![]() Her charm and smarts almost, but not quite, lift this dreary episode into “tolerable”. She has an advantage, being played – once again – by Mrs Falk, Shera Danese. While undercover, is suspected of being a cop first by Weinberg and then by art gallery proprietor Geraldine Ferguson. It’s this kind of thinking which made producers keep wanting Harpo to speak or Buster Keaton to smile (and always thought they were the first to come up with the idea). Slips into his various roles effortlessly, which suggests that his usual “Columbling” is also an act – rather weakening the character. He even points it at Weinberg in apparent anger and is later punched out by a black-clad intruder. Initially refuses to carry a gun when undercover, but if it’s that or drop the case he agrees to. ![]() Maybe that’s all the rationale we need to consider these two episodes part of a separate series.Ĭlaims to be looking forward to changing his clothes. We are again treated to the practice of introducing each act with an onscreen caption announcing the time, first seen in that other tedious McBain-inspired effort No Time To Die. I’ll happily watch bloodsoaked and sweary fiction – I think Reservoir Dogs is a masterpiece – but I don’t expect or want it when I turn on Columbo any more than I want it to become a musical, an animated cartoon or a water-ballet. ![]() As if the bloodletting and face-punching weren’t disorienting enough, Shera Danese says “bullshit” at one point and Tyne Daly “piss” at another. It’s a mystery to me why, with the creators off the 6-8 episodes a year treadmill and new Columbos appearing as occasional treats, they didn’t wait until they had a really good and typical script ready, instead of rewriting a wholly unsuitable novel and hoping that the sight of Peter Falk in a hat would tide us over. Another Ed McBain novel is pressed into service, which sends Columbo on an entirely uncharacteristic and not very interesting treasure hunt. New technology: None, as one might expect of a rewrite of a novel published in 1970.įormula intact? Hardly. Only in Krutch’s plush appartment and the art gallery does the setting resemble an actual episode of Columbo. Howcatchem: The fingerprint evidence breaks his alibi, his girlfriend switches sides and Krutch confesses without another word.Įnvironment: Police headquarters (rarely seen in the series, but often returned to here), fleapit motels, seedy back-alleys and greasy diners. For reasons which are never explained Columbo finds it expedient to have the entire meter brought bodily into the interview room to explain this clue to Krutch’s girlfriend (the coins are in a separate bag). Key clue: Krutch’s fingerprint found on a coin in a parking meter, placing him at the scene of Weinberg’s murder. Murderer’s error: Going around killing other photo-fragment holders for reasons which don’t make sense even when explained. It is eventually revealed that Krutch is just using the police to do his dirty work for him. Columbo investigates and finds the rest of the list and the rest of pieces. Murderer’s plan: Krutch tells Columbo that a list of names in his possession identifies people who own pieces of a photo which will reveal the location of the proceeds of a huge recent robbery. The Columbo team is evidently so used to the audience knowing whodunnit that they clean forgot to turn off the flashing light above his head which constantly proclaims “Bad guy! Bad guy!” But if you’re going to make it that obvious, why not just write an inverted Columbo-style mystery? Would that have been so inappropriate? The real guest-villain of the week is the smarmy insurance investigator Irving Krutch played by Ed Begley Jr. Over the course of the episode, crook Mo Weinberg (Burt Young) and Geraldine Ferguson (Shera Danese) also turn up dead. On Ehrbach’s body is a fragment of a photograph which holds the key to the plot. Murderers/Victims: This unusual episode begins with a double murder – JJ Dillinger is knifed by and shoots Eugene Ehrbach. McKittrick, Joe Chrest: Mercer, Robert Donner: Zeke, Hank Garrett: Captain Landau, Penny Santon: Lucia, Marla Adams: Sheila Byrnes, Marianne Muellerleile: Nurse Hilda, Ora Forosh: Woman Down Hill, Jeff Michalski: Medical Examiner, Alexander Folk: Patient, John William Young : Man in Pajamas, Kay Yamamoto: Front Desk Nurse, Pierrino Mascarino: Priest, John Dunbar: Photographer, Jeff Michalski: Medical Examiner, Jon Beshara: Dillinger Sergent Brown, Shera Danese: Geraldine Ferguson, Edward Hibbert: Bramley Kahn, Kirtin Bauer: Suzzie Endicott, Albie Selznich: Det. Columbo, Tyne Daly: Dorothea McNally, Ed Begley, Jr: Irving Krutch, Burt Young: Mo Weinberg, Harrison Page: Dept. Written by: Gerry Day, story by Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain)Ĭast: Peter Falk: Lt. ![]() In a nutshell: Columbo revisits the 87th precinct and plays dress-up
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