctant to talk to you, but you're wrong. I will talk to you as often as you want, for as long as you want, about anything you want.
Lt. Columbo: [taken aback] Oh. Oh, fine.

Soundtrack:

This Old Man

Strong plot and good acting make for a satisfying entry in the series (spoilers)

Nelson Hayward is running for the US Senate with a personally demanding campaign being driven by his domineering and demanding campaign manager Harry Stone. When Stone demands Hayward get rid of his mistress and stay in his unhappy marriage, he feels he is going too far and decides to bring it to an end. Asking Stone to drive his car to make his police protection think he has gone one way while he actually heads to a surprise party for his wife, Hayward kills him, making it look like a professional killer had mistaken Stone for him. The media jumps on the story and politically it gets top priority, until they realise that it is Stone – meaning that the Deputy Commissioner wants to concentrate on protecting Hayward, leaving Columbo with the job of locating the contract killer who did the job.

As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula – we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler – it is simply what happens in all the films. With this strict adherence to formula it is usually down to several factors whether or not the Columbo film stands out or if it is just average. With this film the potential is all there: political shenanigans, a good plot and a nice dynamic of power/humility between the two men in the story. The script has Columbo drawing the suspects out in such a manner that they betray themselves with a manner that makes the characters think he is just being insensitive; pick of the lines – "is that what first attracted you to him", Columbo asks Hayward's secret lover, her face falls until he concludes "as a candidate" – great writing and it is enjoyable and engaging watch him pick away at the stories.

Falk is as good as ever, playing it oh so down-at-heel and unassuming, coming across as bumbling but having a reason behind even the most innocuous statement. As always, a lot depends on the suspect – in terms of both material and performances. With Cooper, both elements are strong; his character has a good tension with Falk that makes it all the more satisfying to see him slip up as he goes. His performance is well pitched and I found him a good match for Falk throughout and he stood out as one of the stronger Columbo cameos that I've seen. Sterling is pretty simple but Linville is convincing as an insecure and needy wife. Swofford is amusingly boisterous as the victim of the piece and, like many of the Columbo series, actors make repeat performances – in this case it was the guy playing the Deputy Commissioner, a step up from his role in Any Old Port in a Storm.

Overall this is an enjoyable entry in the Columbo series that will please fans as well as the casual viewer. The plot is good and the manner in which Columbo goes at it is very satisfying; the writing helps, developing the story as well as showing good in the dialogue. Falk is as good as always and Cooper is just as strong. Could have perhaps made more of the political pressure that would have been on Columbo, or scored more points at the expense of the political system in the US but the film runs to formula and is enjoyably satisfying throughout.