Unfortunately, Janice already suspects an affair (because Alex knew Jenifers phone number by heart). When Jenifer Welles was killed. Thats your word against mine, retorts Benedict, and I dont remember that at all. On the other, itsmired in plot holes that prevent it delivering the sucker punch the lavish settings and big budget set it up for. Something else that could perhaps have been tightened up was Benedicts reckless approach to setting up the murder. 25 Composed by Frdric Chopin Performer by Anjanette Comer The title of this episode is derived from the name of this piece. It would have been filmed a couple of months before airing at least, although for this one they had to shoot some extra scenes a few weeks later to bump up the running time. If nothing else, one has to admire his chutzpah but I really dont consider his actions very plausible if avoiding attention was his goal. Much of the movie is obviously padded to fill a longer fun time on television. Lest we forget, he takes a heck of a lot of chances getting to Jennifers house from the Hollywood Bowl, wearing an extremely conspicuous outfit as he jogged about in broad daylight, and then parking his extremely memorable car right around the corner from the victims house! So, its warm applause at episodes end, rather than a rapturous 13-minute standing ovation. tude in Black sees killer conductor Alex Benedict murder his girlfriend without baton an eyelid. Andif youll hear me out, Ill state my case. Sure, it doesnt look good, but it falls short of condemning him. #Sentimental Journey. Musical Maestro Alex Benedict (John Cassavetes) has a problem and one that threatens his glittering career as a celebrity conductor. Haha yes, theres probably an article for biggest violations committed by Columbo e.g. THE COLUMBOPHILE BLOG 2023. For me, her scenes singularly fail to provide the injection of humour that I suspect was the intention. Ken Franklin couldve talked his way out of that fixin a second. The cast includes Rosemary's Baby John Cassavetes as the maestro, his wife played by Blythe Danner (Gwyneth Paltrow's mom) and his mother-in-law played by Myrna Loy (one of America's greatest leading actresses in film of our time). Interestingly its similar in tone to Make Me a Perfect Murder and these are the only two episodes where the killers act more or less purely because of the love they have for their lover. Scene set, he gets ready for a concert that evening. If Columbo knows otherwise he doesnt say so, although its not the sort of detailthat normally escapes him. The zooming in on Danners face when Wells name is mentioned, the fancy compositing of the flower in his sun glasses, the wheres my flower moment when hes conductingIts like the writers/directors were trying too hard or something. Drpepperfan. And when we says nap, what we really mean is ice-cold, premeditated MURDER. As a result, it has never completelywon me over. Actors, whaddayagunnado? Suppose it was you and this is how you did it. Lt. Columbo is on the case. Directed by: Nicholas Colasanto I dont think Benedict would cave in on the evidence of the lapel flower.. So scenes that could have been raced through were drawn out to the nth degree. Janice Benedict: Blythe Danner He even seeks assistance from an unlikely source: young Audrey, Jennifers precocious next door neighbour (for precocious read annoying). COLUMBO series Ep: ETUDE IN BLACK Contributor Names Nicholas Colasanto (director) Dick De Benedictis (composer) . While Columbo is in the veterinarian's office having his dog vaccinated, the music from the classical concert heard from the television is the fourth movement (Rondo-Allegro) of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's famous "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (A Little Night Music). Actors, whaddayagunnado? You could say that about many a Columbo episode. Jennifer clearly not a good judge of characters is wrong. It could plausibly belong to someone else and could have been dropped much earlier. | It could plausibly belong to someone else and could have been dropped much earlier. Thanks for giving me a chance to discuss this! they shouldve had the mechanic say something admirable about the car, Does anybody know who played the mechanic Mike Goodman. Of all the Columbo villians, he had the most disagreeable disposition I can remember. Even the trumpet player was at the house that day (I think that was mentioned), with an eye witness even. Jennifer Welles: Anjanette Comer Cant believe no one has mentioned the great Myrna Loy, one half of the greatest whodunit duos to ever grace the screen with William Powell. He assures her hell break the bad news to Janice ASAP, and tasks Jenniferwith playing a heart-warming ditty on the piano. Although series creators Dick Levinson and Bill Link had moved upstairs, the episode was penned by Steven Bochco; the mastermind behindMurder by the Book. The emergence of Alex Benedict at the housealso provides some food for thought for Columbo as he witnesses the Maestro picking up a flower from the floor near the piano and attaching it to his lapel. The Columbo Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. For my money, the centralclue just isnt compelling