How to Dial a Murder

Nicol Williamson stars in How to Dial a Murder, a 1978 Columbo episode.

This is one of the more gruesome ones. In the beginning we see dogs attacking a dummy on the phone command "Rosebud."

Williamson portrays Dr. Eric Mason, a behavioral psychologist. We see him giving a lecture and then talking with a colleague, a Dr. Hunter (Joel Fabiani).

Hunter sees Mason looking at a photo of his late wife (who died when her car inexplicably went over a cliff) and asks if he misses her. Mason says she was seeing someone else. He asks Hunter to meet him at his house later for tennis.

Hunter arrives, and, having a key, lets himself in. Mason is at his doctor's. From the doctor's office, Mason dials his home. His Dobermans enter through the doggy door when they hear the ring.

Hunter answers the phone. He and Mason talk, and then Mason asks him to settle a bet. What was the name of Citizen Kane's sled?

When Hunter answers Rosebud, the dogs attack and kill him.

Mason is at film buff so this episode is filled with movie references as we worry for the fate of the two dogs, Laurel and Hardy. It takes some deprogramming by trainer Tricia O'Neill to offset Mason's commands.

He doesn't fool Columbo, even if Mason wasn't home during the murder. It doesn't take him long to figure out ladies' man Hunter was Mrs. Mason's lover. Or just how Mason engineered the killing.

Look for a very young Kim Cattrell as Mason's screwed up quasi-girlfriend who knows too much.

This Columbo episode is about dogs who kill on command. British actor Nicol Williamson plays a doctor is better known for his role as Hamlet in 1968 production. Another British born actress and better known for her role as Samantha on Sex and the City, the actress Kim Cattrall in an early performance at a very young age is also in a supporting role. Anyway, St. Elsewhere's Ed Begley Jr. has a small role as a police officer. Anyway, the episode is a Columbo favorite because it has film references around. Of course, Peter Falk's Columbo has become like an old family friend with great stories and interest in anything whether psychiatry, dogs, or movies. The ending is also brilliant with a twist and of course, Columbo catches his man in this case.

My only complaints of this otherwise brilliant episode are the ending, which felt rather rushed for my liking though I loved the twist involving the dogs, and while she plays her part very well Kim Catrall's character does drag the episode down a tad.

However, How to Dial a Murder is evident proof of why I love Columbo so much. It has an ingenious premise that is done justice by a story that is clever and compelling. It has strong writing, with great interaction between Columbo and Mason and I cannot think of rosebud the same way now now that I have seen this episode. It is well shot, with striking locations and lovely photography. It also has one of the most haunting and most effective music scores I have heard in a Columbo episode.

The acting is great, and the direction is solid. Kim Catrall is good, but it is Columbo and Mason that make the episode work along with the premise. Peter Falk is exceptional once again, while Nicol Williamson does a wonderful job playing one of the most ruthless and most strongly written murderers in the Columbo line.

All in all, if you love Columbo, you'll love this. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A very good, and above average, Columbo episode. This is caused by that it makes small variations from the classic scheme. The motive of the murder isn't present at the beginning, which is something, that really improves the movie. Columbo is playing up against Dr. Eric Mason (nicely played by Nicol Williamson), who doesn't loose his temper as much as the characters that Columbo previously met.

The third main character, Joanne Nicholls, should have a special mention, since she is not only played extremely well - by Kim Cattrall, later of "Sex And The City" fame (however her role in this movie is the complete opposite, a true romantic who has her teddy bear as her true companion) - but also that her unbalanced character adds well to the movie plot.

And ad with that, some great incidental music, good directing spots (particularly in a wordless sequence with Columbo and the dog trainer), a generally good script(rarely have I laughed so much in a Columbo movie, and the many references to old movies - particularly Citizen Kane - and psychology are well-put and well used), and that Peter Falk seems in top shape makes it a great movie, and a Columbo classic.

British actor, Nicol Williamson, as the guest murderer, earns his transatlantic paycheck in this fine story. As always with Columbo, the culprit is rich, resourceful and highly intelligent, and Williamson's take on the character, a motivational psychologist, is detailed and meticulous. It may not be his finest screen performance (check out The Bofors Gun and Inadmissible Evidence), but he makes a worthy foil to Falk.

The story has some interesting cultural asides, such as L.A.'s burgeoning self-help craze of the 70's, and the cult of the movies, particularly Citizen Kane; something which proves to be both the killer's murder weapon and his eventual undoing.

The only let-down is the somewhat low-key ending. I would have preferred more of a flourish from both actors, but it wasn't really in the script for them.

Over all, it's an intelligent and interesting movie. Patrick Williams' ethereal/ominous music (woodwinds and low strings) is rather good, and which, once or twice, quotes a fragment of Bernie Herrmann's Psycho score; why? For the hell of it. And why not?