Billy Goldenberg - Murder by the Book (1971)

Music clip culled from the season 1 television film of "Columbo" entitled "Murder by the Book" in which writer Ken Franklin (actor Jack Cassidy) is creating mess inside the office of his partner writer James Ferris (actor Martin Milner) to simulate an attack and drives him to his private house in the countryside to gun him down. Composer Billy Goldenberg writes a foe character theme with a harpsichord and an electric sitar combined with touches of reverberation to highlight the sophistication and the evil in the man.

[@Astrodomania]

absolutely the best episodic musical theme package ever written for a tv episode.... mystical and menacing at the same time..impossible to forget

[@frenchmanga7226]

To me, all the ingredients for a good Columbo episode are there : - Steven Spielberg, the best director ; - Billy Goldenberg, the best composer ; - and of course, my favorite murderer, Jack Cassidy !

[@ekek2821]

i agree,

[@solarsource7]

Music perfectly matched to the sinister grin on Jack Cassidy's face.

[@NetTubeUser]

That's what's missing today. Long shots without the camera shaking. A good and mysterious music with real instruments, with a few electronic instruments, but not too many. A solid script to keep people on their toes all the time. No violence. And classy actors.

[@philwright6940]

the music in this episode is just the best of any columbo and this is my all time favourite episode I watch it once a week

[@MrDavey2010]

Such terrific music. So apt for this episode

[@shawnmartin3424]

This episode comes on very top of my favorite Columbo episodes.

[@particlewaveduality1]

when i think about why i love these early columbo episodes a major part of it is the music scores they really are a key and essential part to defining a sinister and scheming mood thanks for being someone who recognizes this aspect of a likey lost art in episodic television history

[@johngalloway7666]

Terrific music like this exists in the early Columbo episodes, but, like most of Billy Goldenbergs best moments, has never been given a proper CD or LP release.....now that is one crime I wish someone would solve !

[@6lr6ak6]

Loved watching Columbo when a kid, in 71 I'd be 6, the 70s cop shows just great, the music was a big part.

[@ganimed1976]

I believe the golden Dunhill Rollagas lighter that Jack Cassidy used in this episode was his own lighter. It was not a movie prop. He also used it in the episode "Now you see him" and in "Publish Or Perish" as far as I know. It's macabre that this perhaps could be the same lighter that caused the fire in wich Cassidy died in 1976

[@maurorivellino2522]

awesome music and actor

[@trevorochmonek9024]

I love the smile and who he whistles. 😀

[@ultramanification]

probably my favorite episode, thank you!

[@steveacoustic1]

Yes! I agree completely with particlewaveduality1 (below). The muisc really added atmosphere that is integral to the mood of the episodes Billy Goldenberg scored for. I also loved the incidental music he wrote for Alias Smith & Jones - so refreshingly different from conventional Western music and very uplifting and free-wheeling in tune ('scuse the pun!) with the whole style of AS&J. If someone issued an album of Billy Goldenberg music, I'd buy it right away. Why isn't he better known?

[@carlosgomes2783]

Using the clatter of typewriter keys and the slam of the carriage is a touch of genius. Or am I the only one who remembers typewriters these days? ;-)

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

To those who remember Martin Milner as the senior patrol officer in ADAM 12, his appearance as a writer is a surprise here.

[@Ds9fan44]

I can tell it's directed by Steven Spielberg. It's the Best episode :)

[@zarrow50]

I still keep thinking he is going to leave his lighter behind

[@dimensionstomorrow]

Electric harpsichord? Or regular?

[@TheSpielberger]

*Somebody help me out here, please.* I'm looking for specific moments/scenes that telegraphs Spielberg's style as a movie director. Is there anything in Murder By The Book that is similar to scenes in what would be his future epic movies? For example, a lot of scenes were shot on location, outside in the real world, as opposed to a studio set, but what else? Maybe the combining of beautiful locations, picturesque scenery with a sense of foreboding? Are there other Spielberg trademarks in this?

[@wojciechtrojanowski7178]

Fenomenalna muzyka. Być może zainstalowana trochę przez muzykę z Psycho.

[@zarrow50]

I left my lighter in the office

[@em23]

reminds me a bit of wendy carlos in tron

[@AtsfMike559]

How can I watch this on you tube if the embedding is prohibited? I can't see the damn thing!

[@Raachen]

AtsfMike559 check out kinox.to! I'm pretty sure it is available in english (actually a german site)