Susan Clark plays an excellent murderess in this movie, stifled and controlled by her brother who manages the family business and the money. Her plan to break free of his control and take over the business herself is well worked out and seems foolproof, but one miscalculation leaves her having to improvise her way out one problem after another. Leslie Nielsen, as her lawyer boyfriend, turns in a fine performance, as he plays a sensible, serious role with humour but without the manic quality that has come to be his trademark. Peter Falk's Columbo does a good job worrying and nibbling at the truth, forcing the killer to come up with more lies and explanations, until the contradictions close in on her and she is caught. The viewer finds himself sympathizing with the murderer at the beginning, but her growing confidence and arrogance as she reaps the fruits of her crime succeed in making her downfall a satisfying one.
44 Reviews
The Woman Appears
ColumboCaseFiles29 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Beth Chadwick (Clark) kills her brother Bryce (Anderson) when he bars her consort with Peter Hamilton (Nielsen), the last straw in preventing her from living her own life at all.
Something interesting here is how the murder is played out twice. First we see her imagining it, planning it even — and we can imagine that she has imagined it many, many times before — and then we see it carried out. And the second time we see it with all the mistakes!
This is interesting because most commonly we might see something the killer doesn't while he — in this case, she — is committing the crime, but this episode gives us "the perfect crime" she conceived and how it went awry.
Also, in other episodes in the series, while we might see one or two items (a misplaced article of clothing, say), this time we see multiple problems — he comes in the house from a direction she doesn't suspect, the newspaper, the boyfriend coming over for a chat with Bryce, just to name a few.
And this is cool: she could not have prevented them. They aren't "her" mistakes so much as aspects she could neither foresee, nor prevent if she had seen them.
For instance, she doesn't — and more importantly, can't — know enough about any of the three elements I mention above (brother's entrance, newspaper in the hall, main squeeze dropping by). In some cases, she doesn't (and can't) know anything about the many spanners in her murderous works.
For us as the viewers, we can simply enjoy the festivities — and appreciate the creativity. We not only get to see the murder in advance — a twist on the mystery genre that Columbo is known for, if not inventing than at least promulgating and popularizing.
But we also get to see essentially all of the errors in advance, too. These are the mistakes Lt. Columbo will gradually discover — as ever he does — but this time we see them first.
I really appreciate how well the show tells Beth Chadwick's story. Based on some of what happens after Bryce is dead, we must conclude the woman was chafing under her mother's and her brother's rule for some time — and had already begun to take steps to emerge/escape.
So the murder was "the last straw" in several ways, and did not so much enable her to break free (though in practical terms, yes) rather it was a culmination.
She was heading this direction for a long time.
NOTES First appearance of Fred Draper: he's the cab driver here, and will play in five other episodes, including one as the killer.
Leslie Nielsen died only recently, at age 84 in 2010. He'll be the victim in "Identity Crisis" (5:3). Later he spoofed police procedurals in the too-brief Police Squad.
Richard Anderson went on to "The Six Million Dollar Man," and as of this writing is still alive at 86.
While Norman Lloyd acted with Orson Welles and John Houseman in the Mercury Theater, 75 years ago. He was on "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s, and at this writing is alive, age 99.
Jessie Royce Landis, playing Susan Clark's mother, Mrs. Chadwick, was Cary Grant's mother in "North By Northwest" and Grace Kelly's mother in "To Catch a Thief." She died three months after the episode first aired.
Clark purveys saucy and delish, later playing the prostitute for pubescent pricks in "Porky's." She was married to the former Detroit Lions' linemen, the late Alex Karras.
This post is excerpted from the Columbo Case Files Season One (Kindle)
Something interesting here is how the murder is played out twice. First we see her imagining it, planning it even — and we can imagine that she has imagined it many, many times before — and then we see it carried out. And the second time we see it with all the mistakes!
This is interesting because most commonly we might see something the killer doesn't while he — in this case, she — is committing the crime, but this episode gives us "the perfect crime" she conceived and how it went awry.
Also, in other episodes in the series, while we might see one or two items (a misplaced article of clothing, say), this time we see multiple problems — he comes in the house from a direction she doesn't suspect, the newspaper, the boyfriend coming over for a chat with Bryce, just to name a few.
