The Conspirators
- Episode aired May 13, 1978
- TV-PG
- 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.An IRA terrorist executes an arms dealer he considers traitorous; Lt. Columbo is on the case.
Sean McClory
- Captain
- (as Seán McClory)
Carole Hemingway
- Carole Hemingway
- (as Carole Hemmingway)
John Blower
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the last episode from the original series produced by NBC. It wasn't until 1989 that the series would be picked up again and continue on its eighth season onward produced by ABC.
- GoofsDevlin declares that he is "a boy from the backstreets of Belfast", but his accent is a Southern Irish one, quite unlike that of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Also, when playing darts, he refers to a pub in "Londonderry". A genuine Irish Republican would never refer to the city by that name, and would call it "Derry".
- Quotes
Joe Devlin: You see, at a very early age I decided to be me own master and the servant of no one, and that left two promising possibilities: either to be a king or a poet. Now, as Ireland had her fill of kings, I clearly saw I had to educate meself to a way of words, so I took to drink immediately, fell in love at every opportunity, and avoided the schoolroom like the plague. I advise you to do the same.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Svengoolie: Valley of the Dragons (2019)
- SoundtracksWhiskey in the Jar
(uncredited)
Traditional Irish folk song
Instrumental version heard in pub
Featured review
This far and no farther
This fine episode ended Columbo's initial run, and the best run at that, even though he came back in later years with some decent episodes, but it never matched the earlier years. This fairly original story has Columbo on the hunt for a rather flamboyant IRA terrorist named Joe Devlin, played superbly by Clive Revill, who isn't afraid to throw some whiskey down. Although Revill was only in this episode, his performance rivals Jack Cassidy, William Shatner, and Robert Culp, in terms of great guest stars who have memorable scenes with Columbo. My favorite episodes are when Columbo and the guest killer have a good rapport; regarding this segment, it's refreshing to watch the 2 men drink together in a bar, play darts, and share poems, even though Peter Falk probably overdoes it a bit considering this was to be the final episode. Look for another funny scene in a bookstore when Columbo's looking at a book on erotic art, and the way a woman watched him with suspicious eyes. The great Jeanette Nolan has a few scenes as Kate O'Connell, and also look for a familiar face in L.Q. Jones(Casino)as a slimy gun dealer. The scenery was especially a nice touch, which included a bar/pub, shipping dock and boats, and a huge mansion with an impressive ceiling. Even though I thought it was too easy and convenient the way Columbo deduces which ship would carry the guns, and how silly it was for Devlin to purposely leave a scratch mark on a whiskey bottle at the crime scene, this episode was a fine conclusion to a mostly great series that had many more ups than downs.
helpful•140
- stones78
- Feb 12, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Waffen des Bösen
- Filming locations
- Radio station KGIL, San Fernando, California, USA(Late in the episode, Clive Revill is seen being interviewed on the radio by Carole Hemingway, and then in the station parking lot, makes a gun deal. Both scenes were shot at KGIL)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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