Billy Goldenberg - Ransom for a Dead Man (1971)

Music clip culled from the season 1 television film of "Columbo" entitled "Ransom for a Dead Man" in which lawyer Leslie Williams (actress Lee Grant) is preparing a ransom note, tricks a recording, and finally guns down her husband Paul (actor Harlan Warde) on his way home. Composer Billy Goldenberg first plays a delicate harpsichord to introduce the female criminal and then uses electronic instruments to emphasize the sudden brutality of the crime.

[@johngalloway7666]

Lee Grant was a very cool killer in this classic Columbo episode. And the Billy Goldenberg score was brilliant. 70s TV at its best !

[@CShannon1991]

She looked very beautiful in 1971 and throughout the 70’s. She is still beautiful today.

[@VintageSoundsNumber1]

"You know, Columbo, you're almost likable in a shabby sort of way. Maybe it's the way you come slouching in here with your shopworn bag of tricks." Lt. Columbo: Me? Tricks? "The humility, the seeming absent-mindedness, the uh, homey anecdotes about the family: the wife, you know?" (laughs) HA HA HA The funniest moment in the whole episode !!!

[@paxwallacejazz]

Wow this score Billy Goldenberg it's amazing

[@DayMatrix99]

or 46 years old then in 1971...some sources say that Lee Grant was born in 1925 but birth year is still unclear 1927 or 1925 but 1928 I like Lee Grant from Columbo...very beautiful woman

[@oldermuscleguy]

Lee Grant was hot in this episode

[@alexMessina63]

Goldenberg is a genius

[@dr.bimbambula]

she was 44 but she looked like 30

[@johnnastrom9400]

No. She looked her age.

[@lupettodinotte]

I thought the same thing: she looks younger than 44!

[@DayMatrix99]

RIP Peter Falk " Columbo" 16.09.1927-23.06.2011 This is my favorite episode-pilote with Columbo and beautiful actress Lee Grant

[@vincentgaboriau6165]

tres bon episode et très belle actrice.

[@Darren79]

I think this was the first Columdo I saw at some point in the mid-80's and the music stayed with me.

[@DayMatrix99]

RIP Peter Falk " Columbo" 16.09.1927-23.06.2011 This is my favorite episode-pilote with Columbo and beautiful actress Lee Grant. This episode is from 1st March 1971 then 40 years ago

[@dlewis3180]

Where can i watch the entire episode, have looked everywhere. Thanks

[@dimensionstomorrow]

Do you know if Goldenberg used an electric harpsichord? I’ve been trying to figure out that sound. Some people have suggested a Baldwin Electric Harpsichord. I hear that sound in a lot of Italian film scores from the 1970s as well.

[@6lr6ak6]

Always since being a kid loved early Columbo's

[@888cromartie]

awesome score at the gunshot portion of the scene

[@maggiekoch9348]

Great episode with an awesome theme, about the fingerprints on the note, they would gotten on there anyway because she opened the letter for the police. So long story short, fingerprints wouldn't matter in that case. But good point taken

[@VintageSoundsNumber1]

N.B. : To me, the best episode is the pilot ("Prescription : Murder") from 1968 , cause I really like the aesthetics of that particular one .

[@leylish8814]

To me too for the same reason, and the 60's atmosphere. Columbo looked so young in that episode. All the actors were so great.

[@mkassis713]

Great Episode !!!

[@elmocotton3078]

Her fingerprints would be all over that ransom letter-

[@kentlandzintoba]

Lee Grant busy at work cutting and pasting, splicing and shooting. A bit too busy multitasking with dire results.

[@hunchbacked]

This really has a touch!

[@SHARKTIC5]

Three measily minutes of this excellent Episode. 😫😖😩

[@EnlightenedRogue]

No blood spillage?

[@lizzychrome7630]

All that work to avoid handwriting, and no gloves to prevent fingerprints. 🤣

[@DayMatrix99]

Great vid! I love this episode especially beautiful actress Lee Grant. How was beautiful and young Lee Grant in 1971!!! Then she was 44 years,today she is 83 years (born in 1927).This is my favorite episode of Columbo although it was first episode of Columbo.(1971-2003) I laughed so much that Lee Grant had no patience because of Columbo,,,too much questions ...Great!!!!!!