And this is cool: she could not have prevented them. They aren't "her" mistakes so much as aspects she could neither foresee, nor prevent if she had seen them.
For instance, she doesn't — and more importantly, can't — know enough about any of the three elements I mention above (brother's entrance, newspaper in the hall, main squeeze dropping by). In some cases, she doesn't (and can't) know anything about the many spanners in her murderous works.
For us as the viewers, we can simply enjoy the festivities — and appreciate the creativity. We not only get to see the murder in advance — a twist on the mystery genre that Columbo is known for, if not inventing than at least promulgating and popularizing.
But we also get to see essentially all of the errors in advance, too. These are the mistakes Lt. Columbo will gradually discover — as ever he does — but this time we see them first.
I really appreciate how well the show tells Beth Chadwick's story. Based on some of what happens after Bryce is dead, we must conclude the woman was chafing under her mother's and her brother's rule for some time — and had already begun to take steps to emerge/escape.
So the murder was "the last straw" in several ways, and did not so much enable her to break free (though in practical terms, yes) rather it was a culmination.
She was heading this direction for a long time.
NOTES First appearance of Fred Draper: he's the cab driver here, and will play in five other episodes, including one as the killer.
Leslie Nielsen died only recently, at age 84 in 2010. He'll be the victim in "Identity Crisis" (5:3). Later he spoofed police procedurals in the too-brief Police Squad.
Richard Anderson went on to "The Six Million Dollar Man," and as of this writing is still alive at 86.
While Norman Lloyd acted with Orson Welles and John Houseman in the Mercury Theater, 75 years ago. He was on "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s, and at this writing is alive, age 99.
Jessie Royce Landis, playing Susan Clark's mother, Mrs. Chadwick, was Cary Grant's mother in "North By Northwest" and Grace Kelly's mother in "To Catch a Thief." She died three months after the episode first aired.
Clark purveys saucy and delish, later playing the prostitute for pubescent pricks in "Porky's." She was married to the former Detroit Lions' linemen, the late Alex Karras.
This post is excerpted from the Columbo Case Files Season One (Kindle)
Interesting
TheLittleSongbird25 February 2011
As people know, I love Columbo and consider it one of the best detective shows ever even with one or two lacking episodes later on. Lady in Waiting is a very interesting episode in many respects. And it isn't just because it features the first female killer.
The episode is a little slow occasionally, and I felt the final solution could have been expanded a little more so that the evidence had more time to unfold.
That said, like all the Columbo episodes I was impressed with how it looked. The episode with its clever use of photography and striking locations and costumes does look great, while the music is quite effective and doesn't intrude with the tone of each scene. The writing is good and the story is clever and makes the most of a great idea.
The acting is fine. Peter Falk while more subdued(more to do with how Columbo is written than Falk himself) is still brilliant in the title role, staying true in character and delighting us once more with that quintessential catchphrase. Susan Clark is excellent as well, and I was further impressed with how she was developed in Lady in Waiting, she starts off as someone you sympathise with and are touched by and then quite suddenly she is like a different person, more ambitious and ruthless. Leslie Nielson is good in a different role to what I am used to seeing him in, but supporting wise Jessie Royce-Landis was the standout being wonderful as the domineering mother.
In conclusion, an interesting episode mainly in the show's first female killer and how she is written. 8/10 Bethany Cox
The episode is a little slow occasionally, and I felt the final solution could have been expanded a little more so that the evidence had more time to unfold.
That said, like all the Columbo episodes I was impressed with how it looked. The episode with its clever use of photography and striking locations and costumes does look great, while the music is quite effective and doesn't intrude with the tone of each scene. The writing is good and the story is clever and makes the most of a great idea.
The acting is fine. Peter Falk while more subdued(more to do with how Columbo is written than Falk himself) is still brilliant in the title role, staying true in character and delighting us once more with that quintessential catchphrase. Susan Clark is excellent as well, and I was further impressed with how she was developed in Lady in Waiting, she starts off as someone you sympathise with and are touched by and then quite suddenly she is like a different person, more ambitious and ruthless. Leslie Nielson is good in a different role to what I am used to seeing him in, but supporting wise Jessie Royce-Landis was the standout being wonderful as the domineering mother.
