User Reviews

The '80's Columbo movies aren't really known as the best one within the series but this movie forms a good and enjoyable exception. No big surprises, since the movie is directed by James Frawley, who always knew how to make a good and entertaining Columbo movie.

It's also a movie with one of the best Columbo movie-titles. Sex and Columbo in one sentence is of course something completely strange, funny and interesting, before you even start to learn what this movie is all about. When a successful sex therapist learns that her lover is cheating on her she murders him. The fact that Columbo's main suspect is a sex therapist brings the lieutenant in some awkward and embarrassing positions, which of course works out well for the movie its amusement level. It's also a surprising sensual movie for a Columbo movie entry. Normally the movies are quite tame, old '30's movie- and TV style, with its romance.

The movie has a good build up and is also otherwise fine constructed. Despite the fact that the Columbo character shows up fairly late into the movie, the movie isn't among one of the worse ones, like normally so very often is the case when Columbo first enters so late into the story.

Lindsay Crouse played a fine role opposite Peter Falk. She gives away a good performance and her character is a good one. She is an actress who mostly acts in television projects and isn't too well known, despite the fact that she in 1985 received an Oscar nomination for her role in "Places in the Heart", in which she starred together with Ed Harris, Sally Field, John Malkovich and Danny Glover.

It was simply a pleasant movie to watch, due to its pace, story, settings, the very much present humor, characters and performances and directing from James Frawley.

8/10

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Columbo's episodes are really quite a combination of serious, lightheartedness, good acting, an excellent cast, and drama mixed with comedy. Sex and the Married Detective casts Lindsay Crouse who is an excellent actress and does a superb job in this episode. She plays a sex therapist who discovers and learns of her lover's infidelity. She decides revenge. I found this episode to be much more entertaining than some others and still worth watching again and again. I found the interaction between Columbo and the Crouse to be the most interesting as well. Like most of Columbo episodes, one of the trademarks is to treat the audience and the suspect with intelligence rather than dumbing them down.

SEX AND THE MARRIED DETECTIVE was one of the first outings for TV detective Columbo after an eleven-year hiatus for the show. It's certainly a return to the classy days of old, with strong production values, an effective soundtrack, and an above-average script which has a ball with the unusual premise.

Guest star Lindsay Crouse plays a sex therapist who discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She decides to commit the perfect murder by disguising herself as another woman and bumping him off - only to have the crumpled sleuth turn up in an attempt to solve the crime. We're in cosy territory here with a very familiar format, but the sex angle of the screenplay allows for plenty of funny moments where we see Columbo actively embarrassed for once.

In fact, there's a noticeable comedic angle to the whole film, and Peter Falk seems to be having a ball with it. The scene where he has a go at playing the tuba is a particular delight. Crouse is an effective star and the two have some great interplay. And it's not all comedy - the set-piece scene with the briefcase is a masterclass in building suspense to great effect.

Dr Joan Allenby is a successful sex therapist whose book and radio show has captured the imagination of free-minded Americans. In her own love life things are great with lover Simon Ward but, when a cancelled flight sees her return home unexpectedly, she learns that Ward is seeing another woman. Planning her revenge, Allenby offers to act out a fantasy of being a call girl for Ward. Meeting him in a bar in a wig and provocative clothes she gets the dual benefit of enticing him while also convincing witnesses that Ward paid a woman for sex. Back in his room she shoots him and then slips back to a corporate party unseen to keep her alibi up. Columbo is put on the case and starts to follow up the leads, although he can't help but be interested in the world of sexual therapy that he is suddenly exposed to and something about Allenby and the murder just doesn't ring true.

As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula – we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler – it is simply what happens in all the films. With this strict adherence to formula it is usually down to several factors whether or not the Columbo film stands out or if it is just average. With this film though, I wasn't sure what I was going to get because this is the first of the "new" Columbo's that I had seen and I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good thing or not. The opening set-up to the crime doesn't have the feel of a Columbo film but it is more down to the feel and look of the film rather than the material. The plot unfolds as per formula but the comic asides (the tuba etc) don't fit in very well and they tend to break up the development of the case.

