A tremendous cast, by latter-day Columbo standards, including Rue McClanahan, Sally Kellerman, Edie McClurg, Richard Libertini, Aubrey Morris, and Ron Masak have a field day chewing up the scenery in clever scene after clever scene. Legendary tap dancer Arthur Duncan even shows up to add the proper element of theatre d'absurd to the proceedings. The dialogue is well-above average in the cleverness department as well. The twists and turns are ingenious. McGoohan has a field day as director and actor. The last line puts the proper icing on the cake. This is one of the very best of the latter-day Columbo movies.
29 Reviews
A charming episode of one of America's best detective programs!
Sylviastel18 May 2006
There is no doubt that Columbo's star Peter Falk loves this character. He always takes him out of the closet in a manner of speaking. Peter Falk would be knighted if he was a British actor but since he is an American actor and icon, we'll take him the way he is. I remember watching this episode with Golden Girls' star Rue McClanahan as the gossip columnist Verity Chandler. Of course, Patrick McGoohan has often been associated with Columbo whether he is directing, writing or starring. There is something addictive about Columbo. He doesn't dumb down the role or the characters. He learns just as well as we do. He is quite the detective. He always gets his man or woman and I just adore Columbo. He is always worth watching. He mixes humor and seriousness with the most serious crime of murder. His job might be murder but it sure is fun watching him get the man or woman to be caught. Even then, you kind of feel sorry for the criminal for his actions. It' the Columbo touch that you pity the criminal and love the detective.
Always has been a favorite of mine.
Boba_Fett113810 December 2008
Don't really know why but out of all Columbo movies this is the one that always sticked most into my mind. I think this is mostly due to Patrick McGoohan's presence, who only a few years prior to this movie impressed with his role in "Braveheart" (how did he not won an Oscar for that?).
Like many Columbo movies before, this one got also directed by Patrick McGoohan, who also once again plays the killer of the movie. Most of the McGoohan Columbo movies are some really classy made ones, that are well directed and also better than the average Columbo movie entries. You can say that a McGoohan Columbo movie is always something special, even though not all are quite as good, such as for instance the failure "Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore". It wasn't the last movie McGoohan would direct for the Columbo series but it was the last Columbo movie he played in.
As a matter of fact this also as of yet is the last movie McGoohan has appeared in. He did some voice-work after this movie but he psychically hasn't appeared in a movie ever since. He's still alive and kicking though, so he might once pop up in a movie again, though I assume that he is enjoying his retirement. He always had some good interaction with Peter Falk within the Columbo movies, probably also due to the fact that they have been close friends for years. Peter Falk also must have felt at ease with McGoohan behind the cameras, who in return also gave Falk lots of room to play around. This really shows within this movie.
Besides Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan, the movie also features the great Rue McClanahan, as the movie its victim. She plays a very typical role, which has become sort of her trademark, ever since her "The Golden Girls" role. It also features some other fine actors in supporting roles, such as Richard Riehle, Sally Kellerman and Edie McClurg.
It's a movie that sticks nicely to the usual familiar Columbo movie formula. It has a nice typical murder-mystery story, although Columbo murders never really have been a 'mystery', since we always know from the beginning on who got killed by who, how and why. The story by the way also partly got written by McGoohan, so this really is 'his' movie. It isn't the most fast going Columbo movie but it nevertheless always is a good and interesting to watch, since the story progresses nicely and the movie features some nice characters and actors that are portraying them.
8/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Like many Columbo movies before, this one got also directed by Patrick McGoohan, who also once again plays the killer of the movie. Most of the McGoohan Columbo movies are some really classy made ones, that are well directed and also better than the average Columbo movie entries. You can say that a McGoohan Columbo movie is always something special, even though not all are quite as good, such as for instance the failure "Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore". It wasn't the last movie McGoohan would direct for the Columbo series but it was the last Columbo movie he played in.
As a matter of fact this also as of yet is the last movie McGoohan has appeared in. He did some voice-work after this movie but he psychically hasn't appeared in a movie ever since. He's still alive and kicking though, so he might once pop up in a movie again, though I assume that he is enjoying his retirement. He always had some good interaction with Peter Falk within the Columbo movies, probably also due to the fact that they have been close friends for years. Peter Falk also must have felt at ease with McGoohan behind the cameras, who in return also gave Falk lots of room to play around. This really shows within this movie.
