Waiting On the Ransom Call | Columbo

[@tubey84]

Lee Grant is just mesmerising. Not just the beauty (obviously), but her mannerisms, the casual condescension - she makes it feel like she's simply not acting, which is an incredibly hard thing to do. And naturally Falk nails Columbo so well, so immediately, that it's impossible to distinguish the actor from the character. The show - barring odd lapses - was pretty much consistently amazing and near timeless.

[@miaouew]

Absolutely

[@mateuszmazurek7991]

I thought that only I thought that. Couldn't take my eyes off Lee Grant!

[@gregt8638]

I thought the same! I'm glad to hear you put it words! I watched this over and over again because of Lee Grant. I think I'm infatuated!!!❤

[@michael-101]

@@gregt8638 She is still alive, either 96 or 98 years old.

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

She is to die for, in the league of Blythe Danner and Suzie Endicott. ❤

[@vguyver2]

I love that Columbo is acting about like a man completely out of his depth as usual, but already has his good eye on the suspect right from the start. He wasn't fooled even for a minute.

[@bishopaz]

Yeah, that trait kinda disappeared as he got older. Pity.

[@martinboyle9163]

Some saw through it and condidered it a trick, but it simply is when he is fully in his element, he appears to be out of his depths. It disarms his subject and allows them to help steer the case away from the killer, only to slowly let the killers paint themselves into a corner, or to unknowingly incriminate themselves, all within perfect police procedure. Brilliant!

[@djquinn11]

That’s what made the show and his character so great.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@bishopaz Probably because it’s deeply unrealistic, unless the man is actually psychic

[@michael-dy8tz]

No, but they sure are ha ha! Little do they know that he's smarter than all of them.

[@vordman]

What's so brilliant about this series is how Columbo snares his victim so subtlety that they don't even know he's got his claws into them until it's too late. Fantastic writing and acting.

[@rowanaforrest9792]

He's so polite to them, but also deliberately begins to irritate them, ruffle their feathers in small ways that gradually rattle them more and more. Even the ones who begin to suspect that he's doing it on purpose can't really find a basis for complaint.

[@alexalex13131]

Columbo in the early years, produced by the original writers, were better than anything else on TV. Then and now.

[@bekahdennis4455]

I agree with monk being the only in my opinion other tv show that comes close. Actually I like them both the same.

[@Thespokenone]

@@bekahdennis4455 I don't know what I'd do to see both monk and columbo working on a case! If only it was possible 😭

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

@@bekahdennis4455 poirot, Jonathan creek.

[@MrCraigblaze]

Yes This was the second piolet that the show ordered ..I guess this one sold ..!!

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

@@bekahdennis4455 monk, poirot

[@TheClonemenot]

Every time I've seen Lee Grant in anything over the last 50 years (yes I'm old) it has just tickled my soul. She's beautiful, almost ageless, and a fantastic actress. This warms my heart.

[@mateuszmazurek7991]

I was born in 1992. And after watching that episode of Columbo I have a crush on her. That kind of women are few and far in between.

[@mehmetokay7073]

She claims she spent her best years on the Hollywood blacklist.

[@QueensNativeNYC]

Columbo acts so simple and innocent while he slowly picks his prey apart piece by piece until they know the jig is up!

[@joeambrose3260]

No shit, Sherlock

[@ItsAllLove4Real]

Him patting his pockets like an absent minded professor is priceless and very misleading😆🥰

[@bornyesterday21]

This is one of my favorite Columbo episodes .. But then again, i say that about most episodes.

[@misterwonderful8628]

They are all awesome. I agree. The writers and Falk understood WHY and how everything should be approached towards the solving of each crime. Makes it all the more believable. Just like with the Just For Laughs Gags show. Believable makes it much more enjoyable.

[@misterwonderful8628]

Geez, I guess leaving out the excellence of the director would be very amiss.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Usually my favorite Culombo episode is the next one.

[@garyfrancis6193]

This is one of my favourite episodes. What the others? The other 300.

[@vordman]

Agreed, this is a very good one. But all Columbo episodes are eminently watchable. It's just the brilliance of Peter Falk that gets you. From first minute to last you're on Planet Columbo once the show starts. Enjoy the ride!

