Columbo - "Lovely but Lethal" (1973)

Season Three
8 episodes
September 23 1973 to May 5 1974

Information from: The Columbo Phile by Mark Dawidziak
Summary of Season 3

"Lovely but Lethal" (1973) Season: 3, Episode - 1 Director: Jeannot Szwarc Written by: Jackson Gillis (from a story by Myrna Bercovici) Produced by: Douglas Benton Originally aired: September 23, 1973 Run Time: 74 (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Vera Miles as Viveca Scott Martin Sheen as Karl Lessing Vincent Price as David Lang Sian Barbara Allen as Shirley Blaine Fred Draper as Dr. Murcheson Gino Conforti as Ferdy Colby Chester as Jerry Bruce Kirby as Lab Attendant John Finnegan as Sergeant Dick Stahl as Burton Marc Hannibal as Fingerprint Man Plot: Legendary cosmetic queen Viveca Scott finds that her Beauty Mark empire is being threatened by arch rival David lang. Her hopes for survival rest on the development of a revolutionary cream formula that actually helps remove wrinkles. The early test by Beauty marks chief chemist, Dr Murcheson are encouraging. Viveca is horrified to learn that Karl Lessing, Mucheson’s young assistant and former lover, has pirated the formula. He intends to sell it to David lang. What Karl doesn’t know is that Viveca has a spy in the enemy camp- David Lang’s private secretary, Shirley Blaine.

