Dead Weight (1971) review | The Columbo Episode Guide (S1, E3)

The series has its first stumble.
I own nothing.

[@sb3811]

so, I grew up on Balboa Island, just 4 houses down from the home where the 'murder took place.' The small grocery store visible when Suzanne uses the pay phone to call the police, that store was owned by my family. When they filmed this episode, we all gave out free ice cream bars, which we called "Balboa Bars" to the crew and staff. They were vanilla ice cream bars, dipped in melted chocolate, and dipped in candies or nuts. I still have old faded pictures of Suzanne and Peter eating Balboa Bars and giving a thumbs up sign. Good times!

[@larrysmith6797]

Anyone who thinks Eddie Albert's general didn't come off as egotistical has never met any real generals.

[@rxtsec1]

He never had a duplicate. That was a lie that he told expecteding Columbo to believe. So when he does give the gun to the museum Colombo can prove it's the real one.

[@jsfbr]

(1) The murderer, being a retired USMC officer and a seasoned man of the seas should have known how to ensure that the victim's body never surfaced. (2) Suzanne was so lovely.

[@kahliatangazi448]

Am I the only one who thinks Helen Stewart is the prettiest Columbo side character? Suzanne Pleschette is so gorgeous!

[@stevengalloway8052]

Don't understand why the studio just didn't allow Falk to direct an episode like they promised... 😑

[@robertwheatley2471]

Another good review. Whenever I want to watch a Columbo episode this is not the one that comes to mind. As mentioned it isn't terrible but is certainly a bit of a let gown from the first two episodes with Jack Cassidy and Robert Culp who were each tough acts to follow. 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. Fortunately there were plenty of other great ones to follow..

[@richlinlaw]

great channel. i understood that Hollister was famous for the big bluff, as in the monumental bluff in which he freed his battalion members with an unloaded gun, as shown in the newsreel. It was these balls for the big bluff that led to Columbo's realization, not so much his bluster itself but the driven ego of a personality that would have tried to pull of such a bluff. great reviews from another big fan. my next door neighbor turned me on to the show in 1970 I was 9 or 10

[@SL-vi4tk]

General Hollister and Mannix, living the bachelor life with their rechargeable razors

[@gnolan4281]

On TV years ago I heard a story about the dust up on this episode. Falk walked off the set during production and they completed the episode without him using a double and shooting from behind. In this version of events Falk returned saying he was ready to finish it and they told him that it was already in the can. If it's true maybe that was partly responsible for the flat feeling of it.

[@nkt1]

Note the different actor portraying Columbo @

[@WatchitforDays]

Another great review! And I liked the closing clip you used, lol

[@rxtsec1]

I'm s big fan of intriguing Love Stories so the idea of the witness falling for the killer made this one of my favorite episodes & had Columbo not solved the case she still be with him. I watch a lot of real life crime stories such as forensic files. Generally speaking if the killer had a woman he was involved with who knew about his crime she always told. However in Columbo the woman seem to be willing to overlook it. The First episode the lady was willing to lie until the killer is trick. Another episode the woman tries to blackmail him & he kills her & now this episode. There's another episode I think you just posted or will soon where the woman again is in love with the killer & tries to blackmail him. This time when he's caught he's relieved because he doesn't have to accommodate her. Not real world but great for Columbo universe

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

When I think of Columbo episodes to watch, this is Dead Wait. Maybe another one is available.

[@tazchanday2422]

Nice

[@master-kq3nw]

This was good episode early 70s sunny california sea balboa island

[@VonWenk]

I think I would have liked this episode more if Hollister had tried to kill

[@asteverino8569]

I also found this episode a yes but no.

[@TheSilverScreenSurfer]

BTW the Nazi flag on display in the museum is backwards.

[@joelluongo7419]

Dude, your wrong. Alberts' character has an ego. He displays his whole military career at a museum.. including his uniforms. You don't know what you are talking about.