Part of the problem is the direction of the actors and the performances themselves. Falk appears to be playing Columbo rather than being Columbo; it is a difficult distinction to describe but it is occasionally quite off-putting and this is far from being his best performance (I'm not sure if this is the case with all the modern films). Crouse is pretty average, both by herself and also in her ability to play off Falk. She is all a bit bland and certainly not the flamboyant and eccentric type of character that the story suggested she would be. Support is roundly unimpressive except for a nice turn from the barman with a good eye. The direction of the film is so-so but the weakest place is the music – it is seedy and unimaginative and lacks the class that the delivery of the series in the 1970's had.

Overall this has just about enough going for it to keep Columbo fans happy but don't think for a minute that this is of the standard of the series made in the seventies because it isn't. The delivery is off, the plot is OK but the additions don't always work and, surprisingly, the performances are not all they could be and even Falk seems to be lacking something in his delivery.

PLOT: Lindsay Crouse plays a sex therapist/radio show host who murders her cheating lover by masquerading as a mysterious "lady in black" high-class hooker.

COMMENTARY: This is a strong latter-day segment highlighted by Crouse as the brainy sex counselor masquerading as the black-clad courtesan in order to get away with murder. One reviewer argued that she's the farthest thing from attractive, even as the mysterious call girl, but I beg to differ. She's my kind of woman: intelligent, not too young and curvy. Her only downfall is that she's ruthlessly vindictive.

The quality score displays some sweet sensuous sax throughout. Another highlight is the scene where Columbo visits the magnificent abode of Dr. Allenby (Crouse) and, to her dismay, the mysterious suitcase that contains evidence linking her to the murder becomes the center of attention.

People complain about two 'filler' parts: (1.) When Columbo plays the tuba at the music institute and comically becomes a veritable pied piper; and (2.) when he offers relationship advice to one employee after another at the sex therapy center. My response is that ALL of the second generation Columbos (1989-2003) run around 94 minutes and so there's padding in every one of them. At least these two parts are amusing. Besides, not every episode has to be ultra-serious from beginning-to-end. There's room for a dash of light comedy and cuteness.

GRADE: B+

I am quite surprised at how many negative reviews I have seen here. I happen to think this is one of the best Columbo episodes around. I personally don't like the choice of music, because it is synonymous with cheesy sexual films. Other than that, however, I think this episode is first rate. Lyndsay Crouse does a superb job as the murderer. Columbo is not turned into a senile caricature, as in some of the later episodes. He retains his dignity throughout, with the occasional comic responses and scenes. The brief bathroom scene, and the longer scene in which he plays psychologist are both hilarious, and his embarrassed expressions and comments when the topic of S-E-X comes up are very endearing, and in line with his old-fashioned character. As for those critics here who have pointed out the incredible 'luck' in finding clues, I don't think that is the case at all. He finds them primarily because of his extraordinary awareness and astute recognition, not because of luck. Most other people simply would not notice a tag hanging from someone's clothing. His cat and mouse games with the suspect are highly enjoyable. As always, he accords respect for an esteemed person even after he suspects them of murder, and is more apt to put off any direct suggestions of guilt until he pretty much has it all in the bag. Finally, his manner of setting her up in the final scene, as well as her concerns regarding what he thinks about her and his eloquent and sensitive response, introduce an interesting psychological layer to the story. Thoroughly entertaining and absorbing.

Very weak motive for murder here. When she asked what kind of dessert she would be to her lover right before blowing him away, he should've repeated to her face "rice pudding" before taking the bullet just to tick her off. And he was probably right too and she was like rice pudding in the sack. All lifeless and mushy and that truth is what drove her to murder.

Had she just walked into the room upon finding her lover with her secretary and attacked him there, it would've been an understandable crime of passion in the heat of the moment.

Instead she shows what a calculating, methodical psycho she is by planning an elaborate dress up scheme to murder him. But why not go for the secretary too? Why does she get a pass for her betrayal? It would've made more sense for her to go after them both.