In conclusion, an interesting episode mainly in the show's first female killer and how she is written. 8/10 Bethany Cox
A "Columbo" movie where the killer elicits our sympathy only to lose it halfway through
J. Spurlin15 March 2005
Beth Chadwick (Susan Clark, best known for the sitcom, "Webster") has a brilliant scheme to murder her overbearing brother. On the night the servants are off, she'll trick him into entering the house through her French windows. Then she'll shoot him and tell the police she thought he was a burglar. To make this lie seem credible, she'll leave several deceptive clues, including a burnt-out light bulb and a set of keys thrown in the bushes.
But on the night of the murder, a couple of things go wrong. Her brother does not act according to her plan. And her boyfriend (Leslie Nielsen) unexpectedly shows up at the door only minutes after she pulls the trigger. These later seem to have been minor obstacles – until our rumpled Lt. Columbo unravels her defense.
Stephen Bochco, who earlier had scripted the great "Columbo: Murder by the Book" (then went on to create TV series like "Hill Street Blues," and "NYPD Blue") gives us our most sympathetic "Columbo" killer yet. Miss Chadwick is a mousy introvert who suddenly flowers when her domineering brother is dead. And when Chadwick's belittling mother (Jessie Royce Landis) greets her daughter with a slap across the face, we're willing to forgive this murderess anything.
But Bochco makes the interesting decision to slowly turn us against her. As she reaps the rewards of her crime, she becomes arrogant and imperious. She takes over the family business, makes radical changes and threatens to fire anyone who may disagree with her. She even announces her engagement to her boyfriend, which surprises him as much as anyone else. Bochco's decision was probably wise. We can't help but root for the most diabolical of murderers in this series, but ultimately we want Lt. Columbo to triumph. Make the killer too sympathetic, and we'd want to throttle our beloved detective.
Still, this absorbing entry is not one of the top-notch "Columbo" episodes. It's one thing for a killer to be a charming rogue from beginning to end. But it's another to engage our emotions then cut them off halfway through.
I think the key to the problem is Peter Hamilton, the boyfriend. When we lose sympathy for Miss Chadwick, we naturally should be transferring it over to him. But we can't. We can accept as plausible the idea that Hamilton really loves her; we can accept that he is not the fortune hunter her family says he is. But nothing – in the script or in the male mannequin charms of Leslie Nielsen – makes this fact come alive for us. Hamilton is about to lose the woman he loves, and we don't care.
But you won't be griping about any of this when you see it. This probably won't be your favorite "Columbo" episode, but you'll still be thoroughly entertained.
But on the night of the murder, a couple of things go wrong. Her brother does not act according to her plan. And her boyfriend (Leslie Nielsen) unexpectedly shows up at the door only minutes after she pulls the trigger. These later seem to have been minor obstacles – until our rumpled Lt. Columbo unravels her defense.
Stephen Bochco, who earlier had scripted the great "Columbo: Murder by the Book" (then went on to create TV series like "Hill Street Blues," and "NYPD Blue") gives us our most sympathetic "Columbo" killer yet. Miss Chadwick is a mousy introvert who suddenly flowers when her domineering brother is dead. And when Chadwick's belittling mother (Jessie Royce Landis) greets her daughter with a slap across the face, we're willing to forgive this murderess anything.
But Bochco makes the interesting decision to slowly turn us against her. As she reaps the rewards of her crime, she becomes arrogant and imperious. She takes over the family business, makes radical changes and threatens to fire anyone who may disagree with her. She even announces her engagement to her boyfriend, which surprises him as much as anyone else. Bochco's decision was probably wise. We can't help but root for the most diabolical of murderers in this series, but ultimately we want Lt. Columbo to triumph. Make the killer too sympathetic, and we'd want to throttle our beloved detective.
Still, this absorbing entry is not one of the top-notch "Columbo" episodes. It's one thing for a killer to be a charming rogue from beginning to end. But it's another to engage our emotions then cut them off halfway through.
I think the key to the problem is Peter Hamilton, the boyfriend. When we lose sympathy for Miss Chadwick, we naturally should be transferring it over to him. But we can't. We can accept as plausible the idea that Hamilton really loves her; we can accept that he is not the fortune hunter her family says he is. But nothing – in the script or in the male mannequin charms of Leslie Nielsen – makes this fact come alive for us. Hamilton is about to lose the woman he loves, and we don't care.
