The Most Crucial Game
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Episode 3

The Most Crucial Game

The Most Crucial Game

1972
Drama, Crime
TV Episode
1h 14m
The owner of a football team is found dead in a swimming pool. It looks like an accident, a slip and fall. However, Columbo doesn't really believe in this being an accident and investigates the accident as if it was a murder case. However, the person he suspects has a powerful alibi. (imdb)

Directed by:

Jeremy Kagan
Jeremy-Kagan
24 total credits
Credits include: Taken, The Journey of Natty Gann, The Chosen, Roswell and The Most Crucial Game

Writers:

Richard Levinson
Richard-Levinson
32 total credits
Credits include: Murder by the Book, Murder, She Wrote, The Hindenburg, Prescription: Murder and Death Lends a Hand
,
William Link
William-Link
31 total credits
Credits include: Columbo, Murder by the Book, Murder, She Wrote, Prescription: Murder and Death Lends a Hand
,
John T. Dugan
John-T-Dugan
6 total credits
Credits include: Dead Weight, The Most Crucial Game, Shark!, The Passion of Chen Yi and Blood of the Dragon: Part 1

Starring:

Dean Stockwell
Dean-Stockwell
108 total credits
Photogenic American child actor of the 1940s, popular due in no small measure to his air of innocence and his beautiful, cherubic face with its dimples and his sparkling eyes, topped with a crown of curls. Still an actor in demand while well into his middle years, he is one of the few juvenile performers to succeed lifelong in films.
,
Peter Falk
Peter-Falk
70 total credits
alk (September 16, 1927 - June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films such as The Princess Bride, The Great Race and Next, and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960's Murder, Inc. and 1961's Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once...(Wikipedia)
,
James Gregory
James-Gregory
53 total credits
Credits include: The Manchurian Candidate, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, The Naked City, The Sons of Katie Elder and Nightfall
,
Valerie Harper
Valerie-Harper
18 total credits
Credits include: Blame It on Rio, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Most Crucial Game, Don't Go to Sleep and Rhoda
,
Dean Jagger
Dean-Jagger
92 total credits
Credits include: Bad Day at Black Rock, Vanishing Point, White Christmas, Game of Death and Alligator
,
Val Avery
Val-Avery
45 total credits
Credits include: The Magnificent Seven, Cobra, The Amityville Horror, Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke and Faces
,
Robert Culp
Robert-Culp
60 total credits
Credits include: Santa's Slay, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!, Hannie Caulder and Turk 182!
,
Susan Howard
Susan-Howard
11 total credits
Credits include: Dallas, The Most Crucial Game, Superdome, Moonshine County Express and The Degenerates

Franchise:

Columbo

Genres:

Drama, Crime, Mystery

Country:

USA

Language:

English

The Most Crucial Game

1972
Drama, Crime
TV Episode
1h 14m
Your probable score

Ratings & Reviews

Compact view
Compact view
Average Percentile: 64.28%
09 Aug 2008
65
66th
Robert Culp's second of several appearances as the antagonist in the Columbo oeuvre, an honor well-earned, he makes an excellent suspected killer. Overall this is a satisfying entry in the series.
24 Dec 2020
73
55th
I used to have a prejudice against Columbo for a reason that I don't know. My wife pushed me for years and I gave it a try and I must say that it is a pretty clever set-up, his nagging way of inquiry is pretty interesting and overall it was very watchable (except fake American football sequences, they botched those).
25 Aug 2023
55
31st
A case with a bit too many coincidences to make up for the weak evidence Columbo has. If the secretary doesn't talk, Hanlon walks with the only evidence being a lack of a clock chime.
22 Feb 2014
60
73rd
One of those Columbos where he gets tough and nasty - in this case with the poor PI.
22 Oct 2013
70
68th
A brilliant crime, brilliant conclusion.
12 Apr 2013
4
91st
Another enjoyable outing, a good baddie and Falks character always entertains. V. good.

Cast & Info

Directed by:

Jeremy Kagan
Jeremy-Kagan
24 total credits
Credits include: Taken, The Journey of Natty Gann, The Chosen, Roswell and The Most Crucial Game

Writers:

Richard Levinson
Richard-Levinson
32 total credits
Credits include: Murder by the Book, Murder, She Wrote, The Hindenburg, Prescription: Murder and Death Lends a Hand
,
William Link
William-Link
31 total credits
Credits include: Columbo, Murder by the Book, Murder, She Wrote, Prescription: Murder and Death Lends a Hand
,
John T. Dugan
John-T-Dugan
6 total credits
Credits include: Dead Weight, The Most Crucial Game, Shark!, The Passion of Chen Yi and Blood of the Dragon: Part 1

Starring:

Dean Stockwell
Dean-Stockwell
108 total credits
Photogenic American child actor of the 1940s, popular due in no small measure to his air of innocence and his beautiful, cherubic face with its dimples and his sparkling eyes, topped with a crown of curls. Still an actor in demand while well into his middle years, he is one of the few juvenile performers to succeed lifelong in films.
,
Peter Falk
Peter-Falk
70 total credits
alk (September 16, 1927 - June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films such as The Princess Bride, The Great Race and Next, and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960's Murder, Inc. and 1961's Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once...(Wikipedia)
,
James Gregory
James-Gregory
53 total credits
Credits include: The Manchurian Candidate, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, The Naked City, The Sons of Katie Elder and Nightfall
,
Valerie Harper
Valerie-Harper
18 total credits
Credits include: Blame It on Rio, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Most Crucial Game, Don't Go to Sleep and Rhoda
,
Dean Jagger
Dean-Jagger
92 total credits
Credits include: Bad Day at Black Rock, Vanishing Point, White Christmas, Game of Death and Alligator
,
Val Avery
Val-Avery
45 total credits
Credits include: The Magnificent Seven, Cobra, The Amityville Horror, Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke and Faces
,
Robert Culp
Robert-Culp
60 total credits
Credits include: Santa's Slay, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!, Hannie Caulder and Turk 182!
,
Susan Howard
Susan-Howard
11 total credits
Credits include: Dallas, The Most Crucial Game, Superdome, Moonshine County Express and The Degenerates

Franchise:

Columbo

Genres:

Drama, Crime, Mystery

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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