In The Destructive Element Immerse: Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan in Columbo-land

By Rodney Marshall

IIn the Destructive Element Immerse explores the remarkable rapport which instantly and magically sparked, and then developed and deepened, between Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan on the Columbo television series. Two mavericks who had fought against the 'system' throughout their working lives, and finally found a secret sharer, a like-minded, rebellious collaborator to work with, and have fun with, on-and-off, for a quarter of a century. Two actors who refused to accept the studio's sausage factory, assembly-line approach to churning out television shows and who took the time to craft genuine TV magic. By exploring all six episodes which they worked on together, and drawing on their own recollections, this book seeks to explain how two 'rebels with a cause' sought to push the envelope on one of the most popular series in the history of television. Patrick McGoohan: "Peter has extraordinary concentration, which, of course, is the essence of Columbo...a wonderful actor...a meticulous man." Peter Falk: "Patrick is an extraordinary man...who I consider the most underrated, underappreciated talent out there." Richard Levinson: "They had a real love affair going on the set. Their acting styles clicked. They both were very caring and dedicated, so those episodes took forever." Philippe Cordeau: "Marshall's book breathes new life into Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan's long association on Columbo . He takes pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and forms a full picture. Snippets of production history, analysis of their shared episodes and insights from the actors themselves lock together to form a fascinating and moving portrait. At times, it almost feels like a three-way conversation between the author and the two men for whom he clearly has a deep love and admiration."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5GZV9NM
• ISBN13: 9798319358752
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 151 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"