Besides Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan, the movie also features the great Rue McClanahan, as the movie its victim. She plays a very typical role, which has become sort of her trademark, ever since her "The Golden Girls" role. It also features some other fine actors in supporting roles, such as Richard Riehle, Sally Kellerman and Edie McClurg.
It's a movie that sticks nicely to the usual familiar Columbo movie formula. It has a nice typical murder-mystery story, although Columbo murders never really have been a 'mystery', since we always know from the beginning on who got killed by who, how and why. The story by the way also partly got written by McGoohan, so this really is 'his' movie. It isn't the most fast going Columbo movie but it nevertheless always is a good and interesting to watch, since the story progresses nicely and the movie features some nice characters and actors that are portraying them.
8/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
A great favourite
TheLittleSongbird30 June 2010
I am a huge Columbo fan and Ashes to Ashes is without a doubt one of my favourite episodes for many reasons. The plot is quite complex, but is explained well, has many interesting scenes, and the motive is a good one. The script is top notch, particularly in any exchange between Columbo and Eric and Verity's bitchy dialogue is a joy. As always the photography and scenery are striking, and the music is rich and haunting. Then there are the performances, Peter Falk is exceptional once again as Columbo, no surprise really he is always brilliant as the character, while Patrick McGoohan is brilliant as Eric. In fact, McGoohan is one of my favourite Columbo guest stars, and he works really well with Falk. Rue McClanahan has to work with a very strong minded and seemingly hateful character, and McClanahan conveys her with the charm she always had, not to mention her presence which is quite entrancing. The episode is also very well directed, and I was gripped right up to the final solution. Overall, first class, quintessential Columbo I'd say. 10/10 Bethany Cox
All is Dust
Moor-Larkin17 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
As a Patrick McGoohan fan, I'd been trying to catch this one for a while, having missed it in the late 1990's when Columbo was still prime-time. This episode was broadcast on a Sunday morning in England, at 11am. How the mighty are fallen, the great humbled, and the classics a mere space-filler. Time waits for no man and all that.
The episode is a rip-snorter, full of delightful performances and character combinations. It was essentially the final filmed performance by the great actor, Patrick McGoohan (barring some unexpected late-life cameo) and as such, it is as perfect an adieu to the medium as there could be. McGoohan often likes to add personal notes to his Columbo movies, and so in this plot his character's would-be nemesis (Golden Girl, Rue McLanahan) refers to his Eric Prince character as having been a "never-was actor from England, who never-was over here either!" Adding a further layer of subsumed reference is the presence of Catherine McGoohan, as Rita, Eric Prince's efficiently innocent mortuary assistant. She is given the task of beginning the end of her boss when she advises Eric Prince that, "Someone's waiting for you in the display-room." A corpse might be expected in such a setting, but whilst any corpse would barely ruffle the arch mortician that was Eric, the thick cigar-smoke wafting above the open coffin signals to us that Eric's time-clock is now ticking. Columbo has arrived! By the time Peter Falk shuffles in, we are already twenty minutes into the show. When we see him we realise why he is only putting in half a shift. Man! Columbo is old! He's grey, wizened and almost gap-toothed. His speed is gone. But what he lacks in speed has been replaced by wisdom. Heck, he's done so many of these cases he figures out what has gone on, in the twinkling of an old dog's eye.
McGoohan's Prince, is flabbergasted. He's on a hook and no matter how cleverly he shifts his weight, he knows he's being reeled in. he doesn't know how the other guy knows, but he knows he knows; and the other guy knows he knows he knows. Time to party! Two old men (McGoohan was 70, Falk 71) decide to fun with us young 'uns by playing up the fact we're all gonna die! Ashes to Ashes! We are taken to a Funeral Directors' "Man of the Year" ceremony! Death is all around: we have an uneasy fear of it. These guys laugh at it! They even make up witty songs about it. Death is a part of their life. The very last line has one saying to the other: "It's your funeral!" What a way to go.
By pure chance this viewer watched an old 1955 film for the first time, on a DVD at 11pm the night before this show. In the 1955 film Patrick McGoohan was playing scenes with Errol Flynn! Forty-three years later he played his final scenes with Peter Falk. Half a century after Errol Flynn became ashes, this viewer feels privileged to have been able to watch, in the space of twelve hours, what took these men a lifetime to achieve.
