Oskar Werner plays Harold Van Wick who after marrying his wheelchair bound wife, Elizabeth (Gena Rowlands) runs the family electronics company.
Harold has taken the company in new directions such as home security gadgets and digital watches. His mother in law Margaret Meadis (Martha Scott) is not happy with declining profits. The worldwide recession is no excuse and she wants Harold to step down as chairman. Harold has murder in his mind and plans to manipulate the cctv recording system he has installed at the house.
Columbo does not buy that the murder was a robbery gone wrong. Nothing was stolen and the intruder seemed to have cleverly sidestepped the security cameras.
This is a nice episode to see the talents of Oskar Werner who made so few movies. Most people would know him from Fahrenheit 451. I could understand his anger at his mother in law. Hasn't she seen Michael Winner's film Death Wish released in 1974? What else will send home security system sales soaring!
Harold has taken the company in new directions such as home security gadgets and digital watches. His mother in law Margaret Meadis (Martha Scott) is not happy with declining profits. The worldwide recession is no excuse and she wants Harold to step down as chairman. Harold has murder in his mind and plans to manipulate the cctv recording system he has installed at the house.
Columbo does not buy that the murder was a robbery gone wrong. Nothing was stolen and the intruder seemed to have cleverly sidestepped the security cameras.
This is a nice episode to see the talents of Oskar Werner who made so few movies. Most people would know him from Fahrenheit 451. I could understand his anger at his mother in law. Hasn't she seen Michael Winner's film Death Wish released in 1974? What else will send home security system sales soaring!