[@JohnSmith-df4vb]

i love how she has them all following the script, then gets spooked because that Colombo is completely ignoring the script she has set up, lol.

[@mobus1603]

Exactly. It clearly troubles her that he's not playing along with the charade. People here are saying that he catches the suspects completely off-guard, but I disagree. Columbo has her worried right from the beginning, but she plays along with his act in order to appear innocent. She can tell that he's clever and is careful not to let Columbo's antics rattle her. It's a game of cat & mouse after that.

[@jamesyoungblood6231]

Boy, is Columbo slick as he discretely checks the scene for evidence of "Foul Play" (Murder). First Columbo checks around the front door for any evidence, drag marks, items that may have dropped. Next Columbo checks the office for anything that might be out place. Finally, he gets Lee Grant to point him in the direction of the bathroom and so he do more checking.

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

So funny how Lee Grant treated Columbo like he was a dope in the beginning, and it turned out that he was the one who unraveled her scheme and brought her down.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

She wouldn't be the last to fit that description.

[@colindunn5728]

Lee Grant ...... a truly wonderful and brilliant actress as well.

[@CusterFlux]

God she's good - and stunning

[@barbarabrennan1753]

More than stunning. Powerful. Didnt she preside over actors guild. She Sherry Lansing. How did they get somwhere beyond beauty. Book title.. SOMEWHERE BEYOND BEAUTY.

[@vordman]

She's absolutely superb in this. The perfect foil for Peter Falk to play off.

[@toober1714]

Lee Grant is STUNNING!

[@rezathenightfly]

Personally, I find most women from the 50's, 60's and the 70's era to be irresistibly attractive with such élan and suffused with sophistication. Lee Grant is a prime example of just such a lady.

[@amandajstar]

Too much face powder, as though she's trying to hide a rash or something.

[@kenz5469]

She has a great voice

[@LuBre]

@@kenz5469 She was indeed. Too bad she fell for the plastic surgery nightmare

[@steelbear2063]

@@rezathenightfly They are actresses, dude.

[@nanny287]

Her too controlled relaxed demeanor, even as an analytical lawyer, gives her away in the face of the grizzly death of her supposedly beloved husband and legal partner. Lee Grant is perfect in this role.

[@TellyWatcher1997]

I like the way that the perpetrators are rich and/or famous and invariably look down their noses at him...underestimating him as usual. Just brilliant. My favourite TV detective.

[@scotbotvideos]

Best way to be in life. Bumble along whilst outsmarting all the haughty clever clogs in the process.

[@TellyWatcher1997]

@@scotbotvideos -That's what I try to do but they won't admit defeat, sadly.

[@mattfoley6082]

Love all the looks of annoyance from everyone at Columbo.

[@rachelgarber1423]

Peel potatoes 😂😂

[@vordman]

Brilliant isn't it how they feel so superior to him and yet he's in charge all the time.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

At first, they're welcoming, all smiles. ('Feel perfectly free to stay if you'd like, lieutenant.') Then, the annoyance grows.

[@evm6177]

​​​​@@rachelgarber1423 😆🤣 Yes, imagine that standing in the kitchen wearing that coat.

[@patrickjohnson5658]

There is a scene in this episode where Margaret, the murderers step-daughter, is sitting at the breakfast table watching an old movie called "Double Indemnity" which was about an insurance salesman who conspires with a married woman to kill her husband and make it look like an accident in order to get his life insurance payout.

[@DouglasZwick]

"I think you're rotten." "I think you're swell, so long as I'm not your husband." "Get out of here." "Oh I'll get out of here. I'll get out of here but quick."

[@ronmackinnon9374]

A film noir classic. Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck.

[@kev3d]

One of the most beautiful and coldest of the female killers.

[@TomGeek1980]

I love how at the end of the video he finds the pen and knows exactly who the killer is.

[@MustangMike012]

Columbo was the best show. This episode was the second episode of season one. Lee Grant was excellent in this one.

[@kevinroberts6287]

No tears, very rational, and willing to make dinner.....GUILTY!