We'll seeing you, in all the old familiar places.
The episode is a rip-snorter, full of delightful performances and character combinations. It was essentially the final filmed performance by the great actor, Patrick McGoohan (barring some unexpected late-life cameo) and as such, it is as perfect an adieu to the medium as there could be. McGoohan often likes to add personal notes to his Columbo movies, and so in this plot his character's would-be nemesis (Golden Girl, Rue McLanahan) refers to his Eric Prince character as having been a "never-was actor from England, who never-was over here either!" Adding a further layer of subsumed reference is the presence of Catherine McGoohan, as Rita, Eric Prince's efficiently innocent mortuary assistant. She is given the task of beginning the end of her boss when she advises Eric Prince that, "Someone's waiting for you in the display-room." A corpse might be expected in such a setting, but whilst any corpse would barely ruffle the arch mortician that was Eric, the thick cigar-smoke wafting above the open coffin signals to us that Eric's time-clock is now ticking. Columbo has arrived! By the time Peter Falk shuffles in, we are already twenty minutes into the show. When we see him we realise why he is only putting in half a shift. Man! Columbo is old! He's grey, wizened and almost gap-toothed. His speed is gone. But what he lacks in speed has been replaced by wisdom. Heck, he's done so many of these cases he figures out what has gone on, in the twinkling of an old dog's eye.
McGoohan's Prince, is flabbergasted. He's on a hook and no matter how cleverly he shifts his weight, he knows he's being reeled in. he doesn't know how the other guy knows, but he knows he knows; and the other guy knows he knows he knows. Time to party! Two old men (McGoohan was 70, Falk 71) decide to fun with us young 'uns by playing up the fact we're all gonna die! Ashes to Ashes! We are taken to a Funeral Directors' "Man of the Year" ceremony! Death is all around: we have an uneasy fear of it. These guys laugh at it! They even make up witty songs about it. Death is a part of their life. The very last line has one saying to the other: "It's your funeral!" What a way to go.
By pure chance this viewer watched an old 1955 film for the first time, on a DVD at 11pm the night before this show. In the 1955 film Patrick McGoohan was playing scenes with Errol Flynn! Forty-three years later he played his final scenes with Peter Falk. Half a century after Errol Flynn became ashes, this viewer feels privileged to have been able to watch, in the space of twelve hours, what took these men a lifetime to achieve.
We'll seeing you, in all the old familiar places.
Just great
W-J-Langbein31 October 2005
This episode is just great...Peter Falk's acting is great. He obviously liked doing the show and it is enjoyable to watch it. I saw it several times and I love seeing it again and again. The more often you see it, the more you discover. Columbo...just great, nothing can be compared...and the "undertaker"...my sympathy was with the killer in this case. This episode is a great piece of entertainment...all the actors doing an excellent job...there are so many little things in this episode worthwhile noticing. I really do love this episode...Thank you, Sir Peter!
Walter
To be honest: I love every single episode of the 69!
Walter
To be honest: I love every single episode of the 69!
It starts with a very familiar cliché...
planktonrules14 August 2021
"Ashes to Ashes" is the sixth and final appearance of Patrick McGoohan on "Columbo". Additionally, he directed this episode.
The story begins with a very common cliche in cop and detective shows. A person knows another committed a crime and they confront them....with no witnesses nearby. Naturally, the viewer knows what will happen next...the criminal (usually a murderer) will just kill that person to shut them up (duh!!). It seems like a bad sort of trope because it is so predictable.
In this case, a gossip columnist (Rue McClanahan) announces to a funeral director, Mr. Prince (McGoohan), that she knows he's stolen from the bodies....in particular a super-valuable necklace worth a fortune. And, she's planning on doing an exposee on him. But when you're dead, it's pretty hard to do much of anything! And, to get rid of the evidence, he cremates her...as after all, no one can identify whose remains are whose after a cremation. But, of course, the man will screw up some way....and Columbo will eventually discover this mistake.
The mistake made seems pretty foolish to make. Couldn't Prince have just flushed the remains or poured them down the sink or taken them home and poured them in his garden?! This is a weakness of the episode. Another weakness, albeit a much smaller one, is seeing the elderly McGoohan so easily picking up bodies and moving them about with apparent ease. These mistakes knock off a few points for me.
By the way, it was cute that the murder victim's dog was called 'Louella'. This is obviously a nod to Louella Parsons, a famous gossip columnist from Hollywood's golden age.
