A scheming police commissioner covers up for a friend who kills his wife during a fight then blackmails him as an alibi to his own wife's murder. To expose the truth, Columbo must risk his badge and confront two killers in cahoots.
One of the best Columbo TV-movies, well directed by Falk's acting buddy Gazzara and with an absolutely top-notch script by longtime series writer Peter S. Fischer. The story is slightly derivative of Strangers On A Train, but it twists and turns beautifully, pits our hero against one of his most deadly foes (and an intimidatingly powerful performance by Kiley), is shot through with great ideas (the nightdress under the pillow, no prints on the phone, the tell-tale soap in the autopsy, the fake address on the file) and is suspenseful and witty throughout. Aside from Falk and Kiley's enjoyable duelling, this one also has a very strong support cast, with McGuire as the nervous accomplice, Avery as the down-at-heel cat burglar, Murphy as the philanthropist wife and Finnegan as the robbery detective all memorable and well above standard for TV acting. Classic murder mystery fare.
One of the best Columbo TV-movies, well directed by Falk's acting buddy Gazzara and with an absolutely top-notch script by longtime series writer Peter S. Fischer. The story is slightly derivative of Strangers On A Train, but it twists and turns beautifully, pits our hero against one of his most deadly foes (and an intimidatingly powerful performance by Kiley), is shot through with great ideas (the nightdress under the pillow, no prints on the phone, the tell-tale soap in the autopsy, the fake address on the file) and is suspenseful and witty throughout. Aside from Falk and Kiley's enjoyable duelling, this one also has a very strong support cast, with McGuire as the nervous accomplice, Avery as the down-at-heel cat burglar, Murphy as the philanthropist wife and Finnegan as the robbery detective all memorable and well above standard for TV acting. Classic murder mystery fare.