[@pookie67]

@SoundtracksArchives i've been dying to get that TV Omnibus CD release. I also used bits of this score (not this particular cue) in my film Reflections of Evil (2002) scenes where a female character is wandering around the Universal back-lot in 1971

[@SoundtracksArchives]

@enochsneed In 2010, two labels provide first-rate scores by Billy Goldenberg: "Busting" (1973) (Kritzerland Records) "High Risk" (1976) (Film Score Monthly) which is part of a multi-set entitled "TV Omnibus: Volume 1"

[@yambo59]

I loved Peter Falk as Columbo, excellent actor and great guy as well as some of the best cop/detective TV ever -- but what bugs me about this scene as many other shows is theyre handling all these rasom notes and what have you and leaving fingerprints by the pound-lol As many times as ive seen Columbo use fingerprints as evidence theres episodes like this where they seem to go unnoticed by everyone, including the writers. Regardless, these were great TV, some of the best from the era.

[@edwardbliss8931]

Is the step-daughter Jan from the Brady Bunch?

[@videosofpattyemattick6569]

No- the late Pattye Mattick- Patricia- sadly she passed away in 2003 at only 52. Great actress 👏

[@peterbassey9668]

The score?

[@marisaelenenadiejamusiccom3974]

Genius

[@tarpaniarz]

What is name of movie watching by Williams daughter?

[@erik12862]

The classic film noir, Double Indemnity with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck.

[@videosofpattyemattick6569]

Stepdaughter....

[@williambrown9615]

can't help myself the way Lee looks ,Lee Cat Meeoowww

[@justinbrandondumas-arnaz2062]

I love Lee grant in this one. One of my favorites. So cold blooded... I love it. " Lieutenant whoever killed my husband, for whatever reason? I want him found." 🤥🤥🤥🤗🛩

[@charleskimball7058]

Do you mean Peter Falk?

[@jabbaluna]

excellent !!!

[@terryowings9469]

i Agree

[@auto4union-ep6jb]

Lee Grant was sure hot it has to be agreed with Norman! First Season? Seem well settled into the Charecter etc! The pilot had awfull music!

[@sexymama1966]

Excellent episode! With Diva Lee Grant playing that role! I want those gorgeous boots she was wearing in this episode!

[@sexymama1966]

I liked how she was toying with Columbo..I loved it!

[@clivemeredith1567]

Peter Falk and Lee Grant had appeared in broadway plays back in the 60s and knew each other well, hence the on-screen rapport. This film was put out to Cinema goers in Europe (i.e., it was a made for cinema rather than made for tv), and there are still posters advertising it on ebay sometimes! Lee looked fabulous, so youthful for her age, very seductive!! Lol. The other actress I enjoyed was Patricia Mattick (Margaret), her role was a little over the top but she was a fine actress who is sadly no longer with us.

[@sexymama1966]

Didn't know that they worked worked together before..Yes, I agree, Ms. Grant was the diva and the seductress in this episode..Thanks for the backstory..I enjoyed it! Did you ever see "Peyton Place", where she was on for about 70 episodes? She played the role of Stella Chernak(from August '65 to Mar '66) and she brought that diva and the seductress to the character as well..It's around here..Check out an episode or two, if you wish, it will be worth your time:)

[@clivemeredith1567]

Indeed so, I've watched many episodes of Peyton Place over the years and Lee was a fine character actress and could use all her seductive charms. Sometimes I thought that was how she really was in real life! Her acting roles were remarkably good in my opinion. Peter and Lee appeared together in a play called The Prisoner of Second Avenue, highly acclaimed at the time. Peter was a lucky actor because apart from Columbo, I never considered any of his other acting roles worthy of merit. Considering too he appeared alongside some of Hollywoods greatest at the time, it's all the more surprising. However I enjoyed his affable nature and seemingly bumbling, forgetful style, which caught everyone off guard! God rest the man and thanks Peter!

[@richidimiele8697]

This is my favorite episode! I love Lee Grant...