"Any Old Port in a Storm" (1973) Season: 3, Episode - 2 Director: Leo Penn Written by: Stanley Ralph Ross (from a story by Larry Cohen) Produced by: Robert F. O'Neill Originally aired: October 7, 1973 Run Time: 120 (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Guest Starring Donald Pleasence as Adrian Carsini Joyce Jillson as Joan Stacey Gary Conway as Ric Carsini Dana Elcar as Falcon Julie Harris as Karen Fielding Vito Scotti as Maitre D' Robert Donner as The Drunk Robert Ellenstein as Stein Robert Walden as Billy Fine Regis J Cordic as Lewis Reid Smith as Andy Stevens John McCann as Officer George Gaynes as Frenchman Monty Landis as Steward Walker Edmiston as Auctioneer Pamela Campbell as Cassie Marlowe Plot: Half-English and half-Italian Adrian Carsini is about to be names the wine industry’s man of the year. Although a dedicated winemaker and ardent collector, Adrian is a poor businessman. Such lack of regard for profit infuriates his young half-brother, Ric, a high-living playboy who enjoys auto racing, scuba diving and parachute jumping. The family wine business and the money was left to Adrian. The land that Carsini Wineries sits on. However, legally belongs to Ric. On the Sunday that Adrian and his devoted secretary, Soft-spoken Karen Fielding, are about to leave for a New York business trip, Ric stops at the winery to announce that he’s getting married for the fourth time. He’s short of cash, but that’s only going to be a temporary situation. Ric has decided to sell the Carsini land to a competitors who specialize in notoriously cheap mass-market wines. Adrian, who has known true happiness at the winery, is appalled and infuriated. In a blind rage, he picks up a heavy object from his desk and knocks Ric unconscious. For Sounds from this Episode Click here if you wish to hear sound samples. "Candidate for Crime" (1973) Season: 3, Episode - 3 Director: Boris Sagal Written by: Roland Kibbee, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Larry Cohen) Produced by: Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee Originally aired: November 4, 1973 Run Time: 120 (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Jackie Cooper as Nelson Hayward Ken Swofford as Harry Stone Joanne Linville as Victoria Hayward Tisha Sterling as Linda Johnson Vito Scotti as Mr. Chadwick Robert Karnes as SGT. Verson Jay Varela as SGT. Rojas Regis Cordic as Deputy Commissioner Sandy Kenyon as Harris Jack Riley as Director Mario Gallo as Dr. Perenchio Jude Farese as Highway Patrolman Clete Roberts as TV Anchorman Angelo Grisanti as First Detective Lew Brown as Second Detective Don Diamond as Larry James G. Richardson as Shelly Bill Andes as Campaign Manager Lucille Meredith as Lucy Katie Sagal as Secretary Larry Burrell as Newsman Plot: With election day close at hand, nelson Hayward finds himself in an extremely tight race for a Senate seat from California. Since the candidate is known for his tough stand against organized crime, campaign manager harry Stone has manufactured stories about death threats against nelson. Although only a ploy to drum up badly needed votes, the strategy is effective enough to earn Nelson a constant curtain of Police protection. One of the Los Angeles officers assigned to his detail is a homicide lieutenant named Columbo. Knowing that the death threats are completely phony, Nelson cavalierly dismisses them when answering questions from reporters. He won’t be intimidated. "Double Exposure" (1973) Season: 3, Episode - 4 Director: Richard Quine Written by: Stephen J. Cannell Produced by: Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee Originally aired: December 16, 1973 Run Time: (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Robert Culp as Dr. Bart Kepple Robert Middleton as Victor Norris Louise Latham as Mrs. Norris Arlene Martell as Tanya Baker Chuck Mccann as Roger White Denny Goldman as Press Photographer John Milford as First Detective George Wyner as Film Editor Richard Stahl as Ballistics Man Francis Desales as Patterson Alam Beltran as Housekeeper Dennis Roberson as Detective Marley Harry Hickox as Second Detective Ann Driscoll as Mrs. Halstead E.A. Sirianni as Norbert Manuel Depina as First detective Thomas Bellin as Technician Peter Walker as Narrator Mary Beth Sikorski as Receptionist Plot: Dr. Bart Kepple is a brilliant motivational research scientist, but he is also something of a blackmailer. A certain Tanya baker is quite proficient at getting Kepple’s male clients into compromising positions. One of these clients, powerful Victor Norris, has decided that he will no longer be a victim of extortion. "Publish or Perish" (1974) Season: 3, Episode - 5 Director: Robert Butler Written by: Peter S. Fischer Produced by: Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee Originally aired: January 18, 1974 Run Time: (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Jack Cassidy as Riley Greenleaf Mickey Spillane as Allen Mallory Mariette Hartley as Eileen Mcrae John Chandler as Eddie Kane Jacques Aubuchon as Jeffrey Neal Gregory Sierra as Lou D'Allesandro Alan Fudge as David Crase Paul Shenar as SGT. Young Jack Bender as Wolpert Ted Gehring as Security Guard Vern Rowe as Restaurant Owner Lew Palter as Lab Technician George Bernlin as Locksmith J.S. johnson as Palmer Maurice Marsac as Walter Plot: Allen Mallory, the author of five bestselling detective novels, has decided to leave Riley Greenleaf’s publishing house. His agent, Eileen McRae, has convinced him that he can write serious fiction for rival publisher Jeffrey Neal. Enraged by the defection, Riley hires demolitions expert Eddie Kane to kill Allen. In addition to collectiong on a huge life insurance policy, Riley will make sure that Allan never writes for another publisher. "Mind Over Mayhem" (1974) Season: 3, Episode - 6 Director: Alf Kjellin Written by: Steven Bochco, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Robert Specht) Produced by: Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee Originally aired: February 10, 1974 Run Time: (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Guest Starring Jose Ferrer as Dr. Marshall Cahill Lew Ayres as Prof. Howard Nicholson Robert Walker as Neil Cahill Lee H Montgomery as Steve Spelberg Jessica Walter as Margaret Nicholson Lou Wagner as Ross Art Batanides as Murph Darrell Zwerling as Motel Manager Charles Macaulay as Farnsworth John Zaremba as Coroner William Bryant as Fields Bert Holland as Whitehead Ed Fury as Plain Clothes Man Jefferson Kibbee as Jeff Dianne Turley as Lady Scientist William Christopher as Male Scientist Deidre Hall as Receptionist Dennis Robertson as 1st Reporter Luis Moreno as Officer Plot: Young Neil Cahill’s theory of molecular power is about to win him scientist of the years honors. His demanding father, Dr. Marshall Cahill, head of Cybernetic Research Institute think tank, is justifiably proud. But professor Howard Nicholson, an elderly chemist at the institute, has files to prove Neil stole the theory from the late Dr. Carl Finch. If Neil doesn’t confess the fraud, Howard will expose him Marshall will not let his son be touched by scandal. Howard must be eliminated For More Indepth Information Click here if you wish to know additional information. "Swan Song" (1973) Season: 3, Episode - 7 Director: Nick Colasanto Written by: Roland Kibbee, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Stanley Ralph Ross) Produced by: Edward K. Dodds Originally aired: March 3, 1974 Run Time: 120 (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Johnny Cash as Tommy Brown Ida Lupino as Edna Brown William McKinney as Luke Basket Sorrell Booke as J.J. Stringer John Dehner as Roland Pangborn Bonnie Van Dyke as Maryann Janit Baldwin as Tina Vito Scotti as Mr. Grindell John Randolph as The Colonel Lucille Meredith as Lady Richard Caine as Bennett Donald Mantooth as Phil Jefferson Kibbee as Frank Doug Dirkson as Jeff Larry Burrell as TV Reporter Mike Edward Lally as TV Cameraman Tom McFadden as Police Pilot Plot: The star of the lost Soul Crusades, country-western singer Tommy Brown regularly sells out auditoriums and stadiums. But he sees very little of the enormous profits. Those are controlled by his pious and fanatical wife, evangelist Edna Brown. Edna is able to keep Tommy under the thumb because she knows he frequented motels with crusade singer Maryann when she was just sixteen years old. If he quits singing before the Lost Soul tabernacle can be built, Edna will turn him in on charges of statutory rape. An ex-convict, Tommy can’t afford to call her bluff. Yet he has swallowed all the blackmail he can stomach. "A Friend in Deed" (1974) Season: 3, Episode - 8 Director: Ben Gazzara Written by: Peter S. Fischer Levinson, William Link Produced by: Edward K. Dodds Originally aired: May 5, 1974 Run Time: 120 (mins) Cast: Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Val Avery as Artie Jessup Richard Kiley as Deputy Commissioner Mark Halperin Michael McGuire as Hugh Caldwell Rosemarie Murphy as Margaret Halperin Eleanor Zee as Thelma Rosemary Murphy as Margaret Halperin John Finnegan as Lt. Dryer Arlene Martell as Sales Girl Victor Campos as Doyle Joshua Bryant as Dr. Macmurray Byron Morrow as Amos Lawrence James V. Christy as Sharkey Alam Beltran as Mrs. Fernandez Albert Popwell as Al Como Plot: Hugh Caldwell, who lives in the fashionable Bel Air section of Los Angeles, has just murdered his wife, Janice. In a panic, he calls his neighbor and best friend, Mark Halperin, who is gambling at their club. Mark tells Hugh to calm down and stay in plain sight at the club’s bar. Hell take care of everything. For More Pictures Click here if you wish to know additional Pictures. Return to Season2