But you won't be griping about any of this when you see it. This probably won't be your favorite "Columbo" episode, but you'll still be thoroughly entertained.
"Lady in Waiting" (1971)
Wuchakk22 January 2019
PLOT: The repressed and overprotected sister (Susan Clark) of an ad agency executive murders her brother (Richard Anderson) and stages it as a mistaken burglary. This takes place right after he threatens to fire her fiancé who works for the company (Leslie Nielsen). She then morphs into a startlingly confident and ruthless power broker.
COMMENTARY: Clark is excellent as the stifled wallflower turned murderess with a semi-mad gleam in her eye while Nielsen is just as good in a convincing serious role. The intriguing plot is original (for Columbo, at least) and the way the rumpled gumshoe pesters the woman with details, even after an inquest declares the killing accidental, is gripping drama. So "Lady in Waiting" is on par with the stronger Columbo outings. But there are glaring plot holes that lower my grade...
Why is there no trace of blood on the floor where her brother falls on the floor? After all, she shot him three times. And why is there no line of blood leading to where the body is dragged, keeping in mind that she had zero time to clean anything up?
Furthermore, since when are American detectives allowed to freely march into a citizen's abode in the middle of the night and confront a suspect in her bedroom? Officers must knock before entering a home, declare their presence, and wait for the inhabitant to come to the door. This is called the "knock-and-announce" rule. The reason for this rule is to allow people a chance to respond so that violence can be avoided and privacy ensured, otherwise police can waltz right into any abode and watch individuals having sex, bathing or going to the bathroom.
Also, do detectives continue pursuing cases after the suspect has been declared innocent by a court of inquiry? Are they paid to keep harassing the individual or do they do this on their free time?
And doesn't Columbo take a great risk at the climax? After all, this woman has proven that she's a little sociopathic (to put it nicely) and more than willing to murder someone in cold blood. Yes, he takes a similar risk in "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine" (1989), but he was much older then and confident of his conclusions on the suspect's character based on decades of experience.
"Lady in Waiting" is an entertaining episode, but there are too many blatant plot issues.
GRADE: B-/C+
COMMENTARY: Clark is excellent as the stifled wallflower turned murderess with a semi-mad gleam in her eye while Nielsen is just as good in a convincing serious role. The intriguing plot is original (for Columbo, at least) and the way the rumpled gumshoe pesters the woman with details, even after an inquest declares the killing accidental, is gripping drama. So "Lady in Waiting" is on par with the stronger Columbo outings. But there are glaring plot holes that lower my grade...
Why is there no trace of blood on the floor where her brother falls on the floor? After all, she shot him three times. And why is there no line of blood leading to where the body is dragged, keeping in mind that she had zero time to clean anything up?
Furthermore, since when are American detectives allowed to freely march into a citizen's abode in the middle of the night and confront a suspect in her bedroom? Officers must knock before entering a home, declare their presence, and wait for the inhabitant to come to the door. This is called the "knock-and-announce" rule. The reason for this rule is to allow people a chance to respond so that violence can be avoided and privacy ensured, otherwise police can waltz right into any abode and watch individuals having sex, bathing or going to the bathroom.
Also, do detectives continue pursuing cases after the suspect has been declared innocent by a court of inquiry? Are they paid to keep harassing the individual or do they do this on their free time?
And doesn't Columbo take a great risk at the climax? After all, this woman has proven that she's a little sociopathic (to put it nicely) and more than willing to murder someone in cold blood. Yes, he takes a similar risk in "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine" (1989), but he was much older then and confident of his conclusions on the suspect's character based on decades of experience.
"Lady in Waiting" is an entertaining episode, but there are too many blatant plot issues.
GRADE: B-/C+
Interesting Female Murderer
merrywater10 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is one of my favourites. It's psychologically challenging as the murderer (or murderess?) may react in two widely different ways once the crime is committed: either she will regret it and admit to her being guilty, or she may carry on, strengthened by it. In the first instance, there wouldn't have been a Columbo case at all so it has to turn out according to the latter prospect. The murderer gets hubris and starts to act erratically, making people suspect her after being acquitted.
I believe that Susan Clark makes a terribly good job in keeping with the role's character even when it's out of it! A repressed, spinster kind of girl turns a barracuda type of a woman, but it's all along the lines of someone that is, for instance, a borderline personality.
