How to Dial a Murder

Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Mason (Nicol Williamson) is a successful guru in "Life Control". He trained his two Dobermanns to attack upon hearing the command Rosebud. He tricks Dr. Charlie Hunter to utter the word which triggers his dogs to kill the doctor. His houseguest Joanne Nicholls (Kim Cattrall) discovers the body. Columbo (Peter Falk) controls the docile dogs which just earlier killed a man.

This is a young newcomer Kim Cattrall. There is no way he wouldn't sleep with a young hottie like Kim Cattrall. Second, I have a much better final Columbo trick. He could get two lookalike dogs which don't respond to the command word. In addition, there is a missed opportunity to raise the tension. Columbo could fight off attempts to kill the two dogs, both for the investigation but more importantly, he's a dog lover. Ed Begley Jr. Could be the evil dog-catcher and a fanatic dog-killer. That could be a fun side story.

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.

Made in 1978, HOW TO DIAL A MURDER is one of the best of the Columbo series and features one of the most memorable methods of murder that the show had to offer. Guest villain Nicol Williamson plays a psychologist who has trained his dogs to kill on command and figures out a way to get them to take out a rival who he discovered had an affair with Williamson's late wife.

It's a gruesome way to die and HOW TO DIAL A MURDER makes no bones about yet. And yet...when the murder weapon is a pair of lovable Dobermans called Laurel and Hardy, it's difficult to dislike or even be frightened of the dogs. Columbo, who we know has an affinity with man's best friend, is of the same mindset and his interactions with the animals are the best bit of this story.

Williamson also makes for an imposing villain and I particularly liked the way he is depicted as a fan of classic cinema, allowing for some great off-topic talks about W. C. Fields and the like. Kim Cattrall plays in support in one of her early performances while Falk himself is on strong form, acting much like a dog himself in refusing to drop the case or let Williamson rest for a moment.

I must say I really liked the director approach of the movie from James Frawley. It's the second Columbo movie I've seen so far which got directed by him and it was the second one from him that I loved. He directed a total of 6 Columbo movies throughout his career, of which this one was his third. The directing is done with lots of style, which makes the movie great to watch and provides it with some good pace as well.

The movie actually knows to create a good general thriller atmosphere and style, also not in the least thanks to the musical score from Patrick Williams, who did the score for all of James Frawley's Columbo movies. It's a style which I really loved about this movie and makes it more special to watch than just the average Columbo movie entry.

It has actually a quite far fetched main plot but nevertheless you'll buy it, thanks to the skillful directing and storytelling of it all.

The movie features a 'great' killer, portrayed by Nicol Williamson. He gives away one fine performance and is a worthy opponent for the good old Lieutenant. The movie also features a still very young Kim Cattrall. Funny thing is that she also made her debut in a movie called "Rosebud", the word that plays a key element in this movie, which of course refers to the 1941 Orson Welles classic "Citizen Kane".

The movie has all of the typical great Columbo movie elements in it, including some great relieving humor at points.

Another real fine Columbo movie from James Frawley!

8/10

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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?