Let's watch Columbo: Short Fuse!

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  • Опубліковано 12 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 97

  • @vincentsaia6545
    @vincentsaia6545 7 місяців тому +23

    Although Roddy McDowell plays an immature "kid" and Peter Falk a veteran cop they were only months apart in age.

    • @emfri
      @emfri 3 місяці тому

      It seems Peter Falk was almost exactly one year older than Roddy McDowall, only offset by one day.

  • @isleofredemption
    @isleofredemption 7 місяців тому +14

    I agree, the Criminal Fashion Judgment concept is intriguing. I remember saying more than once as our family has gone through these episodes, “can you turn up the volume? I can’t hear them over their outfit.”
    While not one of my favorites, the Gotcha was pretty funny. Poor guy snapped like a dry twig.

    • @20thCenturyManTrad
      @20thCenturyManTrad 6 місяців тому +1

      Columbo is a great time capsule, but the 70s went out of their way to be ugly.

  • @7bestthings
    @7bestthings 7 місяців тому +4

    I like this episode, Roddy McDowell, a like-able actor, plays a very unlikeable character. This is one of the fun things about Columbo, you get to see your favorite movie and TV stars become cold blooded murderers. Also the "Gotcha" scene is one of the best. "Columbo is really Columbo-ing hard right now," was a great line. Thanks for the video!

  • @buttercupstruelove340
    @buttercupstruelove340 7 місяців тому +5

    My favorite guest actors are Vito Scotti, who appeared a few "Columbo" episodes and the baker in "The Godfather", and the father and son duo of Bruce and Bruno Kirby, the latter known for romantic comedies like "When Harry Met Sally" and also "The Godfather Part II" where Bruno played the young pistol-carrying Peter Clemenza who teamed up with the young Vito Corleone.

  • @Majoofi
    @Majoofi 7 місяців тому +5

    Criminal Fashion sounds like a great wrap up to the whole series.

  • @jdlewis3706
    @jdlewis3706 7 місяців тому +4

    If you found the episode unsatisfactory, please keep in mind, this additional episode was ordered by NBC at the last possible moment. Since Peter Falk had an rapidly approaching Broadway premiere, the producers had a very tight deadline and the episode had to be written and produced very quickly. Columbo film editor Edward Abroms makes his television directing debut with this episode and, what ever flaws this episode had, his work in the episode was stellar. A wonderful reaction video. I look forward to more reaction videos in the future, especially your proposed fashion crimes review video!

    • @meltyenjoys
      @meltyenjoys  7 місяців тому

      Yes, I talked about that @48:04, it definitely explains a lot about the episode! And you're right, there was some notable camera direction in this one as well. Thanks! :)

  • @vincentsaia6545
    @vincentsaia6545 7 місяців тому +4

    This episode give whole new meaning to the term exploding cigar.

    • @Hexon66
      @Hexon66 5 місяців тому

      Well, not a *whole* new meaning. It's just a matter of scale!

  • @michaelmorgan7893
    @michaelmorgan7893 6 місяців тому +3

    That's amazing: last summer my caseworker gave me a notebook to take notes in. I drew a sketch of Columbo on it, and the caption says: "Scuze me, ma'am, but there's just this one other thing...."

  • @diosoth
    @diosoth 7 місяців тому +6

    Aside from the killer being a "super genius" who rigs a special chemical bomb, the plot isn't really anything that stands out. He has to brag about how much of a genius he is. Check out a can of silly string, him acting like he just cracked the secrets of alchemy, before they were a common novelty. And as usual they get too complicated in their plans. He could have blown the car, had it written off as a pure accident but then he plants a bunch of phony "proof" to try to frame someone. Columbo killers often do this... Nimoy's character went through similar complex steps.
    MacDowell would play Mad Hatter on Batman: The Animated Series, where he'd be another cartoonish super genius. I don't believe many Columbo stars were on that, Clive Revill from "The Conspirators" was Alfred in a few early episodes before he was replaced.

    • @diosoth
      @diosoth 7 місяців тому +1

      Oh yeah, Robert Costanzo, who voiced Harvey Bullock, played the bartender in the opening of "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine".

  • @Cathy-xi8cb
    @Cathy-xi8cb 7 місяців тому +4

    "A Crime of Fashion"; absolutely! 70's fashion was fairly outrageous.