And being a sex therapist who probably sees these kinds of betrayals all the time, it's surprising how she flies to murder just from finding her lover of only 3 years with another woman.

Is it because he called her rice pudding in bed? Come to think of it, rice pudding is warm comfort food so she could've taken it in a positive way and just dumped him the next day and went on with her successful life.

To kill a boyfriend just because he cheated on her makes her incredibly weak and pathetic, especially since she didn't bother to go after the secretary who was supposed to be loyal to her. I think her betrayal was far worse than his was. I still enjoyed it though, but wish she had a better motive for murder.

I as I have said many times have always been a great fan of Columbo. While few of the later episodes are as amazing as the pre-1989 episodes, there are about five or six worthy ones and Sex and the Married Detective is one of them. Stylishly filmed and atmospherically scored, the episode can't be faulted production-values-wise. The story is always interesting, with many a delightful scene like Columbo playing the tuba and one of the cleverer murder scenarios of the later episodes, and the dialogue is clever with wit, ingenious humour and tension to savour. The support cast are among the better ones of the later entries of Columbo in my opinion, Stephen Macht impresses with his sliminess, while Peter Falk is brilliant as ever(then again Falk rarely disappointed as Columbo, even when Columbo was not as well written or if the episode wasn't up to standard he always did his best), and Lindsay Crouse is superb in a well-written role, one of the more memorable guest villain performance of the pro-1989 episodes for me. Overall, a great, sexy entry. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I enjoyed watching Columbo come alive once again, as usual, in an environment that he knows little about, and again with his usual character. The therapy sessions are occasionally quite entertaining, but the episode is otherwise quite routine, but not less enjoyable.

Lindsey Crouse's tour-de-force performance as a nationally known sex therapist who is betrayed by fiancee Stephen Macht (himself, delightfully slimy) has a special place in my heart. The story is extremely well told with lots of humor and terrific supporting performances. The murder plan is ingenious and memorable executed. Columbo has a field day with the sex therapists. Columbo playing the tuba was a lot of fun also. The look Crouse comes up with for her courtesan alter ego is stunning. The scene where Columbo holds up a social event while he scans the Ladies' Room for clues is an all-time classic. The ending scene with the fireplace is very compellingly set up. This is one Columbo that should not be missed.

Columbo playing the tuba? Yes, that's one of the highlights of this delightful and funny adventure, in which a famous sex therapist crosses wits with our hero. Another great moment is Peter Falk giving advice to a bunch of psychiatrists! This really is one of the best outings for Columbo and will delight fans, both old and new.

I am very surprised that none of the reviewers have mentioned that Lindsay Crouse here is reprising a very similar (maybe too similar) role of a betrayed therapist who exacts her revenge on cheating lover in David Mamet's (her husband at the time)superb noir "House of Games". Of course, this episode was not created by David Mamet so it bears no comparison in quality with the original but it's entertaining enough to deserve a viewing. Peter Falk is great as always and there are touches of comedy that helps the viewing. If you are reading this and have not seen "House of Games" you owe it to yourself to look it up. You'll thank me later!

Undergoing a personality/dress transformation that would rise the male libido, a sex therapist seeks revenge on her unfaithful lover. As she matches wits with the Peter Falk's wily "Columbo," guest star Lindsay Crouse is brilliant as the murderous doctor. The evocative musical score adds much to the story line and is appropriate seductive.

Crouse's quick change from the straight-laced doctor to the no-holds-barred temptress is worth the viewing alone. Further evidence that we all have a bit of a villainy in us, just lying beneath the surface.

This is one of the best of the television specials featuring Falk in his Emmy-winning role.

...inside my television. This is the 5th time it airs in under 2 months, between COZI and MeTV, you'd think no other episodes were ever made! Actually, this is one of the better episodes. All the other times I try to tune in, it's duds. Admittedly, this is one dreadful show. It's always a carbon copy of a previous one, like Bewitched. You've seen one you've seen them all! It's very hard for this show to hold my interest. I change channels during commercial break and I come back on time for Act II but holy ship of mercy, this series is a snoozefest that looses my interest fast. I need something a bit more stimulating.

