Any Old Port in a Storm
- Episode aired Oct 7, 1973
- TV-PG
- 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.
Regis Cordic
- Lewis
- (as Regis J. Cordic)
Monte Landis
- Steward
- (as Monty Landis)
John Blower
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPeter Falk has stated that this episode is his personal favorite. He said that this was the first episode in which Columbo developed a sincere fondness for the murderer. Speaking of Columbo and the Donald Pleasence character, he said that "the two men shared something in common: an admiration for excellence." This was discussed in a 10-minute interview by Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)" three days before the original broadcast of the episode, in which Falk praised the skills and performance of Pleasence.
- GoofsThe wine that Carsini and Columbo drink at the conclusion is a white dessert wine. No white dessert wines are ever marketed in a fiaschi or straw-covered bottle.
- SoundtracksThis Old Man
(uncredited)
English children's folk song
Whistled by Peter Falk
Featured review
Anything, but the Marino Brothers
This Columbo film is one of my favorites with Donald Pleasance as the murderer, a fanatical wine connoisseur who Peter Falk eventually traps into a confession of murder. This was not a planned murder by any means, in fact Pleasance does it in a fit of rage. But he plans well the alibi and that due to the fact that apparently no one saw his victim come or go from his home.
The victim here is Gary Conway, Pleasance's half brother who owns the land where the vineyards of the family business grow. Pleasance got the cash, but he spends it foolishly on expensive wines for his educated palate. The business has gone to rack and ruin and Conway wants to sell it and get out.
Both these guys are not prizes, Conway is a playboy who's about embark on his latest marriage, this one to Joyce Jillson. Pleasance is an egotistical fool who won't pay attention to business.
This Columbo film contains one of my favorite moments, it's when Conway informs Pleasance that he's considering an offer from the Marino Brothers for the vineyards. Just watch Pleasance literally foam at the mouth at the thought that these guys who apparently supply the stuff favored by the wino community are going to own his vineyards. You would have thought that he was being asked to sacrifice a child to Baal. It's what drives him to murder Conway. You can't really understand it, but you feel his rage.
There is one other major character in this film, that of Julie Harris, Pleasance's devoted secretary who has her suspicions about Conway and hopes to use them to form a closer relationship with Pleasance. She's a piece of work.
Still Donald Pleasance really shines as one of the best foes Peter Falk ever came up against.
The victim here is Gary Conway, Pleasance's half brother who owns the land where the vineyards of the family business grow. Pleasance got the cash, but he spends it foolishly on expensive wines for his educated palate. The business has gone to rack and ruin and Conway wants to sell it and get out.
Both these guys are not prizes, Conway is a playboy who's about embark on his latest marriage, this one to Joyce Jillson. Pleasance is an egotistical fool who won't pay attention to business.
This Columbo film contains one of my favorite moments, it's when Conway informs Pleasance that he's considering an offer from the Marino Brothers for the vineyards. Just watch Pleasance literally foam at the mouth at the thought that these guys who apparently supply the stuff favored by the wino community are going to own his vineyards. You would have thought that he was being asked to sacrifice a child to Baal. It's what drives him to murder Conway. You can't really understand it, but you feel his rage.
There is one other major character in this film, that of Julie Harris, Pleasance's devoted secretary who has her suspicions about Conway and hopes to use them to form a closer relationship with Pleasance. She's a piece of work.
Still Donald Pleasance really shines as one of the best foes Peter Falk ever came up against.
helpful•253
- bkoganbing
- Sep 23, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- "Columbo - Wein ist dicker als Blut" (1975)
- Filming locations
- Mirassou Winery, 3000 Aborn Road, San Jose, California, USA(Carsini Winery)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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