	`"Lovely but Lethal" (1973)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 1`
`Director:`	`Jeannot Szwarc`
`Written by:`	`Jackson Gillis (from a story by Myrna Bercovici)`
`Produced by:`	`Douglas Benton`
`Originally aired:`	`September 23, 1973`
`Run Time:`	`74 (mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Vera Miles as Viveca Scott Martin Sheen as Karl Lessing Vincent Price as David Lang Sian Barbara Allen as Shirley Blaine Fred Draper as Dr. Murcheson Gino Conforti as Ferdy Colby Chester as Jerry Bruce Kirby as Lab Attendant John Finnegan as Sergeant Dick Stahl as Burton Marc Hannibal as Fingerprint Man
`Plot:`	Legendary cosmetic queen Viveca Scott finds that her Beauty Mark empire is being threatened by arch rival David lang. Her hopes for survival rest on the development of a revolutionary cream formula that actually helps remove wrinkles. The early test by Beauty marks chief chemist, Dr Murcheson are encouraging. Viveca is horrified to learn that Karl Lessing, Mucheson’s young assistant and former lover, has pirated the formula. He intends to sell it to David lang. What Karl doesn’t know is that Viveca has a spy in the enemy camp- David Lang’s private secretary, Shirley Blaine.

	`"Any Old Port in a Storm" (1973)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 2`
`Director:`	`Leo Penn`
`Written by:`	`Stanley Ralph Ross (from a story by Larry Cohen)`
`Produced by:`	`Robert F. O'Neill`
`Originally aired:`	`October 7, 1973`
`Run Time:`	`120 (mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Guest Starring Donald Pleasence as Adrian Carsini Joyce Jillson as Joan Stacey Gary Conway as Ric Carsini Dana Elcar as Falcon Julie Harris as Karen Fielding Vito Scotti as Maitre D' Robert Donner as The Drunk Robert Ellenstein as Stein Robert Walden as Billy Fine Regis J Cordic as Lewis Reid Smith as Andy Stevens John McCann as Officer George Gaynes as Frenchman Monty Landis as Steward Walker Edmiston as Auctioneer Pamela Campbell as Cassie Marlowe
`Plot:`	Half-English and half-Italian Adrian Carsini is about to be names the wine industry’s man of the year. Although a dedicated winemaker and ardent collector, Adrian is a poor businessman. Such lack of regard for profit infuriates his young half-brother, Ric, a high-living playboy who enjoys auto racing, scuba diving and parachute jumping. The family wine business and the money was left to Adrian. The land that Carsini Wineries sits on. However, legally belongs to Ric. On the Sunday that Adrian and his devoted secretary, Soft-spoken Karen Fielding, are about to leave for a New York business trip, Ric stops at the winery to announce that he’s getting married for the fourth time. He’s short of cash, but that’s only going to be a temporary situation. Ric has decided to sell the Carsini land to a competitors who specialize in notoriously cheap mass-market wines. Adrian, who has known true happiness at the winery, is appalled and infuriated. In a blind rage, he picks up a heavy object from his desk and knocks Ric unconscious.