Well this one is a bit better. It's got the great music by Patrick Williams, one of my favorite composers ever. It holds my interest. It's got great decor. Now, I can't tell you that I'm gonna run out and start turning my bedroom red, satin sheets, red wallpaper, Tiffany lamps, carpets, chairs, black statues and black accents but I can tell you this: it's turned me into an interior decorator. An armchair one. Does anyone have twenty grand lying around and wanna hire me? I'll totally replicate this room for you. The saxophone CD is on me, free.

Otherwise, what can I tell you? There's the wealthy man's Mariette Hartley running around doing naughty things and using disguises. That keeps your interest. If you ever need to change your Superman (or Wonder Woman) suit and have run out of phone booths, a public restroom will do just as well. Bunch up your stuff in butcher's paper and have plenty of tape to spare. Then watch this show to know what to do with it.

This episode is 10/10 for Patrick Williams. 8/10 for the decor. 8/10 for Lindsay Crouse's performance and about a 6/10 for Columbo. (What can I say? He just bores me and he smokes cigars, yuck!) Well, if you got the old TV show channels, you're sure to run into this show. No spoilers. There's the red lamp, red carpet, velvet red chairs. Oh yeah. Fascinating decor even though it's not for me. At least this show has visual appeal. And a fire place in the middle of the bedroom to boot. What more could you want? A great review, which you're just done reading. Now rate it with a Yes or a No button below. The end.

I watched this episode after reading the critics on IMDb. So, as a Columbo fan myself, I was waiting for a good moment with a 7/10 episode. To my surprise, I tremendously enjoyed this episode to the point that it instantly became my favorite one and that I felt the need to review it. And actually this is my first review on IMDb. I'm still under the charm of it while writing this review so I'll need a bit of thinking in order to put my finger on what made me like it so much. First, the acting was superb! Both Peter Falk and Lindsay Crouse were at the top of their art. Mrs Crouse was absolutely natural and everything she played was just right: her nervousness, her courage, her emotions always sounded real. As for Peter Falk, he is aging, it's certain, but he replaces his youth's intensity with a charming wit, a strengthened empathy and a wisdom only age brings. To the point of comedy, when people start to seek advices from him and get enthusiastic when answered tricky, general answers. And this was actually I think the funniest episode of all. I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. There were several scenes added only for their comedy value, like when Columbo plays the tuba or tries to rescue a clue from a chatty Russian maid. The clues weren't so obvious, so Columbo's opponent was still tricky to tame. The last part of the episode was executed like a ballet, when Columbo served back Dr. Allenby her own telephone dish. Last but not least, this is one of those rare episodes when Columbo, just like the spectator, feels sympathy and understanding for the murderer. Definitely a divine surprise after the mixed reviews I had read here.

It was a good plot. Good setup. Good conclusion.

That music on the other hand was used way too much and by the time the episode reached the conclusion you were totally sick of it.

Seriously is that the only music they had? No variation considering the episode was a good 90 minutes long?

The Premise that therapists themselves are insecure is pretty accurate. They operate on ego but have the same problems as everyone else as well as the same drives.

The crime itself is the show here, and Lindsay Crouse is a revelation as the betrayed and mocked sex therapist who exacts delicious revenge on faithless creep, Stephen Macht. Macht, for his part, is equally marvelous as the slimy lover. All the characters are fascinating in this exploration of how emotion distorts the ultimate game of the mind. This is one of my three favorite episodes of all time.

I'm not trying to say this is a bad Columbo offering. There is a lot of padding that seems to go on to make these fill a two hour time slot when commercials are added. A radio sex therapist who also writes books on the subject, has become fascinated by a younger man. In her profession one would assume that the eternal triangle is always lurking out there. After three years with this flighty guy, she inadvertently sees him romping with a younger woman. She can't just kill him, so she adopts a disguise to cover her trail, then lets him have it. Columbo shows up on the scene and becomes pest number one. I believe he suspects her from the get go, but the evidence is shaky. Once more, the murderer makes things so elaborate that a slip up is bound to occur. She is formidable. Columbo is uncomfortable with her because of what she teaches, but soldiers on. There is one segment where he is in a hallway and four people take him into their confidences. It's a little bit Marx Brothery and fill up time.