  • @davidswift7776
    @davidswift7776 2 місяці тому

    Your analysis and ranking was spot on! …as far as relative comparison with Dead Weight.
    Weaker overall while still being very enjoyable to watch .This episode really perked my curiosity about Ida Lupino’s past movie performances. Simply incredible the impressive backgrounds of many of his guest actors. Ida Lupino in particular was quite the leading actress in many movies. Additionally quite beautiful in her younger roles.
    Thank you for adding these Columbo episodes to your UA-cam channel. Well done.
    BTW the 70’s started the end of the huge car bodies.. the first decade of increased gas prices and subsequent gas mileage efficiency concerns.

    • @meltyenjoys
      @meltyenjoys  2 місяці тому

      Thank you so much for watching my videos! I appreciate it. I definitely have caught some of Ida Lupino's earlier performances - I saw her on an episode of Bonanza recently and she was quite excellent in that too.

  • @brianrecinos3914
    @brianrecinos3914 Місяць тому +1

    This episode kinda hits where it hurts for me. Roddy McDowell will always be known to me as the only Mad Hatter in the Batman animated show.

  • @vincentsaia6545
    @vincentsaia6545 7 місяців тому +5

    Roddy's pants were definitely where it's at....so to speak!

    • @Cathy-xi8cb
      @Cathy-xi8cb 7 місяців тому +1

      They leave nothing at all to the imagination...!

    • @bernhardwall6876
      @bernhardwall6876 3 місяці тому

      Roddy made the case for men's skirts.

  • @DaleRibbons
    @DaleRibbons 7 місяців тому +3

    Anne Francis was the female lead in 'Forbidden Planet'. Her co-star/love interest was Leslie Nielsen from 'Lady in Waiting'. Speaking of which, Richard Anderson, the victim in that episode, was in the movie as well.
    Yes, I want to see the 'Columbo: Crimes Of Fashion' video!
    As far as the episode goes, Roddy McDowall was one of my favorite actors, so his presence makes it easier to overlook faults of whatever he was in. He did a good job playing Roger. He was such a smarmy jerk that you immediately wanted to punch him like you said. Another favorite was James Gregory, who played Uncle David. Even though he was the victim, he was hardly any better than Roger.

    • @buttercupstruelove340
      @buttercupstruelove340 7 місяців тому

      I remember Anne Francis and Tony Franciosa from her show, "Honey West", where Anne played a private eye.

    • @TheMormonSorceress
      @TheMormonSorceress Місяць тому

      Same guy from The Naked Gun and Airplane?

  • @sandrakenslow9540
    @sandrakenslow9540 7 місяців тому +4

    William Windom was in Murder She Wrote too.

    • @dngillikin
      @dngillikin 7 місяців тому

      William Windom also played the American President in "Escape from the Planet of the Apes."
      Continuing on the Apes tangent with Columbo guest stars, the murder victim in this story, was the warmongering gorilla General Ursus in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes."

    • @FloridaMugwump
      @FloridaMugwump 7 місяців тому

      He was on TV for years as the Senator in the TV version of "The Farmer's Daughter"

    • @herne831
      @herne831 2 місяці тому

      Seth Hazlitt in Murder, She Wrote

  • @bobjg1956
    @bobjg1956 7 місяців тому +1

    Not sure if I posted this!...me and tech...ha ha..!!!
    Anywhere...another enjoyable and entertaining deep dive Melissa....agree with you about Roddys voice very distinctive...even with his monkey makeup..you just know its Roddy!
    lots of cool links with " Forbidden Planet" in Columbo..not only Roddy and Anne...(who had her own show.." Honey West"...)... but also Richard Anderson Brice...in "lady in Waiting"...(who got horribly killed by the ID monster in FP...)...Thanks for this friend...looking forward to your next gem...best regards
    from Bob in Bristol uk

  • @JohnFiocchi
    @JohnFiocchi 3 місяці тому

    Melissa...your Columbo videos are great!! Really enjoy your sarcasm.

  • @nicomedessantiago6259
    @nicomedessantiago6259 7 місяців тому +1

    I LOVE THESE!! Thank you Melissa. P.S. Roddy McDowall Forever!! Oh, and one more thing.....

