Ruth Lytton manages a small family museum which operates at a loss. When her brother threatens to sell it, she hires the security guard to stage a break-in when the brother is there and then shoots them both. Columbo however smells something fishy ...
This is an enjoyable but undistinguished Columbo thriller, the most interesting aspect of which is the intriguing, haunted performance by Van Patten as the killer. Atypically, she plays her as a woman haunted by a past; intelligent and witty but also lifeless, enigmatic and permanently scarred by memories. There are some fine female leads in Columbo (my favourite is Janet Leigh in Forgotten Lady) but Van Patten is truly original here, and well supported by comic-relief Holm as an ageing prima donna who faints in every other scene. The plot is fine, albeit with some stodgy back-story to wade through - I like the way it leaves some key questions unanswered, and Falk and Van Patten subtly underplay it, as if they are sometimes in a movie all of their own to which the other characters aren't privy. As ever, a good quality television thriller. Unusually, screenwriter Feibleman has an interesting supporting role as Shaeffer, the unfortunate patsy of a guard.
This is an enjoyable but undistinguished Columbo thriller, the most interesting aspect of which is the intriguing, haunted performance by Van Patten as the killer. Atypically, she plays her as a woman haunted by a past; intelligent and witty but also lifeless, enigmatic and permanently scarred by memories. There are some fine female leads in Columbo (my favourite is Janet Leigh in Forgotten Lady) but Van Patten is truly original here, and well supported by comic-relief Holm as an ageing prima donna who faints in every other scene. The plot is fine, albeit with some stodgy back-story to wade through - I like the way it leaves some key questions unanswered, and Falk and Van Patten subtly underplay it, as if they are sometimes in a movie all of their own to which the other characters aren't privy. As ever, a good quality television thriller. Unusually, screenwriter Feibleman has an interesting supporting role as Shaeffer, the unfortunate patsy of a guard.