This episode has been recapped well already, so I won't pollute the reviews with another recap. The episode was not my favorite, but still entertaining and worth watching. I'll start with the not-great aspects, which should be taken with a huge grain of "I am not a detective" salt.

• The story line is easy to follow, but the details are a little vague for me. I'm still not sure how the price tag would be such a clear giveaway to him as a clue.

• There were a lot of obvious mistakes - for example, her nails are bright red when she dresses the first time as "Lisa", then she goes into the music party as her normal Dr. Allen Self. Her nails are a nude mauve color. She goes into the restroom to change, and suddenly, bright red talons! In the next scenes, the nails toggle between both colors, and this is all a giant sign that I'm obsessed with nail colors, but still, this was a bit of a miss.

• Here is a biggie for most of us: the tuba scene. It. Made. No. Sense. Why? What was the point? His eccentricity? For sure, C is an eccentric guy, but there were many other ways to convey it, as most of the episodes do flawlessly. (Cracking his breakfast hardboiled egg on the hood of a dirty vehicle? Yep, he did that on another episode!). Bottom line to the tuba: weird and worth seeing because it is so weird.

• The disguise: it was unclear to me why she had to delay tossing it. Was this for effect, to show that she still wanted to play that Lisa role, or was there a real clue impact? Not sure (remember, novice detective here).

• Lack of backup to the side affair: was David just with the assistant (red-ribbon Cindy) to satisfy his physical whims? There is no reason or understanding of why Cindy would do this with him, or motive for her to be so removed from her friendship with Doc Allen. It's easy to chalk it up to jealous women, but a woman in real life is more likely not to do this without a little more context.

• the taped bag underneath the sink: there had to be a better way to hide her outfit or disguise how she transported it. It was not practical, and I lost track of why she had to leave it behind or risk it being found.

--- On other levels, this show had many great moments:

• The actress playing Dr. Allen was great - she sounds like a voice-double for Kathie Lee Gifford, and had similarities in her appearance; I found her presence to be comforting, so it made this show more appealing to me.

• The awkward, bashful moments with Columbo's aversion to 'frank' talk was just hilarious. His voice, his facial expressions...pure joy for me.

• As a child of the 80s, I enjoyed seeing how this show released old concepts that would be absolutely unreal today, like the fact that they had that "sex room" for therapy, or that people would use it for their own needs when they could just as easily get a hotel -- super campy and fun.

• The best: the oh-so-campy wind instruments that helped set the stage for this lascivious plot: you can practically see the Nigel prints in the living room without ever opening your eyes. Coupled with the bold synthesizer strokes and sizzling saxophone, it's nothing but 80s to the max.

As always, Peter Falk is a true gem, and nothing changes that for me, no matter which episode I'm seeing.

Columbo goes a bit racey. Dr Joan Allenby (Lindsay Crouse) is a famous sex therapist with a hit radio show and a popular book. When she discovers her business manager and lover is having an affair she concocts a cunning and deadly plan to erase him. She creates a persona of a sexy high class hooker with a black wig who leaves with the victim at a bar. Columbo is soon on the case and a hanging price tag on the therapist's coat leads him to the right trail.

Like the other new Columbo stories, the set up takes a lot of time. The episode also has a lot of filler such as Columbo playing the tuba with some school kids. I also found Lindsay Crouse a bit flat, I remember her impressive performance in House of Games. There is a scene with a bartender who recalls the incident where the back wigged lady met the victim. It had verve and humour which a lot of this episode is missing.

One of the absolute best Columbo episodes so far. I think the music is nice and fitting. In terms of Columbo episodes, this can be watched and enjoyed for a long time.