Great episode, although a bit slow paced.
There's a certain Hitchcock quality about the crucial sequence when she's staring at the drapes, imagining and anticipating the murder.
This episode also has a nice musical score.
I believe that Susan Clark makes a terribly good job in keeping with the role's character even when it's out of it! A repressed, spinster kind of girl turns a barracuda type of a woman, but it's all along the lines of someone that is, for instance, a borderline personality.
Great episode, although a bit slow paced.
There's a certain Hitchcock quality about the crucial sequence when she's staring at the drapes, imagining and anticipating the murder.
This episode also has a nice musical score.
Susan Clark in a wonderful performance
blanche-28 September 2005
Before Susan Clark became famous for the sit-com "Webster," she was a highly-touted TV movie of the week star and had a film career as well. In this Columbo, she is a mousy, albeit wealthy young woman who has lived her life under the thumb of her father, and after he dies, her brother (Richard Anderson). She hatches a plot to kill her brother, who is interfering with her plans to marry an employee (Leslie Nielsen) of the family company but if anything could go wrong on the evening of the murder, it does.
Columbo is brought in, and he immediately finds some questionable items, and things become clear as, over time, the lady completely reinvents herself, taking over the company, getting a new hair color and hairdo, a fashion makeover, and a rather unattractive, aggressive change in attitude.
There is a great performance by Jesse Royce Landis as the mother (who greets her daughter by slapping her in the face, and makes Columbo pay her exorbitant cab fare).
It's a shame that Clark does nothing today, but I suppose, sadly, her age is a factor. She seems to have found great happiness in her long marriage to Alex Karras, but her fans miss her. If you're not familiar with her work, catch her in this Columbo episode.
Columbo is brought in, and he immediately finds some questionable items, and things become clear as, over time, the lady completely reinvents herself, taking over the company, getting a new hair color and hairdo, a fashion makeover, and a rather unattractive, aggressive change in attitude.
There is a great performance by Jesse Royce Landis as the mother (who greets her daughter by slapping her in the face, and makes Columbo pay her exorbitant cab fare).
It's a shame that Clark does nothing today, but I suppose, sadly, her age is a factor. She seems to have found great happiness in her long marriage to Alex Karras, but her fans miss her. If you're not familiar with her work, catch her in this Columbo episode.
Top Columbo episode
edgeofreality5 July 2021
Great Murderer, Great Plot, Lousy Evidence
Tarasicodissa8 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The Columbo episodes that most engaged me were the ones where he responded emotionally to the murderer. Those where he clearly likes the killer (Susan Clark in this episode, Donald Pleasance's wine geek, Ruth Gordon's mystery writer avenging the murder of her niece) and those where he despises the murderer (Robert Conrad's fitness chain owner, Leonard Nimoy's ice veined surgeon, Louis Jourdan's TV chef).
Here, we see Columbo's clear sympathy for a woman ground down by a domineering mother and brother. He acknowledges that her brother's death is the best thing that ever happened to her. He sympathizes with her desire for freedom. We share her freedom as she busts loose in sexy clothes and a hot new sports car. When we see what a hateful bitch her mother is, it is sealed.
The plot device of trying to diminish sympathy for Beth by making her turn into a tyrant was inadequate. The lawyer wanted a sweet, meek little creature. He wanted to be a milder version of her brother. Beth wasn't about to be anybody's meek little dependent again. He couldn't handle that. I do not find her determination that she will have only equal relationships in the future at all unsympathetic. At the board meeting she tellingly demanded when that company had had a new customer. The board was content to take things easy. She wanted to grow the company and was encountering resistance from those who wanted to just coast on existing accounts. When the leader of the board tried to talk down to her with her brother's patronizing tone she asserted her authority quite correctly. A part of growth is firing complacent people.
Ah, but the ending ! Were I sitting on the jury in Beth's murder trial, I would have found the evidence totally unconvincing. It depended entirely on Peter suddenly remembering the correct sequence of the shots and the alarm. But remember, he had already testified at the inquest exonerating her. He never said anything about any shots before the alarm then when he was her boyfriend. Now, Peter suddenly remembers it differently within hours of Beth dumping him ? A man trained to be precise and detail oriented changes his sworn testimony after his relationship with Beth Chadwick changes radically ? Counsel for the defense would have no difficulty depicting him under cross examination as a resentful ex-lover trying to get even. Or a manipulative schemer trying to take over the company. No jury is going to convict of murder almost entirely on the changed testimony of a cast off lover. Very, very reasonable doubt.
