Prescription: Murder

Personally, I'd see another doctor if this was their prescription. Trying to search the internet to figure out if Columbo has the most BDE in TV history.

And with this, we see the start of one of the greatest characters in film and television come to life. Peter Falk would go onto play Detective Columbo for 35 years. Now to get to brass tax, Perscription: Murder doesn't come anywhere near the best Columbo episodes. It's important because it was the first pilot. Similar to Star Trek's "The Cage," this is a rough sketch with many of the ideas in place, but everything isn't quite right.

Another solid thriller.

Extremely intelligently written and acted, not even considering that this is 60's television. It doesn't need to hide behind thrillers by Chabrol, the only real problems are in result of the budget and format.

One long conversation here, a freebie "psychoanalysis session" Columbo manages to coax out of the vain Flemming, covering both of them, remains a true highlight of this series. Anyway it's amazing how fully formed the series' concept already is in this first "pilot" Columbo feature.

Great stuff. Peter Falk is golden as the shabby Lt. Columbo, and Gene Barry even better as the cold, calculating and intelligent Dr. Ray Flemming. My first Columbo outing and now I can't wait for the rest.

At first I thought the ending trick was a bit much, but considering how it tied into the antagonist's early statement of "people see what they want to see," made it a pretty clever twist. Definitely a good start to this charming series.

Like Dial M for Murder. Perfect!