Brimmer is head of a private investigation firm hired to look into the potential that the young wife of newspaper magnate Arthur Kennicut is having affairs. Brimmer finds evidence that she is of course, but covers it up, tells him that she is in the clear and then turns to his wife in secret and tells her to pass information on her husband's powerful friends back to him in return for his silence. When Mrs Kennicut visits Brimmer late at night and refuses to do this she says she will reveal the truth (the whole truth) to her husband. Knowing this will destroy him, Brimmer kills her and dumps her body on the other side of town. The police have no leads so Kennicut employs Brimmer to aid the investigation; Columbo welcomes the help but soon things begin to make him suspect Brimmer.
As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler it is simply what happens in all the films. With this film the formula is pretty different because Columbo finds himself working alongside the murderer with no suspicions and no reason to suspect. However this quickly changes but although Columbo starts with the usual cat and mouse games, Brimmer is less guarded because he never seems to suspect that Columbo suspects him and it allows the script to throw in some clever moments. Specifically it is fun to watch Columbo play down certain facts while playing up others, all as part of drawing things out of Brimmer and gradually setting the trap to draw him in. The script doesn't manage to set up the reasons for Columbo's suspicions very well but the formula carries us through this because really it is only doing what we expect it to.
The cast do well and they help things immensely. Even at this early stage in the series, Falk is impressively natural as Columbo and he is subtle and enjoyable. Culp is good and the fact that he doesn't allow himself to know he is being setup makes it all the better; the way that the murder is played out allows us to see his horror and cold precision and it is the unpremeditated aspect that makes him interesting. Milland is good in a minor role but, as always it is the main two characters that make or break the film in this case making it.
Overall an enjoyable Columbo film that changes the formula so that the usual cat n' mouse games are all on one side, allowing a nice trap to be set up even if the reasons for Columbo's initial suspicions are not that convincing. Fans will enjoy it and the casual viewer will also find much to appreciate.
As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler it is simply what happens in all the films. With this film the formula is pretty different because Columbo finds himself working alongside the murderer with no suspicions and no reason to suspect. However this quickly changes but although Columbo starts with the usual cat and mouse games, Brimmer is less guarded because he never seems to suspect that Columbo suspects him and it allows the script to throw in some clever moments. Specifically it is fun to watch Columbo play down certain facts while playing up others, all as part of drawing things out of Brimmer and gradually setting the trap to draw him in. The script doesn't manage to set up the reasons for Columbo's suspicions very well but the formula carries us through this because really it is only doing what we expect it to.
The cast do well and they help things immensely. Even at this early stage in the series, Falk is impressively natural as Columbo and he is subtle and enjoyable. Culp is good and the fact that he doesn't allow himself to know he is being setup makes it all the better; the way that the murder is played out allows us to see his horror and cold precision and it is the unpremeditated aspect that makes him interesting. Milland is good in a minor role but, as always it is the main two characters that make or break the film in this case making it.
Overall an enjoyable Columbo film that changes the formula so that the usual cat n' mouse games are all on one side, allowing a nice trap to be set up even if the reasons for Columbo's initial suspicions are not that convincing. Fans will enjoy it and the casual viewer will also find much to appreciate.