REVIEW: Columbo - Publish or Perish (1974)

COLUMBO: Publish or Perish

S3/E5 1974

This episode is the second of three with Jack Cassidy playing the murder. Part of the small group of most entertaining guest-killers, Cassidy is always charming and witty, but also a little slimy at the same time.  His ever-present cigarette is a bit depressing to see, given the manner of his real-life death.

This time around, Cassidy plays Riley Greenleaf, a publisher who "owns" novelist Alan Mallory, played by real life writer Mickey Spillane. Mallory plans on taking his latest book to a new publisher, but Greenleaf will have none of that, and hires a Vietnam veteran named Eddie Kane to kill the writer as Greenleaf sets up his own, very drunken, alibi of crashing his Cadillac into a car (actually a VW van) in the parking lot of a bar.

Eddie thinks Greenleaf is going to publish his book about making bombs in return for the murder. Of course, he has no intention of doing so, and turns Eddie into the perfect fall-guy.

But, as we all know, there is no perfect murder, and our hero Lt. Columbo solves the crime. In the meantime we are given some classic one-liners and quotes.  From Cassidy's fake-drunk act, to his feigning relief upon learning of his alibi, to Peter Falk's unorthodox meal with Jacques Aubuchon and Mariette Hartley.  The audience doesn't (or at least shouldn't) feel any sympathy toward the murderer in this episode, either.

While the whole bomb-making thing may seem a little unnecessary to modern audiences, remember this was actually during the Vietnam conflict, not to mention an era of home-grown American terrorists who did indeed try to blow the "establishment" up.

"Publish or Perish" is a great episode, if not for it's plot, then for Jack Cassidy alone.

"Bravo, Eddie!"

"... those poor kids, those amateurs, planting bombs and blowing themselves up..."

"... the holy trinity..." (Jacques Aubuchon, Mariette Hartley, Mickey Spillane)

"... buy yourself a personality..." Greenleaf begins setting up his drunken alibi.

Mallory dictates... Greenleaf spies his quarry... Eddie prepares to kill...

"... and YOU, madam, SHUT UP!"

"... madam, in your condition I'd call a plastic surgeon..."

Columbo drinks some "brutal" coffee at the crime scene.

Listening to Mallory's dictation... what is that strange noise in the background?

"All I can say is, thank God..."  Greenleaf's attorney informs Columbo that his client has an airtight alibi for the night of the murder.

"Do you have any chili? ... with beans, without..."

"I wanted to get those saltines..."

Key Continuity...

Keys figure prominently in this episode.  While searching for scenes to take screen-shots of, I couldn't help but notice the variety of keys that are shown on-screen.  Since my boyfriend knows quite a lot about locks & keys, I sent him the images below.  He tried to give me a few details, which, for no good reason, I will share with you  now.  Read on... 

Columbo tries a key in the lock of Mallory's office... the lock is a Schlage, the key is a National, a typical hardware store copy.  Note the "high-quality" installation of the lock into the door.

Greenleaf gives Eddie a key to Mallory's office.  Thing is, it is a Yale that is incorrect for use in such a lock.

A closer look at the Yale key.

Columbo shows Greenleaf yet another key, this one looks almost like a car key of the era.

The last key, an Elgin which shouldn't fit a Schlage lock.