April 4, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with “Requiem for a Falling Star”

This episode aired January 21, 1973

Much of this episode was shot on the Universal lot.

The black and white film that Columbo watches in Nora’s bungalow is an homage to All About Eve (1950), a movie in which Anne Baxter plays the part of the titular character, Eve, a demented fan who stalks Broadway star Margo Channing played by Bette Davis.

Famed costume designer Edith Head, who earned eight Oscars over the course of her career in addition to 35 nominations, makes a cameo in this episode, playing herself. The next year, Peter Falk would present her with an Academy Award for her work on The Sting.

At one point, the character of Frank Converse, the studio head, says: “Avoid actors. They’ll kill you.” This was an amusing reference to the ongoing battles between series star Peter Falk and the studio at the time.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Great mislead in the opening scene. I was wondering why it was taking so long for that guy in the shower to fall.

Snazzy car. Wonder how much one of those would go for today.

Woof. Them’s some garish yellow bungalow curtains.

Also, that is one ugly dress her assistant is wearing.

Ah, the seedy unethical writer. Classic.

I’m not so sure igniting a pool of gasoline beneath a parked car would immediately cause it to blow up – but, who knows? Maybe cars were built differently back then.

Oh! Mistaken identity! Twist! I love it.

“This isn’t for the demolition derby sequence?”the security guard asks Columbo about his rust heap. Great.

He may be a terrific detective, but Columbo isn’t much of a skilled parker. The front of his car ends up on the grass!

I like the bit where he checks his nails before heading in.

“I’ve been in love with you all my life,”says Columbo. Her response is perfect: “I know. You never expected to meet a legend.” Wonder if George Lucas stole this for Han.

I really liked this sequence where Columbo calls home so Nora can speak to his wife. It’s a very funny bit but also puts to rest the theory that Columbo’s wife is actually a figment of his imagination. Also, does his brother-in-law, George, live with them?

Speaking of living, the fact that Nora actually lives on a set is very weird.

Columbo mentions the fact her assistant was trapped in her car by the fire…but how? What prevented her from just opening the driver’s door and stepping out? Did the fire instantly melt the frame shut?

“Mrs. Chander, would you mind coming for a ride with me down to police headquarters?” What a way to end the scene.

Nora is very fainty – first at the restaurant after being told of her assistant’s death, then here at the sight of the burnt out car.

At this point, Columbo casts doubt on whether or not she actually intended to murder her assistant with his mention of the flat tie. But surely there is no way she could assume they would switch cars. That’s a pretty preposterous assumption to make – and be right about.

Great out to this scene – Columbo’s car backing out of frame to reveal the torched vehicle.

The way Columbo runs to the door here, I assumed he was going to ask to use the bathroom.

“Where do you get your ideas?” The age-old question every writer gets asked.

Jerry doesn’t seem that broken up about his girlfriend getting killed.

Noar’s threats against Jerry don’t really hold much water. The best she can do is cast suspicion on him.

Columbo has it all figured out here, laying out the case for why Nora may have wanted to kill him.

“Hollywood is fighting for survival.” Back then, as now, we must pity the millionaires.

Another wonderful little misdirect – opening on the detective questioning her and then pulling back to reveal the set.

Director: “We’ve got to go with the script here. It’s television.” Riiiiiiight.

Columbo stumbling around set like a producer-in-title’s first visit. Reminds me of the time a producer nervously requested a set visit and I obliged – only to have him walk off the edge of the pitch black set during filming and doing a face plant.

Guess Jerry is a blackmailer – and we know what happens to blackmailers on this show…

That crew member! I shall call him Reginald Highpants!

What the hell is that studio head wearing? Red slacks, a red crew neck sweater, and a light red jacket? No award nominations for this episode!

His parting “That’s alright. I would never typecast you as a detective either.” is great.

Cameo by the legendary Edith Head in this sequence that sees Nora attempt to reimagine Columbo in a whole new wardrobe – only to have Columbo ask for his tie back given his anniversary is coming up and he will need it. Apparently, he only wears the tie for special occasions: anniversaries and murder investigations.

“Hey, look at some raincoats while you’re at it.”

Ah, another twist. There goes her motive for murder.

The fact that Columbo places a call to his wife while no one else is around against confirms she is real. And the fact he gets his brother-in-law against strongly suggests George is a freeloader.

Wait! Hang on! She let the air out of the tire because she assumed they would switch cars?! Really? THAT is a fair assumption to make? Or maybe she assumed he would drive her back and drop her off(which is what I would assume) which would amount to the same thing – with the both of them dead. This isn’t stated, but it makes a lot more sense.

“Who else knew where she was going to be that night?” Anyone who knew they were dating!

Another great misdirect in the car. Very well done.

She tried to kill him to redirect the investigation back to the original assumption that he was the target of the first murder attempt. Seems unnecessary. And risky.

Another of Columbo’s unannounced entrances into someone’s home.

He bumped on the fact that the fountain wasn’t running? Come on. She lives on a studio lot. I’d be surprised if the shower was even hooked up.

She looks like she’s about to faint. Again.

“Drink, lieutenant?” “Thank you.” He never misses the opportunity to raid a suspect’s liquor cabinet.

The Shriner ring presumably tipped her off that her assistant may have told Jerry about where she buried her husband, so she was rushing back to…what? Dig him up and move the body?

This whole bit of her dressing up as her husband at the beach feels really unnecessary. That huge leap about the non-functional fountain is enough.

She takes it pretty well all things considered, offering up a full admission and then going quietly. Class act.

This was an atypical episode in that the audience was in the dark for the most part concerning the murder and motive, and I loved that about it. I also loved the various visual misdirects, a starstruck Columbo, and confirmation that Mrs. Columbo actually does exist. Having said that, I did find the ending a bit of a letdown. When you think about it, there really is no reason for him to pull the Shriner’s ring gag when all it does is get her back to her house where he can present his case. He didn’t need the ring to do that. Also, the fact that he bumps on the fact the fountain doesn’t work…on a studio lot…is a HUUUGE reach (“Yes, detective – because it’s a prop!”) but I guess we’re not supposed to focus too much on it – even though it IS the linchpin to the entire solution.

Overall, a pretty good episode. Anne Baxter was fabulous. But I can’t get past that fountain bit.

So, my revised Columbo episode rankings: #1 Death Lends a Hand, #2 Suitable for Framing, #3 Prescription: Murder, #4 Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), #5 Dagger of the Mind, #6 Requiem for a Falling Star, #7 Etude in Black, #8 Lady in Waiting, #9 The Most Crucial Game, #19 Blueprint for Murder, #11 The Greenhouse Jungle #12 Dead Weight, #13 Short Fuse

Finally, we must consider if the evidence Columbo has gathered will be enough to convict our murderer, or is Nora looking at an acquittal. Disregarding for the moment her admission of guilty, if they dig up that fountain and discover the body of her dead husband – which they will – then Nora is going to jail. GUILTY!

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