The story begins with a very common cliche in cop and detective shows. A person knows another committed a crime and they confront them....with no witnesses nearby. Naturally, the viewer knows what will happen next...the criminal (usually a murderer) will just kill that person to shut them up (duh!!). It seems like a bad sort of trope because it is so predictable.
In this case, a gossip columnist (Rue McClanahan) announces to a funeral director, Mr. Prince (McGoohan), that she knows he's stolen from the bodies....in particular a super-valuable necklace worth a fortune. And, she's planning on doing an exposee on him. But when you're dead, it's pretty hard to do much of anything! And, to get rid of the evidence, he cremates her...as after all, no one can identify whose remains are whose after a cremation. But, of course, the man will screw up some way....and Columbo will eventually discover this mistake.
The mistake made seems pretty foolish to make. Couldn't Prince have just flushed the remains or poured them down the sink or taken them home and poured them in his garden?! This is a weakness of the episode. Another weakness, albeit a much smaller one, is seeing the elderly McGoohan so easily picking up bodies and moving them about with apparent ease. These mistakes knock off a few points for me.
By the way, it was cute that the murder victim's dog was called 'Louella'. This is obviously a nod to Louella Parsons, a famous gossip columnist from Hollywood's golden age.
Columbo fan gives nod for Ashes to Ashes
Barry-448 August 2000
I'm a great Columbo fan and Ashes to Ashes certainly didn't disappoint me in any way, shape or form. Peter Falk, as usual is splendid as Lt. Columbo. Patrick McGoohan, as stern and sometime wry undertaker Eric Prince, plays his role precisely and believably. He had played in previous Columbo movies. Rue McClanahan plays gossip columnist Verity Chandler with such magic and charm that we want to see much, much more of her. Sally Kellerman plays Liz Houston convincingly. Along with the rest of the actors in this wonderful movie, the viewer will not be disappointed at the end of the movie. If you adore mystery and Columbo, this movie is for you! It's to be noted that it's not just the main actors that make this movie work. All actors play their parts exceptionally.
Reflective, gently humorous story
Leofwine_draca19 August 2015
ASHES TO ASHES is one of the last Columbo movies made before Peter Falk retired from the role (I think there were only two subsequent stories filmed). It's not great, but it acts well as a kind of 'celebratory' piece of all things Columbo. Hell, you even get Patrick McGoohan returning to the series for what would be the sixth and final time over the years, in a capacity of both guest star and director, so that's reason to watch alone.
McGoohan plays a funeral director who spends most of his time hanging out at his crematorium, so there's plenty of ghoulish humour evident throughout the production. The way he kills off a rival and subsequently covers up the crime is unique to say the least, and direction-wise he shoots a story that's never less than interesting.
At the same time, it's not exactly a stellar effort; there's an odd, jokey tone to the whole thing and Falk's portrayal of the titular gumshoe is at odds with what we see elsewhere. Columbo seems genuinely befuddled at some points and you can't help but feel the weight of years catching up with the old-time star. Still, ASHES TO ASHES is never less than a perfectly acceptable slice of TV mystery, if not perhaps up there with the best COLUMBO had to offer.
McGoohan plays a funeral director who spends most of his time hanging out at his crematorium, so there's plenty of ghoulish humour evident throughout the production. The way he kills off a rival and subsequently covers up the crime is unique to say the least, and direction-wise he shoots a story that's never less than interesting.
At the same time, it's not exactly a stellar effort; there's an odd, jokey tone to the whole thing and Falk's portrayal of the titular gumshoe is at odds with what we see elsewhere. Columbo seems genuinely befuddled at some points and you can't help but feel the weight of years catching up with the old-time star. Still, ASHES TO ASHES is never less than a perfectly acceptable slice of TV mystery, if not perhaps up there with the best COLUMBO had to offer.
great fun
blanche-225 November 2017
"Ashes to Ashes" from 1998 is a great Columbo episode, with Falk coming up against repeat offender from past years, Patrick McGoohan, as a murderous funeral director.
McGoohan plays Eric Prince, an ex-actor turned funeral director who sold gossip to a Louella Parsons-type TV columnist Verity Chandler (Rue McClanahan) while they were having an affair.
