To gain recognition on a research project, an ambitious doctor plans to kill a senior colleague by using dissolvable sutures when performing a heart-valve operation on him, but his plan is discovered by a nurse. When the nurse turns up dead, Columbo has a mystery with no suspects, no witnesses, no clues and no motive ...
This minor-entry Columbo uses one of the classic principles of the series; Columbo has no real evidence, but by constantly hounding the killer he forces him into various actions to try and prove his innocence, all of which subsequently become his undoing. Thus in attempting to kill Geer, Nimoy is forced to kill Francis, plant evidence at her house and kill Martin to make him a scapegoat. But if he hadn't tried to cover his tracks, Columbo would have nothing to pin on him. Nimoy is cool and collected as the methodical killer but is also fairly bland and the best of these little movies feature great star turns (Any Old Port In A Storm, Forgotten Lady, Try And Catch Me). The story is lacking in the usual humour, though there is a jolting moment when Falk gives a rare display of anger. All in all an agreeable but indifferent Columbo entry, with a fine performance by the talented and hard-working Francis as the victim.
This minor-entry Columbo uses one of the classic principles of the series; Columbo has no real evidence, but by constantly hounding the killer he forces him into various actions to try and prove his innocence, all of which subsequently become his undoing. Thus in attempting to kill Geer, Nimoy is forced to kill Francis, plant evidence at her house and kill Martin to make him a scapegoat. But if he hadn't tried to cover his tracks, Columbo would have nothing to pin on him. Nimoy is cool and collected as the methodical killer but is also fairly bland and the best of these little movies feature great star turns (Any Old Port In A Storm, Forgotten Lady, Try And Catch Me). The story is lacking in the usual humour, though there is a jolting moment when Falk gives a rare display of anger. All in all an agreeable but indifferent Columbo entry, with a fine performance by the talented and hard-working Francis as the victim.