R.I.P Peter Falk - A Tribute to the Columbo Star

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the legacy of Peter Falk, particularly his role as Columbo in the television series, along with reflections on his other works and performances. Participants share their fond memories of the show and Falk's unique style, as well as their thoughts on other related television series and films.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express their love for the Columbo series and reminisce about its unique format where the crime is known from the start.
  • Several contributors highlight Falk's distinctive character traits, such as his disheveled appearance and memorable catchphrases.
  • There are mentions of other shows from the same era, like MacMillan and Wife and The Rockford Files, with some participants noting Columbo's cleverness in solving crimes.
  • Some participants recall watching Columbo with family members, indicating its nostalgic value.
  • Falk's performance in The Princess Bride is praised, with comparisons made to other actors and their abilities to portray quirky characters.
  • A few participants express a desire for reruns of classic shows featuring Falk and others, suggesting that his passing might lead to renewed interest in these series.
  • There are references to Falk's role in the film Wings of Desire, showcasing his versatility beyond Columbo.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on their admiration for Peter Falk and his work, particularly in Columbo. However, there are no explicit disagreements noted, as the discussion remains focused on shared memories and reflections.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific shows and performances without providing detailed analysis or context, leaving room for personal interpretation of their significance.

Who May Find This Useful

Fans of classic television, particularly those interested in crime dramas and character-driven storytelling, as well as admirers of Peter Falk's work.

Jimmy Snyder
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I loved watching the old Columbo TV series. If you are not familiar with the murder mystery show, the crime was committed in front of your eyes so there was no mystery as to who dunnit or how. The point of the show was to see how Columbo would figure it out. Falk always claimed that he was just as rumpled in real life as Columbo was on TV. He also made quite a few movies. Two of my favorites were The In-laws and Vibes.
 
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Sorry to hear of his passing. I loved his sloppy, disheveled look and the "Oh, by the way" asides that he would employ to keep suspects off-balance as he tightened the screws. Great show!
 
That is sad. I loved Columbo.
 
Columbo was shown even here, back in seventies. I remember watching it with my Mom.

R.I.P.
 
Columbo was one of my favorite shows. :frown:

Just last year I read Falk's memoir, Just One More Thing, full of charming stories.
 
His ratty-looking Peugeot was a trademark of his character's style, like his rumpled overcoat. My satellite-TV provider has tons of cable channels. I wish at least a couple of them would run MacMillan and Wife, Columbo and other great old cop shows.
 
turbo-1 said:
My satellite-TV provider has tons of cable channels. I wish at least a couple of them would run MacMillan and Wife, Columbo and other great old cop shows.

They may now that he's died. I'd love to see the reruns also. RIP Columbo
 
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I enjoyed Columbo, MacMillan and Wife, McCloud (with Dennis Weaver), and the Rockford Files (James Garner). I think Columbo was the cleverest though with the challenge of finding the key clue to get the bad guy. I also like Hec Ramsey with Richard Boone.

RIP Peter.
 
My wife teaches German, and used to show videos of German movies to her students at our house. When I first saw Peter Falk in Wim Wenders's Wings of Desire (Der Himmer über Berlin), I did a double-take (knowing him only from Columbo) and thought, "is that really...?"

I was Googling for a picture of him in this movie, and came across this interesting article:

What is Peter Falk Doing in Wings of Desire?
 
  • #10
Astronuc said:
I enjoyed Columbo, MacMillan and Wife, McCloud (with Dennis Weaver), and the Rockford Files (James Garner). I think Columbo was the cleverest though with the challenge of finding the key clue to get the bad guy. I also like Hec Ramsey with Richard Boone.

RIP Peter.
I had forgotten all about Hec Ramsey! How can that be? That really was a good show. Of course Rockford Files would be a welcome addition to the re-run cable station, too. An investigator living in a dumpy house-trailer... Angel was a character to latch onto - slippery, yet somehow likable.

BTW, did anybody flash back to Rockford when seeing Mel Gibson living in a house trailer on the coast in Lethal Weapon? I sure did.
 
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  • #11
I loved Columbo. R.I.P.
 
  • #12
Evo said:
I loved Columbo. R.I.P.
Falk did a wonderful job as the grandfather in The Princess Bride. His performance and narration were perfect. Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and a few others could have pulled that off, but perhaps not as well.
 
  • #13
turbo-1 said:
I had forgotten all about Hec Ramsey! How can that be?

How about Paladin ? That was my favorite Richard Boone show.
 
  • #14
turbo-1 said:
Falk did a wonderful job as the grandfather in The Princess Bride. His performance and narration were perfect. Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and a few others could have pulled that off, but perhaps not as well.
They didn't have Falk's ability to be quirky.
 
  • #15
Evo said:
They didn't have Falk's ability to be quirky.
Perhaps not. Like Jimmy Stewart, he was able to stumble through vocal quirks and make them his own. If you like Jimmy Stewart, try to pick up some clips from Jackson Browne's guitarist David Lindley. It's scary!
 

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