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Then she feeds them the leg of lamb that she used to club her husband to death. (Oops! -- sorry, wrong show.)

[@evm6177]

​@@ronmackinnon9374🤣😆 GET OUTTA HERE!

[@mansahasare9450]

My fav Columbia episode …. Lee grants style in this was 🔥

[@ROYALP100]

The genius learns to look left while everyone is looking right.

[@leenkeshramlagun7171]

She takes Columbo for a simpleton the way she describes the toilet location.

[@markherring3513]

I always like how Columbo goes off on tangets like with the lemon shaped soap...his stream of consciousness is verbal. Its like MAD A magazine with the little cartoons going on in the corner of the pages...its like "yeah, we have the main story going on you have to follow but off to the side there this whole other thing going on totally unrelated to the main story thats just as interesting as the main story".

[@icystrangers5482]

6:30 I guess that the "lemons sticking together" really means the other detectives in the room.

[@nelsonvargas9527]

Lee Grant speaking to Columbo like if hes an idiot . Little does she know .

[@historybuff66]

Every guest murderer did-that was the point of the series. But at least in this episode Lee Grant’s character confronts him with his phony absentmindedness and other traits.

[@lewisner]

"You'll be the first to know" was one of his catchphrases later in the series but here Lee said it to him.

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Columbo, thinking to himself: "'You'll be the first to know,' she says. Ooh, that's a good one. Stealing that."

[@richardscott4318]

Another Columbo home run! Great clip!

[@neildelaney5199]

Lee Grant is still alive (march 2020) age 94

[@oralminyi9826]

"It's a problem", Mrs Williams responds. "That's what I think", retords Columbo. Brilliant play with words.

[@dennisaxelrod6454]

“When you want something done right, you have to do it yourself...” just plead out. Maybe you’ll get a slightly lighter sentence

[@alienlife7754]

Unlike most of Columbo’s adversaries this woman found out early on that the detective is not quite what he seems. She overheard him talking to his superior about her reactions during the ransom call. And she used that knowledge to try and manipulate him. She was truly evil too.

[@Sameoldfitup]

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."

[@actioncom2748]

When the FBI needs backup... Columbo is always at hand.

[@markherring3513]

With "The boys down at the lab".

[@blaggerfiftysix]

Halcyon days - no internet, no mobile phones and no personal computers, no special effects, no jerky camera shots, just good acting of a strong plot and a sound storyline...

[@laurenceshtull6777]

No Forensic Squad ,No collecting DNA Genetic Profiles Columbo was the best

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

@@laurenceshtull6777 Agreed that Columbo was the best, but the way that he and his fellow officers would contaminate evidence at a crime scene makes me cringe! For example, in Étude in Black, where Columbo typed over a piece of evidence.

[@artchem1]

Columbo, is truly an exceptional. Talent as a “ steer them off the course techniques “ ... absolutely brilliant Writing. !! :). My Mr, Falk live in Peace and harmony in his next life; for he was certainly a remarkable person in this life 🙏💎🌟🧡⭐️✡️🌸🕯

[@michaellindsey31]

TRUE

[@richardcuadra1094]

He truly was one of the greats rest in peace Peter Falk AKA lieutenant columbo I wish I knew what his first name was

[@artchem1]

Richard Cuadra In the Series he does say his First name I’m thinking he said “ Frank “ but I certainly could be wrong.. It’s most likely in the 1 season or Second Season. Early on ... Good luck, wish I were of more help

[@rickrick5041]

@@richardcuadra1094 Jim

[@46monkeyes]

A 5 cent stamp!!! I remember those days! 2:44

[@MyLateralThawts]

Lieutenant, there’s this local private eye, Jim Rockford, who says he already solved the case ...and he’s found your pen too! Columbo: “I’m always running into that guy.”

[@jaricot1056]

My absolute favourite episode!

[@terracottapie]

Harold Gould, classic 70s-Guy-Who's-In-Everything. Also played Rose's boyfriend on The Golden Girls.

[@philpalmer8044]

The only TV show that should never be remade.

