The Execution of Private Slovik (1974)

In this episode of The Shabby Detective, we examine the riveting 1974 TV movie The Gun, a gripping exploration of fate and consequence. Crafted by the legendary writing duo Richard Levinson and William Link and directed by John Badham, the film follows the journey of a single handgun as it passes through various lives, leaving a trail of drama and intrigue. Join us as we unpack the film’s unique episodic structure and the creative forces behind this powerful cautionary tale.

Between Columbo's Seasons 4 and 5, we're shifting our detective lens to explore another powerful creation by Richard Levinson and William Link: The Execution of Private Slovik (1974). Directed by Lamont Johnson and featuring an unforgettable performance by Martin Sheen, this adaptation of William Bradford Huie's work tells the harrowing true story of Eddie Slovik—a small-time Michigan criminal who made history as the only U.S. soldier executed for desertion during World War II.

We conclude the 4th season of Columbo with the episode "A Deadly State of Mind" wherein George Hamilton is a suave hypnotist of ladies -- one in particular played by Leslie Ann Warren. He has designs on her while also conducting "research" for his work. Her husband as other ideas. 

Season 4 continues with "Playback," an episode starring another Cassavetes alum, Gina Rowlands.  Unfortunately, she's sidelined as a innocent bystander and wife to the episode's murderer, played by Oskar Werner.   He's a fan of gizmos which aid his plan to murder his mother-in-law but, of course, they're ultimately his undoing.   

Set sail for murder as Lt. Columbo takes a cruise to Mexico with his wife only to be asked to help solve the murder of lounge singer Rosanna Wells (Poupée Bocar) at the hands of used car sales exec Hayden Danzinger (Robert Vaughn). It's the return of Bernard Hill and Dean Stockwell in an episode Chris Stachiw says may be the best of the season.

Welcome to the show Mr. Patrick McGoohan as Colonel Rumford, headmaster at an all-boys military academy and devotee of rules and regulations. When his reign is threatened he retaliates by killing his rival with a cannon! Now it's up to Lt. Columbo to stick around the academy and solve the crime in one of the more solid episodes of Season 4.

Season 4 of Columbo continues with a favorite of Mike's, Negative Reaction wherein Dick Van Dyke plays photographer Paul Galesko who think he's committed the perfect murder of his wife (Antoniette Bower) and patsy (Don Gordon). Unfortunately for him, Columbo is on the case. This episode features great roles for Vito Scotti, John Ashton, Joyce Van Patten, Larry Storch, and Michael Strong.This episode of The Shabby Detective also features an interview with author David Koenig about his new book, Unshot Columbo: Cracking the Cases That Never Got Filmed.  Get it today at https://amzn.to/3Sh9VCj

We start off the fourth season of Columbo with a discussion of Exercise in Fatality in which our titular detective squares off with tough guy and fitness guru Milo Janus (Robert Conrad) in a case that gets everyone tied up in knots. This episode also features an interview with Amelie Hastie, author of Columbo: Make Me a Perfect Murder, a close reading of the series.  Get it now at https://amzn.to/3xf8Pjk

Chris Stachiw and Mike White are taking a break between the third and fourth seasons of The Shabby Detective: Yet Another Columbo Podcast and discussing one of Peter Falk's later roles as the patriach of the Romano family which includes Paulie (Peter Berg) and Peter (Chris Penn) along with black sheep Corky (Chris Kattan).We discuss Kattan's career, the panning of Corky Romano, and the Happy Madison universe.

We wrap up the third season of Columbo with a solid episode wherein Columbo (Peter Falk) is put on the case of a pair of murders including the death of police commissioner (Richard Kiley)'s wife. Written by Peter S. Fischer, the episode was directed by Falk's friend Ben Gazzara.