An interesting choice not to compose a main theme tune, but instead to ‘cold start’ the show with overlays.
A theme tune, if memorable, would add significant stock to the show & increase branding, especially during the golden age of theme tunes 70’s - 80’s.
I seem to remember there were a number of episodes broadcast with a similar end credit scene & music however, but it was instantly forgettable. *
The sometimes tried to work the song "This Old Man" (gave his dog a bone) into the series. Columbo would sing it, hum it, or whistle it, and the soundtrack would add an orchestration. But not enough to become a true theme song.
The NBC Mystery Movie itself had a theme song (by Henry Mancini, accompanying a shot of a detective holding a flashlight) which affixed to Columbo, McCloud, and MacMillan and Wife as alternating episodes -- with some others (like Richard Boone's Hec Ramsay) being added to the "wheel" as the series went on.
Oh yes I forgot about ‘This Old Man’ - it did feature quite abit didn’t it, I guess another one of Columbo’s tropes.
I don’t think I’ve ever watched the ‘NBC Mystery Movie’ - or have I? Is that the presentation with a sunset scene as the credits, I seem to remember it is? *
I don’t think I’ve ever watched the ‘NBC Mystery Movie’ - or have I?
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It depends on if you watched Columbo "first run" in the 70's. That's what's interesting. Back then, you had to wait three weeks to GET a Columbo. It was not a weekly show. The producers said "the brew was too rich for it to be a weekly show." Too much talk. Too much prep needed for the clue-filled scripts. When you didn't get a Columbo (in the first season) you got a McCloud or a MacMillan and Wife. NBC noted: when a Columbo played, the ratings for the NBC Mystery Movie went through the roof. Then they dropped back down to earth for McCloud and MacMillan.
It was the Wednesday Mystery Movie for Season One, then it moved to Sunday permanently(with Columbo, at least) and they created a second Wednesday Mystery Movie with other detectives.
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Is that the presentation with a sunset scene as the credits, I seem to remember it is? *
Yes..with the shadowy faceless detective wielding his flashlight as photos of Peter Falk, Dennis Weaver, and Rock Hudson and Susan St. James floated by.
Ah Hah!
Now I know where my confusion came from, you see I'm from the U.K. originally, and during the 70's as a kid I was bemused why episodes of McCloud & Columbo both showed the same credit sequence, ...trademark yellow title overlays.
I thought somehow the shows were related & part of the same universe, & perhaps they were in a 'syndicate' sort of way?
As far as I can remember, there was no 'NBC Mystery Movie' indent to start the show, it just went straight to the 'cold-start' - & I was again confused when I would watch the same episode on repeats a couple of years later & the end credits had changed, gone was the 'sunset scene' to replaced by stills of the show, but your 'first run' info perfectly explains it.
I'd never even heard of 'NBC Mystery Movie' until today, so I half-expected McCloud & Columbo to team up in an episode eventually, & Peter Falk would even take a ride on his horse! HaHa :)
Thanks for the information, I never knew! *