The affair over, Verity has done some investigation and learned that when a great screen star, Dorothea Page died, a million-dollar necklace that accompanied her to the funeral home disappeared and is what enabled Prince to buy more and more funeral homes. While attending the funeral of an old cowboy star, Verity makes the mistake of announcing to Prince that she'll be exposing him on national television in a few days.
McGoohan is terrific, perfectly controlled in his internalized anger.
It's time for Lieutenant Columbo to investigate, and we all know the rest. McGoohan and Falk play off one another perfectly.
Very entertaining episode, certainly as good as any from Columbo's golden years. Falk was 71 here - most lieutenants would have retired by then, but not this guy. Good thing.
McGoohan plays Eric Prince, an ex-actor turned funeral director who sold gossip to a Louella Parsons-type TV columnist Verity Chandler (Rue McClanahan) while they were having an affair.
The affair over, Verity has done some investigation and learned that when a great screen star, Dorothea Page died, a million-dollar necklace that accompanied her to the funeral home disappeared and is what enabled Prince to buy more and more funeral homes. While attending the funeral of an old cowboy star, Verity makes the mistake of announcing to Prince that she'll be exposing him on national television in a few days.
McGoohan is terrific, perfectly controlled in his internalized anger.
It's time for Lieutenant Columbo to investigate, and we all know the rest. McGoohan and Falk play off one another perfectly.
Very entertaining episode, certainly as good as any from Columbo's golden years. Falk was 71 here - most lieutenants would have retired by then, but not this guy. Good thing.
"Ashes to Ashes" (1998)
Wuchakk4 January 2019
PLOT: An undertaker who specializes in taking care of dead Hollywood celebs (Patrick McGoohan) murders an annoying gossip reporter whose new story would ruin him (Rue McClanahan). Since he gets rid of her body through cremation, how is Columbo going to nail him?
COMMENTARY: McGoohan was friends with Falk and appeared in four installments as the antagonist; the three previous episodes were "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), "Identity Crisis" (1975) and "Agenda for Murder" (1990). He also directed six segments, including this one. There's just something about his chemistry with Peter Falk that almost guarantees a quality installment, and so it is here. It's not quite as good as "Agenda for Murder" IMHO, but it's certainly worthy.
GRADE: B
COMMENTARY: McGoohan was friends with Falk and appeared in four installments as the antagonist; the three previous episodes were "By Dawn's Early Light" (1974), "Identity Crisis" (1975) and "Agenda for Murder" (1990). He also directed six segments, including this one. There's just something about his chemistry with Peter Falk that almost guarantees a quality installment, and so it is here. It's not quite as good as "Agenda for Murder" IMHO, but it's certainly worthy.
GRADE: B
The Mortician
AaronCapenBanner8 March 2016
Patrick McGoohan makes his fourth appearance(and third as director) as Eric Prince, a successful mortician who caters to the Hollywood set that finds himself being threatened by an obnoxious gossip columnist named Verity Chandler who(unwisely) tells him that she plans an expose on his suspected long ago crime of a diamond necklace theft, so he abruptly kills her, then hastily substitutes her body for another due for cremation, thinking that if there is no body, there can be no crime proved, but Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) has enough doubt to inspire him to do something quite clever at the end to catch the killer... McGoohan is excellent as usual, both in front of and behind the camera, creating a sympathetic murderer you almost hope gets away with it! Morbid setting is handled with a deft touch, and this would have worked well as the series finale, but two more episodes would follow. Nice closing line(an in-joke) as well.
Always a joy with Patrick directing
gene-0720217 December 2019
Ashes to Ashes
Prismark107 December 2019
Eric Prince (Patrick McGoohan) is a failed British actor who became a successful funeral director in Hollywood.
Verity Chandler (Rue McClanahan) is a gossip columnist on the warpath against Prince as he ditched Chandler as his flame. He also provided gossip to her based on the deceased bodies of the rich and famous.
Chandler has some dirt on Prince about some stolen jewellery from a dead film star. She plans to expose Prince but he bumps her off and cremates her body.
Columbo gets involved first as a missing persons case. He is shocked that Chandler would leave her dog alone and starving. He then homes in on Prince, certain that he murdered her.
McGoohan stars and directs this episode. As always McGoohan is wonderful. Cunning, clever and resourceful. However Columbo steadily gets under his skin. McGoohan has appeared several times in Columbo and had a good rapport with Peter Falk. It shows in this episode.
