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IMDbPro

Columbo: A Trace of Murder

  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Peter Falk, Raye Birk, Donna Bullock, Barry Corbin, Shera Danese, and David Rasche in Columbo: A Trace of Murder (1997)
Cop DramaPolice ProceduralCrimeDramaMystery

A cheating wife convinces her lover, who's a forensic scientist, to kill her husband's business rival and frame her rich husband for the murder. Lt. Columbo investigates.A cheating wife convinces her lover, who's a forensic scientist, to kill her husband's business rival and frame her rich husband for the murder. Lt. Columbo investigates.A cheating wife convinces her lover, who's a forensic scientist, to kill her husband's business rival and frame her rich husband for the murder. Lt. Columbo investigates.

  • Director
    • Vincent McEveety
  • Writers
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
    • Charles Kipps
  • Stars
    • Peter Falk
    • David Rasche
    • Shera Danese
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vincent McEveety
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
      • Charles Kipps
    • Stars
      • Peter Falk
      • David Rasche
      • Shera Danese
    • 32User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos31

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    Top cast21

    Edit
    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Columbo
    David Rasche
    David Rasche
    • Patrick Kinsley
    Shera Danese
    Shera Danese
    • Cathleen Calvert
    Barry Corbin
    Barry Corbin
    • Clifford Calvert
    Raye Birk
    Raye Birk
    • Howard Seltzer
    Will Nye
    Will Nye
    • Officer Will
    John Finnegan
    John Finnegan
    • Barney
    Franklin Cover
    Franklin Cover
    • Harry Jenkins
    Alice Backes
    Alice Backes
    • Harriet Jenkins
    Dion Anderson
    Dion Anderson
    • Stuart March
    Donna Bullock
    Donna Bullock
    • Tracy Rose
    John F. O'Donohue
    John F. O'Donohue
    • Doherty
    Dyana Ortelli
    Dyana Ortelli
    • Colenari
    Kymberly Newberry
    Kymberly Newberry
    • District Attorney
    • (as Kymberly S. Newberry)
    Maury Sterling
    Maury Sterling
    • Store Clerk
    Jeffrey King
    • Kurtz
    Vincent J. McEveety
    Vincent J. McEveety
    • Bus Boy
    Richard Saxton
    Richard Saxton
    • Newscaster
    • Director
      • Vincent McEveety
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
      • Charles Kipps
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    7.52K
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    Featured reviews

    gbg-1

    A writer's and mystery lover's point of view.

    Columbo is a unique character who is fun to watch. However, during "A Trace of Murder" the fun was coupled with a great plot. It is my favorite and probably the only one that provided its "fun" content due to the character. As usual, but also surprised many of us with a fresh, brilliant story line. Although I have always enjoyed Columbo, "A Trace of Murder" is the only one that comes to mind in detail when discussing the series with others. Let's have more work of that quality... and soon!
    9preacha93

    One of the best

    I've read lots of comments about this movie, both good and bad, and I must say that I think it is one of the best of the newer Columbo movies. This was actually the first time I'd seen him stumped for the majority of the movie, and it wasn't until shortly before the end that he actually figured it out. Although I love Columbo, the main reason I decided to watch this one was because I loved David Rasche in Sledge Hammer (please make more of those). However, the plot for this one kept me riveted to the couch and not wanting to move. Possibly not as good as many of the classics from the 70s, but definitely better than most of the newer episodes I've seen. Watch it if you get a chance.
    aromatic-2

    Lots of fun

    This is a particularly enjoyable series entry because it is extremely well-written. David Rasche's character is particularly well-written and well-acted. He is never over the top, clumsy, or obvious. The clues that got Columbo on his trail were perfect -- subtle (i did not catch them, I must confess) but available and fair.

    Shera Danese (Falk's real-life wife) is also extremely true to her character and is a joy to watch. She's been in about six or seven Columbo movies now, and she keeps delivering more on-target performances. And, some clever twists make Barry Corbin's character one of the best on a Columbo episode ever. I hope he shows up on a future Columbo.
    6Leofwine_draca

    A lesser story, but one with tons of charm

    A TRACE OF MURDER is one of the last of the Columbo series, and its odd to see the detective as a much older, weather-beaten character. He still seems to be in good shape though, and Peter Falk is certainly on very good form in what turns out to be a distinctly average mystery.

    The guest star this time around is Shera Danese, Falk's real-life wife. She conspires with her lover to frame her domineering husband for murder, to get him sent to prison so she can get her hands on his fortune. To complicate matters further, her lover is a forensic expert who ends up working as Columbo's assistant on the case. How long before the wily detective sees through the charade?

    A TRACE OF MURDER seems to have been hastily written as the mystery isn't up too much. The bit at the end where Columbo grabs a random couple of restaurant workers to explain the intricacies of the plot is an example of writing at its most threadbare. Even so, this is still a charming story and there's plenty of humour which works really well. I love the scene where Falk is flabbergasted after a sudden realisation, and the "three eyes are better than one" gag is top notch. This is still a Columbo well worth watching if only for the character. Barry Corbin is also great fun as the short-tempered husband.
    8bkoganbing

    Framing a loudmouth boor

    Real life Mrs. Peter Falk, Shera Danese is one of two people who plot a killing, the other is her lover David Rasche. Danese is married to tycoon Barry Corbin who is a real loudmouth boor. But he's got her by the pre-nup, she gets not enough to continue the style of living she was accustomed to.

    But if Corbin gets murdered she's looked at right away as a suspect. What to do, but murder someone that Corbin has a motive to kill. The poor schnook they pick on is someone who is suing Corbin and who Corbin had a public quarrel with.

    That would be Raye Birk, middle-aged bachelor who lives a quiet conservative lifestyle. Rasche murders him and together evidence is planted implicating Corbin.

    Truthfully I don't think many would have missed Corbin. But Birk is an innocent soul and these two are as coldblooded a pair that Columbo ever encountered.

    It's as usual little details with Columbo that don't quite fit. He's up against something he's never faced before with one of the killers which I won't reveal. But it all hinges on Danese and Rasche keeping their relationship secret. And it's little things that give them away.

    Columbo always spots these details, but in this one he's almost Monk like in his anal retentiveness.

    One of the best of the newer batch.

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    Related interests

    Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
    Cop Drama
    Ice-T, Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, and Kelli Giddish in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Police Procedural
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
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    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Peter Falk's actress-wife, Shera Danese, performs the role Cathleen Calvert, the conniving wife who wants to frame her husband. This was the last of her six appearances in the Columbo movies.
    • Goofs
      Columbo gets visible white cat hair all over his gray trousers when he momentarily kneels near the victim's body. However, moments later, Kinsey shows no trace of cat hair on his black trousers after crawling extensively across the same area.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Columbo: That'll be good, you and me together, Pat. Three eyes are better than one.

    • Connections
      Featured in Columbo: A Trace of Murder (1997)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 15, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Le chat de monsieur Seltzer
    • Filming locations
      • 5148 Louise Ave, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA(Clifford Calvert's house)
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 32m(92 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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