  • @walterpanovs
    @walterpanovs 7 місяців тому +1

    Ida Lupino was not only an old-time movie star and beauty from back in the day, but also one of the rare female directors of both features and TV shows (one of her Twilight Zone episodes is a classic). Her low-budget thriller "The Hitch-hiker" (1953) is available on UA-cam and is worth a look. Roddy McDowall started out as a child star and was featured in several memorable films. He later developed a flair for playing "campy" characters like this one.

  • @anthonytalarico7854
    @anthonytalarico7854 7 місяців тому +3

    jeez louise thought i was the only 90's baby who was into Columbo, other good 70s shows as well like Rockford Files and MCCloud etc.

  • @arayaslayer666
    @arayaslayer666 7 місяців тому +2

    Yeah you should totally do a crimes of fashion video, you could even do a different video based on each season.

  • @80s_kid.
    @80s_kid. 7 місяців тому

    Short fuse is on my list of favourites of all episodes. the first few times of seeing it i thought it was average but after a few watches i warmed to it. oh and i feel bad for not commenting on your last video Lady in Waiting, i did watch it and gave it a like. i meant to comment but i think i got distracted and forgot. You Still one of my Favourite Tubers. Love these Videos and you are an easy Person to like.

  • @michaelmorgan7893
    @michaelmorgan7893 6 місяців тому +1

    In speaking of the Gil Melle music, on UA-cam there's a posting of Gil Melle's music tracks for Kolchak the Night Stalker, and in track 3, "the vampire" there's that Columbo theme as a piano selection used as dinner music.

  • @khaz606
    @khaz606 6 місяців тому +3

    Dead Weight was the only weak one from season imho. I currently think it’s the strongest season of the lot. Speaking of outfits, one of my favs is Nora Chandler's blue outfit from Requiem for a Falling Star. I would have mixed emotions seeing those legs walking down the green mile :). All the best.

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    Ida Lupino was a fantastic actress, sometimes referred to as "the poor man's Bette Davis." She was in a lot of old movies, co-starred with Humphrey Bogart in _High Sierra,_ played Emily Bronte, and was a client to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. She was also that rarity, a female film director.

  • @JeffreyHanson-zt9vd
    @JeffreyHanson-zt9vd 6 місяців тому +1

    As much as I’m enjoying these Columbo reactions, I’m very excited at the idea of Star Trek TOS reactions.

    • @meltyenjoys
      @meltyenjoys  6 місяців тому

      I'm anxious to get to that show! I love TOS so much.

    • @manjackson2772
      @manjackson2772 2 місяці тому

      @@meltyenjoys William Wyndon plays a guest character in one of the best episodes!

  • @michaelmorgan7893
    @michaelmorgan7893 6 місяців тому +2

    I like that idea. Some of those 70s fashions were "criminal"

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    Roddy McDowall is one of my favorite actors. I actually got to see him on stage once, as the police detective in "Dial M for Murder." This isn't one of the better _Columbo_ scripts, though.

  • @brianboye8025
    @brianboye8025 13 днів тому +1

    Now I can't unsee his tight pants.

  • @arconeagain
    @arconeagain 5 місяців тому

    You're bloody awesome.
    I just subscribed.

  • @machman5
    @machman5 6 місяців тому +1

    Im looking forward to your fashion review

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    He did send out his best man, at that!

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    Yes, they're very tight and no one on the show thought to change that.

  • @TV-Tony
    @TV-Tony 6 місяців тому

    I think the butler from Forgotten Lady is also in Planet of the Apes as well. William Windom is also great on The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery. I think the old guy has a punchable face too.
    A Crime of Fashion, I love that. That's actually the name of a second season Psych episode "Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion" lol.
    Isn't that also the house from Fade In To Murder? The door looks like it anyway.
    I just realized Columbo probably set all this up with Logan beforehand. Took me another viewing to realize, since I haven't watched this in years. Same thing happened in a Mrs. Columbo with a bomber they had in a cop car, but by then they were doing traditional whodunits, instead of inverted mysteries.

  • @RAN480L64
    @RAN480L64 6 місяців тому

    A crime of fashion is amazing 🤩

  • @Nasty-Canasta
    @Nasty-Canasta 3 місяці тому

    Roddy McDowell also played an uncredited role as the store manager in "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry"
    47:10 "We got, ya know, armadillos in our trousers. I mean its really quite frightening" -Nigel Tufnel

  • @dennissmith6255
    @dennissmith6255 Місяць тому

    Are you going to make more? I really enjoy your videos.