There are several problems with this episode. Columbo goes looking for a house he saw in a photograph in Sunset Boulevard and he finds it. It is 22 miles long.
There is some mention of diamonds never burn. They do burn at temperatures of over 850 Celsius, about the same temperature that gas fueled incinerators can reach and even exceed.
I am not sure why Prince needs a helicopter to scatter ashes, he has big grounds in his funeral home and could just had scattered them there.
Steven Bochco a regular writer on Columbo gets a namecheck in this episode.
Verity Chandler (Rue McClanahan) is a gossip columnist on the warpath against Prince as he ditched Chandler as his flame. He also provided gossip to her based on the deceased bodies of the rich and famous.
Chandler has some dirt on Prince about some stolen jewellery from a dead film star. She plans to expose Prince but he bumps her off and cremates her body.
Columbo gets involved first as a missing persons case. He is shocked that Chandler would leave her dog alone and starving. He then homes in on Prince, certain that he murdered her.
McGoohan stars and directs this episode. As always McGoohan is wonderful. Cunning, clever and resourceful. However Columbo steadily gets under his skin. McGoohan has appeared several times in Columbo and had a good rapport with Peter Falk. It shows in this episode.
There are several problems with this episode. Columbo goes looking for a house he saw in a photograph in Sunset Boulevard and he finds it. It is 22 miles long.
There is some mention of diamonds never burn. They do burn at temperatures of over 850 Celsius, about the same temperature that gas fueled incinerators can reach and even exceed.
I am not sure why Prince needs a helicopter to scatter ashes, he has big grounds in his funeral home and could just had scattered them there.
Steven Bochco a regular writer on Columbo gets a namecheck in this episode.
Good Columbo episode
Wizard-84 June 2017
Although "Ashes to Ashes" is not one of the best "Columbo" episodes, it is all the same a solid episode, especially when you consider that during this period the show was often hit or miss. It does have some flaws here and there. Like many of the latter day episodes, it does seem to be a bit long and slow at times. Columbo himself also seems to be a bit slower in his actions and words as well. Also, I was able to guess more or less what would prove to be the downfall of Patrick McGoohan's character in the first ten or so minutes of the episode! But McGoohan does prove to be a pretty good opponent - he comes across as smarter and craftier than the usual suspects that Columbo dealt with over the years. And while this episode is longer and slower than other episodes, I can say that it's never boring. Fans of the show should be fairly satisfied with the end results.
The last great episode of Columbo.
Hotwok201326 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Patrick Mcgoohan both guest stars & directs "Ashes To Ashes", in my opinion, the last really outstanding Columbo episode. Playing mortician Eric Prince he murders a former lover & gossip columnist Verity Chandler played by "Golden Girl" Rue Mclanahan. Resenting being dumped by him years before she threatens to make public some dirt she has learned about his past. Whilst attending a funeral she confronts him in his funeral home about what she intends to do. "You burned me once baby, now I'm going to burn you", she tells him. In fact, after murdering her Mr. Prince burns her by cremating her & gives the urn containing her ashes to a woman whose husband has just died. Her husband had served in Vietnam & the urn containing his real ashes are disposed of later by our murderer. After Verity has gone missing Columbo is called in to investigate her disappearance & soon suspects that the mortician was somehow involved. The urn containing the real husband's ashes also contain metal fragments of shrapnel from injuries sustained in Vietnam, (which were not destroyed during the cremation process), & it is these that help Columbo nail the mortician. Mcgoohan was such a great actor that whatever role he played he was always convincing & when undertaking to play an undertaker, (if you will pardon an obvious pun), he is entirely believable. Most of us Columbo fans think the two best guest actors were Jack Cassidy who played in three episodes & was always suavely villainous along with Patrick Mcgoohan. Jack Cassidy (father of pop star David Cassidy) died in 1976 in a house fire &, surely, would have appeared in more Columbo's but for the tragedy. Patrick Mcgoohan was a close friend of Peter Falk & appeared in four (three of which he directed). I wouldn't like to choose a favourite but between the two of them they made some great Columbo episodes.
Ashes to Ashes --or--Patrick McGoohan as the Greek Phoenix!
ratssaidskinner18 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I've been a fan of Columbo for decades. Prescription: Murder, the official introductions of Falk as Columbo aired as a TV movie in 1968. Although Columbo's persona and mannerisms were remarkably different from those we've grown to love throughout the Columbo series, Falk was a natural.