enough. Its almost cinematic in scale, with its extensive use of location shooting and the epic orchestral score featuring Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart putting it a level above most episodes in terms of production values. In memoriam: the Columbo stars we lost in 2022. And while its a relatively minor gripe, I cant help thinking Cassavetes couldve tried a little bit harder to look like he really knew how to conduct an orchestra. Can she identify Jennifers lover? In addition to Peter Falk as Columbo, the episode stars John Cassavettes, Bythe Danner and Myrna Loy. Danner, who was pregnant with daughter Gwyneth Paltrow at the time, was sympathetic without ever being pathetic. Like many shared before, the musician and conducting acting was terrible, almost comical; and showing Ms. Welles hands as she tried to mimic the recorded piano music was clearly a terrible directorial mistake. Right after the girl's death, Columbo talks to a plainclothes detective, played by long-faced Henry Beckman (who resembles Lee J. Cobb), about how beautiful the victim was. Hardly, Maestro. Episode synopsis - Columbo Etude in Black Musical Maestro Alex Benedict (John Cassavetes) has a problem - and one that threatens his glittering career as a celebrity conductor. Why doesnt the Lt set up the scene with the cigar-chomping Sargent, instead? 209 subscribers Season two begins with Etude in Black. He makes it look like a suicide, but this doesn't fool Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) who is sure it is murder, and that Alex is guilty, but must look in an unusual place to prove it First episode of the second season is quite good, with the two stars(and real-life friends) playing off each other well. Benedict plants the faux suicide note in Jennifers typewriter,lifts her limp frame into the kitchen and turns on the oven gas to make it look like she took her own life. Columbo (TV Series) tude in Black (1972) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Dick DeBenedictis . The heart wants to love Etude in Black. A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. The stories had a tendency to sag and the potential to loseviewersattention. and I really like Cassavettes work, but geeeeez not a guy Id ever want to hang out with even if he were buying the beer! You bet she can! Very entertaining. Alex drops his car with a mechanic, knowing it will be locked on the lot overnight. tude in Blackis the first episode of the second season of Columbo and the tenth episode overall. Its the worst fake musician acting Ive ever seen.when its one actor pretending to be a musician and doing it this badly its their fault when its everyone (as in this)look to the director/s. I liken it to Murder by the Book. It goes against the grain of Columbos subtly. Cassavettes is given no room at all to even think his plan out without Columbo harassing him every moment possible. Julie Harris wore the same outfit in, "Any Old Port in the Storm," that Blythe Danner wore in, "Etude in Black. However, without being able to verify that everyone in the orchestra was wearing a flower, the Lieutenant would remain uncertain about the killers identity until closer examination of the bloom revealed it to be a special kind the kind only grown by Janice Benedict specifically for her husband. Benedict plants the faux suicide note in Jennifers typewriter,lifts her limp frame into the kitchen and turns on the oven gas to make it look like she took her own life. Episode synopsis - Columbo Etude in Black Musical Maestro Alex Benedict (John Cassavetes) has a problem - and one that threatens his glittering career as a celebrity conductor. Jennifer Welles: Anjanette Comer Love the gotcha not because of its genius, after all it could be argued against, but because our weary murderer has to rely on a wife whos sadly worked out what her husband is really like. The Japanese dvds and Blurays also include isolated music tracks for several episodes. What about this, says Columbo, flashing up footage of Benedict speaking to the media in the aftermath of her death being revealed. The set-up to the murder shows us Alexs knack for murder. One Of The Very Best And Most Unusual Columbo Stories - Don't Miss It, Nicholas Colasanto's Masterpiece as a Director. This two-hour TV movie was also prepared in a 90-minute version which played on Canadian television, and is reputed to be the superior of the two cuts. He puts her body in the kitchen, turns on the gas, and inserts the suicide note into Jenifers typewriter. (Not to mention that Benedict goes into the house with the carnation off, and emerges with it on.). Metacritic Reviews. Shes clearly not pregnant in the episode. One thing that really bothered me throughout this episode is the unrealistic way that John Cassavettes portrayed a musical conductor. As a musician myself, watching the pantomime in this episode was painful! Cassavetes is the celebrated conductor of an acclaimed symphony orchestra in the Leonard Bernstein tradition who is having an affair with a young pianist Anjanette Comer. Only the jokes on Columbo this time, as Audrey IDs drunkard Paul instead of Benedict. OMG so, so cringe-y. 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