While the murder mystery itself in this COLUMBO outing is rather ordinary and familiar, it's the unusual setting which makes the story stand out. Hector Elizondo stars as a high-ranking diplomat who commits a carefully-planned murder inside his own Middle Eastern embassy. Our grizzled detective must not only seek to solve the case and bring the villain to justice, but to avoid the pit traps that high ranking diplomacy brings with it.
The Arab background to the story allows for many of the fish-out-of-water humorous moments we all know and love in Columbo. Falk gives an effortless turn, but Elizondo steals all of his scenes as the completely cold and ruthless diplomat. Sal Mineo co-stars shortly before his own real-life murder, and there's a turn from veteran actor Kenneth Tobey alongside a brief Jeff Goldblum cameo (as a protesting student). The scene in the kitchen is probably my favourite moment in this one.
The Arab background to the story allows for many of the fish-out-of-water humorous moments we all know and love in Columbo. Falk gives an effortless turn, but Elizondo steals all of his scenes as the completely cold and ruthless diplomat. Sal Mineo co-stars shortly before his own real-life murder, and there's a turn from veteran actor Kenneth Tobey alongside a brief Jeff Goldblum cameo (as a protesting student). The scene in the kitchen is probably my favourite moment in this one.