In my opinion, the earlier seasons of Columbo (Seasons 1 through 7 from 1971 through 1978), were the best. I believe most fans would agree. After season 7, it was hit and miss. As the seasons/years continued, there were fewer episodes that had that "Columbo Edge" although there were still some good ones. This episode, Ashes to Ashes, was, in my humble opinion, one of the better later episodes. It appears to me that Falk thoroughly enjoyed and savored his role in this episode; and it was evident in his mannerisms. This was the first time I saw this episode. After the first 15-30 minutes, I was NOT very captivated from what I saw. The acting appeared a bit weak and contrived and the story wasn't very clear nor interesting. But kudos to the writers and Mr. Falk for doing a 180 degree turn and breathing life and increasing interest in to this one! I wish there was more of a cat and mouse play throughout this episode as the ending seemed somewhat rushed. Yet I had a smile on my face when Falk ended the episode saying, "It's your funeral" as he closed the case and casket on Patrick McGoohan, who also directed this episode. I also admire the "loyalty" that existed in "recycling" many guest stars. Patrick McGoohan, for instance, McGoohan directed five episodes of Columbo and starred in 4 episodes as the murderer: By Dawn's Early Light (Emmy Award) (1974), Identity Crisis (1975), Agenda for Murder (Emmy Award) (1990), and Ashes to Ashes (1998).
Overall, I'd give this 7.5/10 stars and would recommend it to Columbo fans who may have missed it.
In my opinion, the earlier seasons of Columbo (Seasons 1 through 7 from 1971 through 1978), were the best. I believe most fans would agree. After season 7, it was hit and miss. As the seasons/years continued, there were fewer episodes that had that "Columbo Edge" although there were still some good ones. This episode, Ashes to Ashes, was, in my humble opinion, one of the better later episodes. It appears to me that Falk thoroughly enjoyed and savored his role in this episode; and it was evident in his mannerisms. This was the first time I saw this episode. After the first 15-30 minutes, I was NOT very captivated from what I saw. The acting appeared a bit weak and contrived and the story wasn't very clear nor interesting. But kudos to the writers and Mr. Falk for doing a 180 degree turn and breathing life and increasing interest in to this one! I wish there was more of a cat and mouse play throughout this episode as the ending seemed somewhat rushed. Yet I had a smile on my face when Falk ended the episode saying, "It's your funeral" as he closed the case and casket on Patrick McGoohan, who also directed this episode. I also admire the "loyalty" that existed in "recycling" many guest stars. Patrick McGoohan, for instance, McGoohan directed five episodes of Columbo and starred in 4 episodes as the murderer: By Dawn's Early Light (Emmy Award) (1974), Identity Crisis (1975), Agenda for Murder (Emmy Award) (1990), and Ashes to Ashes (1998).
Overall, I'd give this 7.5/10 stars and would recommend it to Columbo fans who may have missed it.
Buried
safenoe9 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Ashes to Ashes is the final television and final on-screen performance for Patrick "The Prisoner" McGoohan, and he also directed Ashes to Ashes. I sometimes wonder how actors direct themselves, like Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen and Bradley Cooper does. Anyway, Golden Girl Rue McClanahan also guest stars in this episode as the murder victim, and it was a shame she didn't get much more screen time.
I'm enjoying watching the modern day Columbos, especially as many were filmed in the 90s, especially after the famous trial of the century of a retired NFL star and actor. Anyway, Ashes to Ashes is worth watching.
I'm enjoying watching the modern day Columbos, especially as many were filmed in the 90s, especially after the famous trial of the century of a retired NFL star and actor. Anyway, Ashes to Ashes is worth watching.
The Lady In Red
kyrn12311 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This started out to be too comical at first with Rue playing a gossip columnist on TV spilling secrets with the local Hollywood famous and infamous. Patrick McGoohan, making his 3rd appearance in Columbo, also directs this episode. Peter Falk is really looking much older here. There were a couple other episodes before he retires from the series and Alzheimer's Disease takes a devastating toll on Falk. Nonetheless, this is a strong episode in the later episodes of Columbo. It's a strong script and Patrick is wonderful as always (previously winning 2 Emmys for other Columbo episodes). Great performances by all involved. A good episode to soon conclude the Colombo series.