    • @meltyenjoys
      @meltyenjoys  Місяць тому

      @@dennissmith6255 yes I am! More are in progress now :)

  • @TV-Tony
    @TV-Tony 6 місяців тому

    I also love that Roger gives Columbo his medal, acknowledging Columbo's genius. I remember Peter Falk's good friend John Cassavetes as Alex Benedict doing something similar when he motions to Columbo up and down with his conducting baton. A nice touch in both cases IMO.

    • @bernhardwall6876
      @bernhardwall6876 3 місяці тому

      The shot at the end, of Roger sitting on the floor of the tram car with the cigars strewn around him, looks a lot like a young child sitting on the floor with his blocks. That was the point?

  • @raymeedc
    @raymeedc 6 місяців тому

    ~ More notable than her “appearance” in Planet Of The Apes is Kim Hunter’s presence in one of cinematic history’s most famous scenes, that of Marlon Brando screaming her character’s name (STELLA‼️) in the last scene of A Streetcar Named Desire, the film that shot Brando to stardom ~

  • @hawkmaster381
    @hawkmaster381 7 місяців тому +1

    31:20 Why did his uncle have a photo of himself on his desk? Facing towards him no less! 😅

  • @marisaelenenadiejamusiccom3974
    @marisaelenenadiejamusiccom3974 4 місяці тому

    Roddy was adorable 🌹🌹

  • @Fast_Eddy_Magic
    @Fast_Eddy_Magic 6 місяців тому

    Roddy McDowall was a popular "bad guy" in murder mystery TV shows. So much so, that in "Ellery Queen", they used it as a red herring. We were so sure he was the murderer (he wasn't) because if he was in an episode of a murder mystery show, he was always the murderer.

    • @richardmark9161
      @richardmark9161 3 місяці тому

      Roddy McDowell was the most infamous of infamous villains on fantasy Island 😈

  • @huskerjpg
    @huskerjpg 5 місяців тому

    Criticism: William Windom's Cmmdr. Decker was not insane or psychotic. Decker was obsessed with avenging his dead crew out of guilt and with saving Federation planets from attack by the Doomsday Machine. Also, DM is the greatest episode in all of Star Trek! With that said, I am enjoying your presentations.😊

  • @richardmark9161
    @richardmark9161 3 місяці тому

    William Windom from the Star Trek episode, Doomsday Machine also played a similarly unhinged character on an episode of Barney Miller titled DOOMSDAY.

  • @aarongoldstein7614
    @aarongoldstein7614 2 місяці тому

    I like "Short Fuse" more than most Columbo fans. Roddy McDowall's Roger Stanford is a loveable scamp with sociopathic underpinnings. He's not as terrifying as a Jack Cassidy but is every bit as dangerous.
    In between William Windom's two Coulmbo appearances, he starred in a short-lived TV series on NBC called "My World...and Welcome to It" which was based on stories written by James Thurber. Although it earned 2 Emmy Awards including a Best Actor award for Windom, "My World...and Welcome to It" was canceled after one season due to poor ratings.
    As for "Crimes of Fashion", Roger Stanford's pants have nothing on Beth Chadwick's garish Strawberry Shortcake outfit.

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    I have always loved McDowall's voice.

  • @richardlicht7927
    @richardlicht7927 6 місяців тому +1

    I think you would like the movie, "Murder By Death". It's a comedy mystery. Peter Falk spoofs a detective. It's an ensemble cast. It is free on UA-cam now.

    • @meltyenjoys
      @meltyenjoys  5 місяців тому

      I watched it for the first time last year! I loved it.

  • @Tnenamrep2
    @Tnenamrep2 7 місяців тому +1

    I totally agree with Roger being penned as a rather cheesy/wimpy/cartoonish killer (a spoiled brat)... but my comment is about music: I thought from the very first time that I'd heard "Narcisse", that it comes a very close second to the groovunkiest piece of music ever, Sesame Street's "Funky Chimes".

  • @arconeagain
    @arconeagain 5 місяців тому

    Ah, this is one of the episodes with the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona'. Worth a bit of coin today. Yes, a delicious sounding V12 engine.

