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Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes

  • TV Movie
  • 2001
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Peter Falk, Scott Atkinson, Charles Cioffi, Billy Connolly, Hillary Danner, Richard Riehle, and Chad Willett in Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes (2001)
Cop DramaPolice ProceduralCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

A popular film composer murders the talented protege who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years after he threatens to expose their secret to the public. Lieute... Read allA popular film composer murders the talented protege who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years after he threatens to expose their secret to the public. Lieutenant Columbo is on the case.A popular film composer murders the talented protege who's been secretly ghostwriting most of his compositions in recent years after he threatens to expose their secret to the public. Lieutenant Columbo is on the case.

  • Director
    • Patrick McGoohan
  • Writers
    • Jeff Cava
    • Patrick McGoohan
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • Billy Connolly
    • Richard Riehle
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Patrick McGoohan
    • Writers
      • Jeff Cava
      • Patrick McGoohan
    • Stars
      • Peter Falk
      • Billy Connolly
      • Richard Riehle
    • 41User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos53

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    Top Cast23

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    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Columbo
    Billy Connolly
    Billy Connolly
    • Findlay Crawford
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Sgt Degarmo
    Charles Cioffi
    Charles Cioffi
    • Sidney Ritter
    Hillary Danner
    • Rebecca
    Chad Willett
    Chad Willett
    • Gabriel McEnery
    Scott Atkinson
    Scott Atkinson
    • Tony
    Obi Ndefo
    • Nathaniel Murphy
    Randy Oglesby
    Randy Oglesby
    • Joshua Vinten
    Luis Avalos
    Luis Avalos
    • Antonio
    Harry Danner
    Harry Danner
    • Fitch
    Anne McGoohan
    • Marcia
    Herschel Sparber
    • Priestly
    Steve O'Connor
    Steve O'Connor
    • Throve
    Larry Gilman
    • Tomblin
    Michael P. Byrne
    • Schwartz
    Van Epperson
    Van Epperson
    • Photographer
    Joanne Lara
    • Angela
    • Director
      • Patrick McGoohan
    • Writers
      • Jeff Cava
      • Patrick McGoohan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    6.72.1K
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    Featured reviews

    6TheLittleSongbird

    Good if not great

    Murder with too Many Notes(love the title) was a good episode, but it was too flawed to be considered great. Starting with the good points, it is strikingly filmed, the music is delightful, there is some nice scripting and the acting from Peter Falk(not his best mind you, some of the more humorous parts such as "guess the piece" fell slightly flat) and Billy Conolly(toned down but surprisingly effective) is good. However, the plot isn't as strong this time around, the forensics for example as said already is dated and the ending especially was far too abrupt and underdeveloped. The pacing was uneven here, some of it was okay, some of it was slow and other parts felt somewhat frantic. The direction is a tad lacking as well. So overall, it is good, with some good performances, music and title, but the ending and plot fell flat for me. 6/10 Bethany Cox
    6Boba_Fett1138

    The first 21th century Columbo movie is not among the best.

    The Columbo series, starring Peter Falk in his famous role as Lt. Columbo, first started off in 1968 with the movie "Prescription: Murder". Five decades later the first 21th century Columbo movie got released. It's a known fact that all later Columbo movies are not as good- and lack the charm and simplicity of the earlier Columbo movies, from mostly the '70's. Unfortunately this movie also suffers from this.

    Like basically every 'weaker' Columbo movie entry, the introduction takes far too long. The movie is only about 98 minutes short but it isn't until about halve an hour into the movie. It of course is only also after that, that Lt. Columbo first shows up.

    It's extra disappointing that this movie isn't among the best Columbo entries since it got directed by Patrick McGoohan. He directed more Columbo movies, prior to this one and his movies always had a certain bit of extra style, which made the movies rise above the level of average. He also had some misses in his 'Columbo-directing career' though and this movie is among one of those misses.

    Problem is that the story is really not that interesting. It really isn't a very exciting murder-mystery movie to watch. It's way too slowly progressing and besides, the reason why the murder gets committed seemed quite dodgy to me. Come on, why does he kill the boy? Was he really such a big treat to him or his career? He still had his reputation in his advantage after all. Why risk so much? It above all is also a quite poorly executed murder. It's done needlessly complicated and left for too many traces at the same time. That alone is also already a real accomplishment. Yet Lt. Columbo at first doesn't pay attention to the most obvious clues as well (the pieces of glass in the hand, the tox screen, etcetera). Seriously, that's not really Columbo style, now is it.

