Columbo: Prescription Murder

As most Columbo fans will tell you, Peter Falk first portrayed Columbo in 1968, in a TV movie called "Prescription: Murder". This case was originally not intended as a series pilot, and therefore it was another 3 years, in 1971, before the Columbo series appeared on US television. However, the detective has a history dating back before 1968.

Back in 1960, on a NBC Sunday night show called “The Chevy Mystery Show”, a play written by Richard Levinson and William Link was performed. The play was entitled “Enough Rope”, and it introduced the world to a new hero: A police Lieutenant called Columbo. This detective’s technique was to give the bad guy enough time and space, until he eventually metaphorically hangs himself. As became familiar to us all, Columbo didn't make his entrance until after the first commercial break. As a consequence, the actor playing him (Bert Freed) was given second-to-last billing in the opening credits!

“Enough Rope” would later become the basis of the plot for PRESCRIPTION: MURDER, and therefore was responsible in it’s own way for changing the course of television history.

In 1961 PRESCRIPTION: MURDER was mounted as a stage play, and starred Thomas Mitchell (Gone With the Wind/It’s A Wonderful life) as Lieutenant Columbo and Joseph Cotton (Citizen Kane) as the villain Dr. Flemming. As it transpired, Columbo was Thomas Mitchell’s last role - he sadly died while the show was on tour and before it could make its Broadway Premiere. The show never had it’s Broadway chance.

But now it has it’s UK chance! Middle Ground Theatre Company have completed negotiations and PRESCRIPTION: MURDER is coming to UK theatres from Spring 2010.



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		THE HISTORY OF COLUMBO'S FIRST CASE As most Columbo fans will tell you, Peter Falk first portrayed Columbo in 1968, in a TV movie called "Prescription: Murder". This case was originally not intended as a series pilot, and therefore it was another 3 years, in 1971, before the Columbo series appeared on US television. However, the detective has a history dating back before 1968. Back in 1960, on a NBC Sunday night show called “The Chevy Mystery Show”, a play written by Richard Levinson and William Link was performed. The play was entitled “Enough Rope”, and it introduced the world to a new hero: A police Lieutenant called Columbo. This detective’s technique was to give the bad guy enough time and space, until he eventually metaphorically hangs himself. As became familiar to us all, Columbo didn't make his entrance until after the first commercial break. As a consequence, the actor playing him (Bert Freed) was given second-to-last billing in the opening credits! “Enough Rope” would later become the basis of the plot for PRESCRIPTION: MURDER, and therefore was responsible in it’s own way for changing the course of television history. In 1961 PRESCRIPTION: MURDER was mounted as a stage play, and starred Thomas Mitchell (Gone With the Wind/It’s A Wonderful life) as Lieutenant Columbo and Joseph Cotton (Citizen Kane) as the villain Dr. Flemming. As it transpired, Columbo was Thomas Mitchell’s last role - he sadly died while the show was on tour and before it could make its Broadway Premiere. The show never had it’s Broadway chance. But now it has it’s UK chance! Middle Ground Theatre Company have completed negotiations and PRESCRIPTION: MURDER is coming to UK theatres from Spring 2010.


	home \| about \| history \| casting \| tour details \| middle ground theatre \| contact Prescription Murder is produced by Middle Ground Theatre Company Ltd. 3 Gordon Terrace, Wells Road, Malvern Wells, Worcs. WR14 4ER. Tel: 01684 577231 Fax: 01684 574472 Web: www.middlegroundtheatre.co.uk design by White Tip Media