	`"Candidate for Crime" (1973)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 3`
`Director:`	`Boris Sagal`
`Written by:`	`Roland Kibbee, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Larry Cohen)`
`Produced by:`	`Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee`
`Originally aired:`	`November 4, 1973`
`Run Time:`	`120 (mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Jackie Cooper as Nelson Hayward Ken Swofford as Harry Stone Joanne Linville as Victoria Hayward Tisha Sterling as Linda Johnson Vito Scotti as Mr. Chadwick Robert Karnes as SGT. Verson Jay Varela as SGT. Rojas Regis Cordic as Deputy Commissioner Sandy Kenyon as Harris Jack Riley as Director Mario Gallo as Dr. Perenchio Jude Farese as Highway Patrolman Clete Roberts as TV Anchorman Angelo Grisanti as First Detective Lew Brown as Second Detective Don Diamond as Larry James G. Richardson as Shelly Bill Andes as Campaign Manager Lucille Meredith as Lucy Katie Sagal as Secretary Larry Burrell as Newsman
`Plot:`	With election day close at hand, nelson Hayward finds himself in an extremely tight race for a Senate seat from California. Since the candidate is known for his tough stand against organized crime, campaign manager harry Stone has manufactured stories about death threats against nelson. Although only a ploy to drum up badly needed votes, the strategy is effective enough to earn Nelson a constant curtain of Police protection. One of the Los Angeles officers assigned to his detail is a homicide lieutenant named Columbo. Knowing that the death threats are completely phony, Nelson cavalierly dismisses them when answering questions from reporters. He won’t be intimidated.

	`"Double Exposure" (1973)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 4`
`Director:`	`Richard Quine`
`Written by:`	`Stephen J. Cannell`
`Produced by:`	`Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee`
`Originally aired:`	`December 16, 1973`
`Run Time:`	`(mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Robert Culp as Dr. Bart Kepple Robert Middleton as Victor Norris Louise Latham as Mrs. Norris Arlene Martell as Tanya Baker Chuck Mccann as Roger White Denny Goldman as Press Photographer John Milford as First Detective George Wyner as Film Editor Richard Stahl as Ballistics Man Francis Desales as Patterson Alam Beltran as Housekeeper Dennis Roberson as Detective Marley Harry Hickox as Second Detective Ann Driscoll as Mrs. Halstead E.A. Sirianni as Norbert Manuel Depina as First detective Thomas Bellin as Technician Peter Walker as Narrator Mary Beth Sikorski as Receptionist
`Plot:`	`Dr. Bart Kepple is a brilliant motivational research scientist, but he is also something of a blackmailer. A certain Tanya baker is quite proficient at getting Kepple’s male clients into compromising positions. One of these clients, powerful Victor Norris, has decided that he will no longer be a victim of extortion.`

	`"Publish or Perish" (1974)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 5`
`Director:`	`Robert Butler`
`Written by:`	`Peter S. Fischer`
`Produced by:`	`Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee`
`Originally aired:`	`January 18, 1974`
`Run Time:`	`(mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Jack Cassidy as Riley Greenleaf Mickey Spillane as Allen Mallory Mariette Hartley as Eileen Mcrae John Chandler as Eddie Kane Jacques Aubuchon as Jeffrey Neal Gregory Sierra as Lou D'Allesandro Alan Fudge as David Crase Paul Shenar as SGT. Young Jack Bender as Wolpert Ted Gehring as Security Guard Vern Rowe as Restaurant Owner Lew Palter as Lab Technician George Bernlin as Locksmith J.S. johnson as Palmer Maurice Marsac as Walter
`Plot:`	`Allen Mallory, the author of five bestselling detective novels, has decided to leave Riley Greenleaf’s publishing house. His agent, Eileen McRae, has convinced him that he can write serious fiction for rival publisher Jeffrey Neal. Enraged by the defection, Riley hires demolitions expert Eddie Kane to kill Allen. In addition to collectiong on a huge life insurance policy, Riley will make sure that Allan never writes for another publisher.`