    The movie is about a movie composer, so throughout the movie we see him conducting. It's however quite annoying to see that he's never conducting to the music we hear. I'm not even a musical person but you don't have to be a musical genius to see that his conducting and the music we hear don't mix with each other. This to me was quite annoying. It also was quite annoying to hear the actual music, that obviously come straight of the tape and wasn't being played by the orchestra we see on screen all the time. Sounds nitpicking but those things simply bothered me and also prevented me from taking the entire movie and story serious as a good and professionally made one.

    Peter Falk is still in good form as Lt. Columbo in this movie, despite his age. He already was well in his 70's at the time of this production. A real good and clever police man would be enjoying his pension by then. Billy Connolly is also acting nicely but I think he deserved a better script to work with. He does his very best with his character but due to the story you just never get close enough to the character. Richard Riehle also appears in the movie again, who previously starred also in the other previous Patrick McGoohan directed Columbo movie "Columbo: Ashes to Ashes", in the same role.

    Not a great 21th century Columbo-entry.

    6/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
    Wizard-8

    A lesser episode, to put it mildly

    While I am a big enough fan of the "Columbo" mystery series to be glad enough to have the opportunity to watch any episode, I have to admit that I thought this particular episode was pretty weak stuff. It starts off pretty well, with a murder that is pretty original and ingenious. But once Columbo gets into the story and starts doing his thing, things go rapidly downhill. For some reason, this particular investigation goes along at a really slow pace - it takes forever for Columbo to uncover the clues, and the padding is pretty blatant. And while I was keeping attention throughout, the last scene of the episode - the point where Columbo traditionally beats the murderer at his or her own game - didn't seem finished. All Columbo had at this point, if you ask me, was a bunch of circumstantial evidence. While I don't know if I would call this episode the absolute worst "Columbo" episode made - I still haven't watched all the episodes - I have a sneaking suspicion it would be among the bottom five or so.
    7Barginhunterman

    Classical - Not!

    Having seen almost all the Columbo movies I was disappointed by this latest offering. Peter Falk was trying hard to recreate his best form as the raincoat claden detective but sadly fell short.

    The character interaction was predictable and with the likes of Patrick McGoohan directing (again) and the ever 'loud' and 'outrageous' Billy Connolly one would have hoped for a far better script to do justice to this great series of TV movies.
    7Wuchakk

    "Murder with Too Many Notes" (2001)

    PLOT: A popular Hollywood composer (Billy Connolly) murders his apprentice (Chad Willett) who's been ghostwriting most of his scores after the young man quits and the threat of exposure looms.

    COMMENTARY: There are many things to appreciate about this installment, like the believable and creative set-up: The apprentice practicing on the roof of the theater, the long dormant elevator and the conductor's motive, which isn't just envy, but the threat of ruin and mass embarrassment. Jealousy goes back to Shakespeare and ancient Greek theater, but I find placing envy and status into the framework of Oscar-winning composition compelling. The episode is also an interesting window into the behind-the-scenes activity surrounding the scores to major films.

    Yet there are seeming problems with the muddled ending, which can be traced to Patrick McGoohan's rewrites as director. He decided to use a musical demonstration at the climax in order to be theatrical, but the way it's done does not lend itself to a satisfying "gotcha" response. The scriptwriter, Jeffrey Cava, included several clues in his teleplay that failed to make it to the screen after McGoohan's revisions. For instance, the ultimate clue in Cava's script was particularly convicting and impossible for the murderer to dodge, but McGoohan prudently eliminated it for practical reasons. On top of this, it's dishonest to say there is "no evidence" in McGoohan's version. For detailed answers Google The Lt. Columbo Forum and punch-in Murder with Too Many Notes.

    Others complain that Columbo's slow drive home with the conductor is filler material. But the rumpled detective already sniffed him out as the murderer and needed to spend time with him to accumulate evidence and start wearing the suspect down in order to eventually break him. Columbo knows that when people get seriously aggravated they start saying & doing things they never intended to and thus reveal evidence against them.

    As shot, "Murder with Too Many Notes" is somewhat of a headscratcher, but the answers ARE there if you look for them. Besides, what's wrong with head-scratching in a murder mystery?

    GRADE: B/B-

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Billy Connolly's character name, "Findlay Crawford", is taken from his stand-up comedy, in which he mocks the names wealthy parents give their children. "Findlay" and "Crawford" are two separate names he cites as being particularly irksome.
    • Goofs
      When Columbo is on the roof after the body falls, his hair is blowing in the wind and the Sergeant's tie is waving about, but the sheet music remains where it fell.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Columbo: Just one more thing, sir.

    • Connections
      Featured in Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      1812 Overture
      Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 12, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mord efter noter
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Television
      • Studios USA
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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