All the episodes are great
deram-7796327 August 2018
Great until the end, then one horrible, glaring flaw.
RafeMT20 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I've been a fan of Peter Falk's Columbo since its "NBC Mystery Movie" days. The not-nearly-as-dumb-as-he-seems approach always did it for me. It was almost like possessing a hidden super-power, which was even better when used against self-assured characters like Patrick McGoohan's. (And I've also been a fan of Patrick McGoohan's since his "Secret Agent" and "Prisoner" days.) So when "Ashes to Ashes" showed up on my TV schedule, I was all ready for a nostalgic treat. Everything was great... until the end.
It seems that diamonds were being smuggled out in bodies destined to be cremated, and then being recovered from the ashes. My heart sank. Why? It's physically impossible. Cremation furnaces run at around 870 to 980 degrees C. When diamonds get that hot, guess what? They burn, just like coal. They are a form of carbon, after all. I can't believe this movie made it all the way through production and release and no one noticed this high school chemistry-level flaw.
It seems that diamonds were being smuggled out in bodies destined to be cremated, and then being recovered from the ashes. My heart sank. Why? It's physically impossible. Cremation furnaces run at around 870 to 980 degrees C. When diamonds get that hot, guess what? They burn, just like coal. They are a form of carbon, after all. I can't believe this movie made it all the way through production and release and no one noticed this high school chemistry-level flaw.
Sally Kellerman
jnyatgnfn11 October 2020
Scorned and Scorched
bkoganbing28 May 2017
Patrick McGoohan made the last of his appearances on his good friend Peter Falk's series with this Columbo story. In it he plays a failed actor who became a mortician. In fact he's in the funeral home chain business and is quite wealthy.
He gets a visit from an old girlfriend gossip columnist Rue McClanahan who lets him know that she's about to expose him for robbing the corpse of a deceased silent movie star who was buried with a valuable diamond necklace. The money McGoohan got from fencing the jewels set him up in business where he provided all kinds of tidbits for McClanahan over the years. But he also dumped her and she is a woman scorned.
Here's where the weakness of the story is. Instead of visiting and informing McGoohan of her plans, McClanahan should have just done it. That's what a responsible reporter would do. Wanting to see his face when informed cost her life.
As McGoohan cremated the body there's no evidence. So it's a missing persons case that Columbo is working on. As for a cover-up McGoohan played a shell game with the corpses. Still of course Columbo solves it and more I can't say.
There is a great part in this story for Edie McClurg who wants the simplest kind of funeral. Just burn him and put him in a paper sack and throw it away. She wasn't exactly a grieving widow and her husband was something of a deadbeat.
I'd like to rate this one higher, but McClanahan's actions were too unrealistic even for a woman scorned and scorched.
He gets a visit from an old girlfriend gossip columnist Rue McClanahan who lets him know that she's about to expose him for robbing the corpse of a deceased silent movie star who was buried with a valuable diamond necklace. The money McGoohan got from fencing the jewels set him up in business where he provided all kinds of tidbits for McClanahan over the years. But he also dumped her and she is a woman scorned.
Here's where the weakness of the story is. Instead of visiting and informing McGoohan of her plans, McClanahan should have just done it. That's what a responsible reporter would do. Wanting to see his face when informed cost her life.
As McGoohan cremated the body there's no evidence. So it's a missing persons case that Columbo is working on. As for a cover-up McGoohan played a shell game with the corpses. Still of course Columbo solves it and more I can't say.
There is a great part in this story for Edie McClurg who wants the simplest kind of funeral. Just burn him and put him in a paper sack and throw it away. She wasn't exactly a grieving widow and her husband was something of a deadbeat.
I'd like to rate this one higher, but McClanahan's actions were too unrealistic even for a woman scorned and scorched.
Excellent
The Peacemaker22 May 2000
I saw this at a young age and loved it! My mother always taped Columbo movies, and I watched it with her. I understood perfectly! A woman clubbed to death, then cremated with stolen diamonds down her throat. The chemistry is great. I'm not as much of a Columbo fan as my mom, but I recommend it for mystery and Columbo fans!
Why Does Peter Falk Have To RUIN
deblasiogwae31 May 2020
Every episode (like in the conclusion of Ashes to Ashes) with his high pitched screaming, obnoxious voice? Did he think the audience was all deaf. Perfectly fine shows are ruined by his histrionics. It was disgusting.
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