	`"Mind Over Mayhem" (1974)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 6`
`Director:`	`Alf Kjellin`
`Written by:`	`Steven Bochco, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Robert Specht)`
`Produced by:`	`Dean Hargrove and Roland Kibbee`
`Originally aired:`	`February 10, 1974`
`Run Time:`	`(mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Guest Starring Jose Ferrer as Dr. Marshall Cahill Lew Ayres as Prof. Howard Nicholson Robert Walker as Neil Cahill Lee H Montgomery as Steve Spelberg Jessica Walter as Margaret Nicholson Lou Wagner as Ross Art Batanides as Murph Darrell Zwerling as Motel Manager Charles Macaulay as Farnsworth John Zaremba as Coroner William Bryant as Fields Bert Holland as Whitehead Ed Fury as Plain Clothes Man Jefferson Kibbee as Jeff Dianne Turley as Lady Scientist William Christopher as Male Scientist Deidre Hall as Receptionist Dennis Robertson as 1st Reporter Luis Moreno as Officer
`Plot:`	`Young Neil Cahill’s theory of molecular power is about to win him scientist of the years honors. His demanding father, Dr. Marshall Cahill, head of Cybernetic Research Institute think tank, is justifiably proud. But professor Howard Nicholson, an elderly chemist at the institute, has files to prove Neil stole the theory from the late Dr. Carl Finch. If Neil doesn’t confess the fraud, Howard will expose him Marshall will not let his son be touched by scandal. Howard must be eliminated`

	`"Swan Song" (1973)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 7`
`Director:`	`Nick Colasanto`
`Written by:`	`Roland Kibbee, Dean Hargrove (from a story by Stanley Ralph Ross)`
`Produced by:`	`Edward K. Dodds`
`Originally aired:`	`March 3, 1974`
`Run Time:`	`120 (mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Johnny Cash as Tommy Brown Ida Lupino as Edna Brown William McKinney as Luke Basket Sorrell Booke as J.J. Stringer John Dehner as Roland Pangborn Bonnie Van Dyke as Maryann Janit Baldwin as Tina Vito Scotti as Mr. Grindell John Randolph as The Colonel Lucille Meredith as Lady Richard Caine as Bennett Donald Mantooth as Phil Jefferson Kibbee as Frank Doug Dirkson as Jeff Larry Burrell as TV Reporter Mike Edward Lally as TV Cameraman Tom McFadden as Police Pilot
`Plot:`	The star of the lost Soul Crusades, country-western singer Tommy Brown regularly sells out auditoriums and stadiums. But he sees very little of the enormous profits. Those are controlled by his pious and fanatical wife, evangelist Edna Brown. Edna is able to keep Tommy under the thumb because she knows he frequented motels with crusade singer Maryann when she was just sixteen years old. If he quits singing before the Lost Soul tabernacle can be built, Edna will turn him in on charges of statutory rape. An ex-convict, Tommy can’t afford to call her bluff. Yet he has swallowed all the blackmail he can stomach.

	`"A Friend in Deed" (1974)`
`Season:`	`3, Episode - 8`
`Director:`	`Ben Gazzara`
`Written by:`	`Peter S. Fischer Levinson, William Link`
`Produced by:`	`Edward K. Dodds`
`Originally aired:`	`May 5, 1974`
`Run Time:`	`120 (mins)`
`Cast:`	Peter Falk as LT. Columbo Val Avery as Artie Jessup Richard Kiley as Deputy Commissioner Mark Halperin Michael McGuire as Hugh Caldwell Rosemarie Murphy as Margaret Halperin Eleanor Zee as Thelma Rosemary Murphy as Margaret Halperin John Finnegan as Lt. Dryer Arlene Martell as Sales Girl Victor Campos as Doyle Joshua Bryant as Dr. Macmurray Byron Morrow as Amos Lawrence James V. Christy as Sharkey Alam Beltran as Mrs. Fernandez Albert Popwell as Al Como
`Plot:`	`Hugh Caldwell, who lives in the fashionable Bel Air section of Los Angeles, has just murdered his wife, Janice. In a panic, he calls his neighbor and best friend, Mark Halperin, who is gambling at their club. Mark tells Hugh to calm down and stay in plain sight at the club’s bar. Hell take care of everything.`