Étude in Black
- Episode aired Sep 17, 1972
- Not Rated
- 1h 38m
A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. Lt. Columbo is on the case.
- Sam
- (scenes deleted)
- Detective
- (uncredited)
- Crew Member
- (uncredited)
- Man in Booth
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Nicholas Colasanto
- John Cassavetes(uncredited)
- Peter Falk(uncredited)
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the debut of Dog, Columbo's pet basset hound.
- GoofsWhile Alex Benedict takes great pains not to leave fingerprints from his right hand as he climbs through the washroom window, he rests his bare left hand on the tiled wall at least twice, leaving distinct hand and fingerprints. However, this is not a Goof, as his prints would be expected inside the washroom as he used it just before leaving with his wife.
- Quotes
Lieutenant Columbo: [presenting his car to Mike the mechanic] What do you think of this?
Mike Alexander: Have you ever thought of getting a new car?
Lieutenant Columbo: No, you see, I already have two cars. Of course, my wife's car is nothing special. That's just for transportation. You understand.
Mike Alexander: I only work on foreign cars.
Lieutenant Columbo: Oh, it's a foreign car.
Mike Alexander: Oh, I know, but... there are limits, mate, you know?
- Alternate versionsThis two-hour TV movie was also prepared in a 90-minute version which played on Canadian television, and is reputed to be the superior of the two cuts.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 25th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1973)
As a professional musician, I HAVE to say a few things. First of all, a conductor who merely produces these pedestrian performances of the most basic examples of the repertoire (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Strauss Waltzes, Beethoven...) is never going to have a house like that or fame like that or cars like that, much less be called a genius. And the conducting that the actor does is so bad as to be laughable. No orchestra would take him seriously.
There are several little things too, such as his rehearsal of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (why rehearse it when they've just performed it for TV? Any orchestral musician would be able to play it in his or her sleep anyway...). His instructions to the ensemble are downright nonsensical, and when Columbo asks Blythe Danner what 'quasi fantasia' means, she says it's 'Latin'. It's Italian, as are the vast majority of musical instructions.
And finally, no two great musicians would EVER have the following interchange: "Play something." "What should I play?" "Chopin". Music is their job and passion, they know it well. Something far more specific would be asked for, and offered!
I know. I should get out more...
- patriciahammond
- Aug 15, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Étude in Schwarz
- Filming locations
- 14540 Erwin St, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA(auto repair shop, demolished)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3