  • @arthurjeremypearson
    @arthurjeremypearson 7 місяців тому +1

    What sort of pants does Mario wear?
    Denim, denim, denim.

  • @aetre1988
    @aetre1988 4 місяці тому

    On ranking Columbo murderer's gloves: all I'm interested in is whether or not the dishwashing latex gloves are last place. Because if they're not, I do want to see what's worse as a fashion statement.

  • @ClaireRedfieldKennedy-ld2lx
    @ClaireRedfieldKennedy-ld2lx Місяць тому

    I have to disagree with you about this being a weaker episode. Yes, I agree with the flaws you mentioned, mainly that things could have been developed more. But McDowall's character is sort of scary in a child like way. A killer child is scary. The ending really makes this stand out as one of my favorite episodes.

  • @Gore_Oatku
    @Gore_Oatku 7 місяців тому

    First time commenter on your channel. I never understood the entire personality changed after randy character took charge

  • @kenmac1745
    @kenmac1745 5 місяців тому

    You are too funny 😂

  • @sandrakenslow9540
    @sandrakenslow9540 7 місяців тому +1

    I have the Columbo cook book

    • @jasonm8017
      @jasonm8017 7 місяців тому

      Is it just 100 different chilli recipes?

  • @richardmark9161
    @richardmark9161 3 місяці тому

    Roddy McDowell reads the audio book version of the Batman 1989 movie novelization. His voice is really cool on it.
    McDowell has voiced The Mad Hatter on Batman TAS and, of course has played Bookworm on the 1966 Batman series ❤️ 🤓 📖 🪱

  • @KayGeeBee07
    @KayGeeBee07 6 місяців тому

    I heard about your channel in a comment on one of the Columbo Facebook groups I am in, and wanted to come check it out. I love the concept, and your comments and observations are great. I do have a few pieces of constructive criticism that I think could help your channel. First, you should increase the size of the Columbo viewing window - perhaps half and half, or reverse what you have here - you are a smaller window the size of what Columbo is now, and the show takes up most of the screen. That would take care of my second observation, which is that your "Melissa Watches Columbo" branding on the screen covers too much of the action. It is distracting and makes it hard to watch the show and look for the details that you are commenting on. Also, my next comment is specific to this particular episode, I have not yet watched any of your others. While I understand that you are editing down the episodes to fit into your video length, in this case you left out the opening scene that provided the motive for Roger to kill David Buckner, where David tells Roger to resign immediately or he'll tell his Aunt Dory about his past etc. I think that a synopsis of any episode should include the motive if possible. Just my opinions and I don't mean to come off as overly critical. I still like your channel and will continue to watch, but please consider my friendly suggestions.

  • @Oppeldeldoc1
    @Oppeldeldoc1 7 місяців тому +1

    To me, Roger is one of the few Columbo killers to dress in a way that's EXTREMELY trendy (even that honor society medal looks just as much like some trendy medallion instead).
    Of course, another would be Beth Chadwick after she makes herself over.

  • @pengumaestro
    @pengumaestro 7 місяців тому

    You should a 100% do the villain fashion ranking

  • @actioncom2748
    @actioncom2748 3 місяці тому

    47:00 - So... What do you think Roddy Mcdowell's religion is?

  • @HuntingViolets
    @HuntingViolets 3 місяці тому

    Are those stills of former _Columbo_ murderess Lee Grant with Falk as his co-star in "The Prisoner of Second Avenue"?

  • @jimmikulsky4810
    @jimmikulsky4810 7 місяців тому +1

    5:40

  • @brianboye8025
    @brianboye8025 13 днів тому

    The old exploding cigar trick. Get smart

  • @manjackson2772
    @manjackson2772 2 місяці тому

    You didn't appreciate getting a look at McDowell's roddy?

  • @Thepitz2000
    @Thepitz2000 4 місяці тому

    I like watching these with you, but if you can not get rid of the words in the middle of the screen I cant do it.

  • @janetpatri8786
    @janetpatri8786 5 місяців тому

  • @jgionti3
    @jgionti3 19 днів тому

    I wasn’t a huge fan of this episode. It’s certainly not the worst one but I enjoyed your review

  • @ReglazeRX
    @ReglazeRX 7 місяців тому

    Would be AY MAYZING to find a girl who enjoys watching nothing but classic 70s detective TV shows.