[@bryanpartington3260]

Lee Grant was gorgeous. I really had a strong crush on her since seeing her in Damien Omen 2.

[@archstanton390]

She was also "In the heat of the night " with Sidney Poitier.

[@amandajstar]

Terrible Communist sympathizer, though. Yuck.

[@alexgrant6780]

Thanks to her, Leslie Williams is the only Columbo murderess I've ever had a crush on.

[@martinboyle9163]

I forgot she was in that movie! :)

[@igorszamaszow171]

@@amandajstar She never was, her husband had been merely accused of being a communist sympathizer. That was the reason why Lee Grant had been blacklisted for 15 years. Blacklisted by American representatives of reactionary power of finance capital. There's a shorter way of saying that last thing, in fact there's a word for it, of Italian origin, it starts with an 'f'. Yuck indeed.

[@nelsonvargas9527]

Everyone is falling for her charm and beauty but not columbo .

[@mollysanders9757]

Never offer to help or say he can call on you anytime.. You'll trip yourself up...

[@skipsterz]

Columbo gets his prey to drop their guard because he plays so innocent and oblivious. Then strikes like a cobra with a quick witted scenario or line of questioning, IE the bathroom soaps and cleanliness of the estate and Mrs Williamson having to cook dinner. It was a brilliant set up meant to imply doubt and suspicion. Her reaction coupled with the help being on vacation, was an instant tell for him.

[@jllore1917]

👍Lee Grant was excellent.

[@michellemckillop5712]

She was great as the bad gal in omen 2 as well. It’s actually a pretty good sequel in fact:). Actually, all 4 omen movies are really good.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

Lee Grant is now 94.

[@edpor68]

RADIUM CLOCK that is correct

[@gutentagshoes]

Seriously 😳

[@robingardella6240]

Loved her - she was my girl crush as a kid! 😆

[@milart12]

Yes Would have been 46 at this time..Looking pretty good.

[@HoldenNY22]

She is still alive? I didn't know that.

[@NakhalyJabir]

one of the finest episodes of Columbo

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

The setting, the music, the plot, the actors, everything. Agree with the widespread compliments for Lee Grant. She played the cunning, amoral murderess to a tee. A great foil for Columbo.

[@markpedroza7294]

Harold Gould potrayed "Kid Twist" in The Sting (1973)

[@artchem1]

Mark Pedroza Exceptional Movie. I love Redford & Newman .. they are great together.. !

[@markpedroza7294]

@@artchem1 they were also in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

[@johnminehan1148]

Falk played Abe "Kid Twist" Reles and got an Oscar Nomination.

[@markpedroza7294]

@@johnminehan1148 in what movie?

[@adamgrimsley2900]

Did he? Or is it you can't admit when you're wrong?

[@AmbiguousMotion]

Aerial map coming from kidnappers and then a question to the killer if she flies a plane. After confirmation Columbo knew all he needed to know.

[@Tasbeeratkotob]

It isn’t from season one . It is the second pilot episode after “ prescription : murder “ . Season one started with “ murder by the book “ .

[@karlheinzegger4534]

That is correct.

[@artchem1]

تصبيرة كتب Correct:)

[@gristmill1213]

Yes. But this is where Falk started to develop the Columbo character. In Prescription Murder he played him totally different.

[@joeambrose3260]

Get a life

[@Tasbeeratkotob]

Joe Ambrose what do you mean ?

[@Bootmahoy88]

He has to be noticing that this woman isn't emotionally bothered at all; I mean, not at all. Talk about a red flag.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Yes. Far too calm and collected for a kidnapping.

[@bee1978]

LOVE this channel. Keep the vintage episode clips up. Just DONT put up any boring late 80s on wards clips..

[@rcknross]

about 2:11 to 2:13 shows the genius of directing, the placement of the camera and people, movement of people and rotation of the camera.

[@MartinHodgkins]

She is a professional liar. Nasty piece of work.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

she's a lawyer, they're good at that.

[@freedomring4813]

@@RADIUMGLASS LOL, I was leaving a message just like yours....our COUNTRY has been ran by ...lawyers,judges and politicians who are one and the same...CROOKED lawyers.

