Any Old Port in a Storm
- Episode aired Oct 7, 1973
- TV-PG
- 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.A wine connisseur kills his half- brother to prevent him selling the family winery to a merchant company so he can pay off his gambling debts.
Regis Cordic
- Lewis
- (as Regis J. Cordic)
Monte Landis
- Steward
- (as Monty Landis)
John Blower
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPeter Falk has stated that this episode is his personal favorite. He said that this was the first episode in which Columbo developed a sincere fondness for the murderer. Speaking of Columbo and the Donald Pleasence character, he said that "the two men shared something in common: an admiration for excellence." This was discussed in a 10-minute interview by Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)" three days before the original broadcast of the episode, in which Falk praised the skills and performance of Pleasence.
- GoofsThe wine that Carsini and Columbo drink at the conclusion is a white dessert wine. No white dessert wines are ever marketed in a fiaschi or straw-covered bottle.
- SoundtracksThis Old Man
(uncredited)
English children's folk song
Whistled by Peter Falk
Featured review
Best of the best
ANY OLD PORT IN A STORM is the greatest of all the Columbo TV movies that I've been watching recently as it's just the perfectly-made episode. It features an excellent and humble performance from Peter Falk as the investigating detective and a wonderful guest star in the form of Donald Pleasence, who brings warmth, quirkiness, and humour to his role. It has everything you'd want from a Columbo story and more besides.
The storyline involves the fussy owner of a winery who prides himself on his ability to sniff out and collect only the very best wines. Unfortunately he's saddled with a younger half-brother who plans to sell the business for his own ends, and the winery owner isn't about to let that happen. A moment of rage is followed by a carefully-considered plan to make murder look like an accident, but will Columbo be fooled?
We all know where this story is going, but ANY OLD PORT IN A STORM features wonderful scripting, the great solving of clues, and some hilarious set-pieces to enjoy. The scene where Columbo is trying to find out the previous week's weather is a comic highlight, but Pleasence's explosion in a high-class restaurant is the stand-out moment. Watch out for Gary Conway (LAND OF THE GIANTS) in his cameo as the younger brother.
The storyline involves the fussy owner of a winery who prides himself on his ability to sniff out and collect only the very best wines. Unfortunately he's saddled with a younger half-brother who plans to sell the business for his own ends, and the winery owner isn't about to let that happen. A moment of rage is followed by a carefully-considered plan to make murder look like an accident, but will Columbo be fooled?
We all know where this story is going, but ANY OLD PORT IN A STORM features wonderful scripting, the great solving of clues, and some hilarious set-pieces to enjoy. The scene where Columbo is trying to find out the previous week's weather is a comic highlight, but Pleasence's explosion in a high-class restaurant is the stand-out moment. Watch out for Gary Conway (LAND OF THE GIANTS) in his cameo as the younger brother.
helpful•192
- Leofwine_draca
- Jun 30, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- "Columbo - Wein ist dicker als Blut" (1975)
- Filming locations
- Mirassou Winery, 3000 Aborn Road, San Jose, California, USA(Carsini Winery)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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