A Friend in Deed

Episode aired May 5, 1974
TV-PG
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

Richard Kiley in A Friend in Deed (1974)

Cop Drama Police Procedural Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

A police commissioner provides a false alibi for a neighbor who killed his wife in a fit of rage. He then kills his own wife in cold blood and blackmails the neighbor into faking an alibi fo... Read allA police commissioner provides a false alibi for a neighbor who killed his wife in a fit of rage. He then kills his own wife in cold blood and blackmails the neighbor into faking an alibi for himself. Lt. Columbo has to untangle this mess.A police commissioner provides a false alibi for a neighbor who killed his wife in a fit of rage. He then kills his own wife in cold blood and blackmails the neighbor into faking an alibi for himself. Lt. Columbo has to untangle this mess.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos5

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The funeral home featured in the stock shot is not in California. It is the luxurious Ephrussi de Rothschild villa and gardens in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. This location is notably featured in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983).

Goofs
(at around 41 mins) Mark Halperin (Richard Kiley) refers to the murder plot as a "Quid Quo Pro" instead of as a Quid Pro Quo.

Quotes
Mark Halperin: [to his wife] Darling, if you're embarrassed by all your millions, why don't you just sign them over to me? They wouldn't embarrass me in the least.

Connections
References Strangers on a Train (1951)

Soundtracks
Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring
(uncredited)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Played at funeral

User reviews48

Review

Featured review

8/10

Columbo at the top of his game

A FRIEND IN DEED is one of the contenders for 'best episode of Columbo ever'. It has a tight and ever-evolving plot involving multiple murders, alibis, and complexity, and to add to the fun the villain is superior and proves more than a match for our wily detective. As if recognising the quality he's working with, Falk ups his game too, delivering a portrayal of Columbo at his dogged best.

The film's star is Richard Kiley, never well known in the UK but a TV personality in America. His villain is a frightening one with sociopathic tendencies and his placing at the top of the police command chain makes Columbo's life very difficult. Despite the lengthy running time, A FRIEND IN DEED is constantly engaging, with comedy that really works and some great clues building to a satisfying climax. Fans will be in their element with this one.