[@ericjensen9091]

@@freedomring4813 has been RUN by...

[@joelluongo7419]

There is a " murder ".. " ransom letter ".. " maps for a airplane flight ".. Columbo inquires about " wet soap sticking in the soap dish ".

[@frankjames1955]

He closes in on his prey with such a.manner of curtiousness

[@mamadetaslimtorabally7363]

Excellent actor that fellow Peter Falk. Our CSI of the year 2020 are nothing compared to Columbo.

[@historybuff66]

The term “feminine mystique” must have been coined with Lee Grant in mind. The voice, the eyes and hair…and those unique stylish mannerisms and flourishes of hers. Women like this are practically nonexistent in the current era.

[@MaxJarvis-iu3it]

he lost a pen, she lost a husband, they really shouldn't bother with the pen =)

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Right! But she was bothered about the pen.

[@syldegdegrande2004]

3:36 i like the smile of jed allan

[@alainarchambault2331]

Thanks for the link to the full episode.

[@46monkeyes]

After watching this for almost 9 minutes, I want to see the rest!

[@rickrick5041]

In early TV they couldn’t afford to make it longer. It wouldn’t fit into the small early 50’s TVs

[@JamesWebbKilledTheBigBangStars]

@@rickrick5041 This was in the early 1970s.

[@rickrick5041]

@@JamesWebbKilledTheBigBangStars It may be by the early 70’s they increased to 30 minutes but I’m talking about the 10 minute episodes like this one. Columbus has always been my favorite. It’s too bad when it started in the 50’s like this one it was less than 10 minutes long for the whole show. They leave out a lot of details. Later they were as long as half an hour in the early 70’s which was a great improvement. The TV had just been invented in the 50’s so the TV sets were a lot smaller so they couldn’t handle longer shows

[@hirogochitomayto7018]

@@rickrick5041 Is good man the tv from old time

[@rickrick5041]

@@hirogochitomayto7018 I heard that's what happened. Thanks

[@master-kq3nw]

One of the best episode

[@DM-kv9kj]

3:39 - "Nordberg, get a tap on the phone!"

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Re the thumbnail for this video.... Lee Grant's portion is from 3:39. Columbo's is from 6:53 (as he earnestly talks about the bathroom soap).

[@neenanorto3399]

I wouldn’t trust anyone,especially Colombo to go rummaging all over my house.

[@nelsonvargas9527]

Columbo dissects you bit by bit .

[@evm6177]

LOL, He would peel potatoes?.. imagine that wearing the coat. 😆🤣

[@michaelvronsky2013]

7:13 - She's lovely!

[@MrCraigblaze]

Thanks for the upload !! XD

[@haimbenavraham1502]

Columbo could talk the skin off potatoes.

[@im-ix9xt]

The bumbling simpleton turns out to be the genius in the room ... the case is built methodically and then delivered after breaking down all defences with such considerate compassion and surgical precision that the killer accepts it with nil resistance... OH ONE MORE THING ... YOUR MEMORY WILL FOREVER BE CHERISHED COLOMBO aka , played with perfect aplomb , THE GREAT PETER FALK

[@Sameoldfitup]

'I was alone again in the unquiet darkness.'

[@freedomring4813]

The actress is hot ,but of she is very old now but a real nice lady but went the route of plastic surgery and it was not kind on her. I finally cut the cable cord and bought a antenna and the full Columbo DVD set which is great. I have seen every episode so many times but you always catch something you didn't the time before and I never get sick of Columbo. RIP

[@arcadeenergized]

Group went to the bowling alley after dinner. The played Best Ball and won a new stereo with 8 track cassette and fake brick wall covering. Also luggage. Leslie Nelson and Roy Rogers were there too.

[@FIREBRAND38]

Subscribers may not be aware that a few years ago there was The Columbo Podcast that reviewed and analyzed every episode of he show. Here's a ink to episode 30 that covered Ransom for a Dead Man columbopodcast.com/specials/episode-30-ransom-for-a-dead-man/

[@shirlainewilliams152]

this is the best one ever made

[@johnman7388]

Can never find his pen or pencil in raincoat .great detecting

[@johnstewart3244]

I don't understand the purpose of the pen scene?

[@artchem1]

John Man Love his constant “ looking in pockets and all around for his notepad as well “ ..

[@leenkeshramlagun7171]

@@johnstewart3244 Just funny.

[@SalePetrovic87]

Probably gives him an excuse to look around without being suspicious. Makes the killer think less of him if he do this repeatedly. If he do this again while actually looking for something more specific, the killer would probably think that's again just his odd behavior... Also, annoys people, occupy their attention on unimportant (or seemingly unimportant) thing, so they have less brainpower to focus their thoughts on more important things (like thinking about plot holes in their stories)... Also, it's funny :)

[@theiepguy9315]

@@SalePetrovic87 Agreed. All of the above.

[@overtonpendulum2071]

Lee Grant was gorgeous.

[@silkychan6099]

I haven't watched the entire episode but I feel the FBI can't be faulted for not noticing the discrepancies that the great Lt noticed. They are doing it by the SOP for kidnapping.

[@AnthonyP118]

When Columbo wants to cook...Shit's going down!!

[@RADIUMGLASS]

He cooked in "Murder by the Book" and the next day got his man.

[@AnthonyP118]

@@RADIUMGLASS In the first episode he made an omelette. Learns crucial information and the killer comes by the house.

[@jamesduggan7200]

his best cooking scene was the one where the critic killed the restaurant owner - with Louis Jourdan.

[@MyoclonicJerkCough]

Has Columbo ever made chili? Is such a thing even possible??

[@mattwilliams7426]

This is my favorite Columbo episode.

[@Nabilagreen64]

One of the best columbo episode

[@DavidLorellHoskins]

*_Thank you_*

[@glowiever]

I dress like columbo, minus the deductive reasoning skill :'(

[@Trepidity]

Ugh no!! I've never seen this episode! Just a clip

[@JanPBtest]

Def. watch it. It also has very good music by Billy Goldenberg IIRC.

[@freedomring4813]

Watch Columbo...hes always got his good eye on the lovely ladies..

[@rewindtv3605]

What a classic ❤️

[@psikogeek]

5 cent US postage. 2:44 EDIT: also not postmarked.

[@FashionistaDude]

It's a curious whim of fate that Lee Grant is still living and the actress that played her stepdaughter is deceased.

[@katarinamills8530]

Oh really? What happened?😊

[@FashionistaDude]

@@katarinamills8530 She died of cancer in 2003.

[@eyeque7]

I have a saying and you're all welcome to use it. It goes like this - "Nobody...fuks with Columbo".

[@anta-zj3bw]

dont know how old Grant is here but she is gorgeous

[@unclequack5445]

The FBI looked like fools but no body fools Columbo.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

Do anyone know where pens, umbrellas and glows go? To a parallel universe? What do the people in that universe think about us?

[@demonocusmetalocus3558]

They think we like long skinny things with points at the end

[@greggh]

And socks. I swear there's a worm hole in every laundry room.

[@MyoclonicJerkCough]

@@greggh I have them all over the house. They pick up scissors and masking tape when wrapping presents and everything

[@zainaman710]

People in the parallel universe must be thinking where all that stuff is coming from?

[@MyoclonicJerkCough]

If enough socks, pens, scissors, etc appear in one mass could the whole pile collapse in on itself? If it's big enough there could be stuff that aliens lose all the time mixed in there too

[@thecleanbees.acleaningserv5606]

Great actor 🎥🎥🎥

[@markchadwick6760]

Lee Grant 👍

[@freedomring4813]

HOTT in the day.

[@markchadwick6760]

Excellent acting one can almost taste the venom emanating from her character.

[@drlee2]

There's a lot of lines and moments on this show that feels ad-libbed, like when Lee Grant repeats Columbo's "no" after asking him is that the pen.

[@TheMediaDirectory]

I wanted to see Columbo peel potatoes

[@1sydman1]

u can watch him make an omelet in Publish or Die

[@nelsonvargas9527]

Columbo is willing on peeling potatoes for Mrs Williams .