I like Beth Chadwick and take some pleasure in the knowledge that she would have beat this rap.
Here, we see Columbo's clear sympathy for a woman ground down by a domineering mother and brother. He acknowledges that her brother's death is the best thing that ever happened to her. He sympathizes with her desire for freedom. We share her freedom as she busts loose in sexy clothes and a hot new sports car. When we see what a hateful bitch her mother is, it is sealed.
The plot device of trying to diminish sympathy for Beth by making her turn into a tyrant was inadequate. The lawyer wanted a sweet, meek little creature. He wanted to be a milder version of her brother. Beth wasn't about to be anybody's meek little dependent again. He couldn't handle that. I do not find her determination that she will have only equal relationships in the future at all unsympathetic. At the board meeting she tellingly demanded when that company had had a new customer. The board was content to take things easy. She wanted to grow the company and was encountering resistance from those who wanted to just coast on existing accounts. When the leader of the board tried to talk down to her with her brother's patronizing tone she asserted her authority quite correctly. A part of growth is firing complacent people.
Ah, but the ending ! Were I sitting on the jury in Beth's murder trial, I would have found the evidence totally unconvincing. It depended entirely on Peter suddenly remembering the correct sequence of the shots and the alarm. But remember, he had already testified at the inquest exonerating her. He never said anything about any shots before the alarm then when he was her boyfriend. Now, Peter suddenly remembers it differently within hours of Beth dumping him ? A man trained to be precise and detail oriented changes his sworn testimony after his relationship with Beth Chadwick changes radically ? Counsel for the defense would have no difficulty depicting him under cross examination as a resentful ex-lover trying to get even. Or a manipulative schemer trying to take over the company. No jury is going to convict of murder almost entirely on the changed testimony of a cast off lover. Very, very reasonable doubt.
I like Beth Chadwick and take some pleasure in the knowledge that she would have beat this rap.
An above average early episode of the series
dfloro2 November 2022
A few things are notable about this episode from the first season of the show. It was one of several Columbos written by that great TV writer, Stephen Bochco, and directed by that acting/producing legend, Norman Lloyd. Among many other career accomplishments, Lloyd had worked closely with (and presumably learned a few things about directing from) master director Alfred Hitchcock, as had the supporting actress who plays the mom of Sharon Clark's character here, Jessie Royce Landis (who played Grace Kelly's mom in "To Catch a Thief" and also Cary Grant's in "North by Northwest"). And the plot is a little different from the typical Columbo setup, in that not only do we the audience know "who dunnit," but all the other characters do, as Clark admits it all right off the bat, claiming it was an (unfortunate/understandable) accident. But her excuse doesn't survive our beloved Lieutenant's intense scrutiny. I give this one an extra star for the always convincing Ms. Landis, who died just a few months after appearing in this episode.
The worm turns.
planktonrules13 August 2019
When the story begins, you see that a rich woman (Susan Clark) is struggling with a very controlling jerk of a brother (Richard Anderson)....who wants to micro-manage her life. However passive she seems, however, apparently Beth Chadwick has had enough...and soon she hatches her evil plan. She kills the brother and then pretends she shot him because she thought he was a burglar! Can she get away with it? And, does anyone care if she shot the brother?! I was actually rooting for this--especially after seeing her mother!!
Apart from the excessive use of weird electronic music throughout the episode, I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The story was mostly good, though the villain was a bit dumb later in the film....and did a lot to make herself look guilty. Still, an exciting story and well worth seeing.
Apart from the excessive use of weird electronic music throughout the episode, I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The story was mostly good, though the villain was a bit dumb later in the film....and did a lot to make herself look guilty. Still, an exciting story and well worth seeing.
Great episode, tho I found the ending catch-em weak.
reb-warrior24 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A woman kills her rich corporate bro because she hates how he controls her life and in trying to prevent her romance with a man from his office.
I love that Beth had everything planned out so perfect in her mind. It was meticulous and extremely devious. I love that her plan went awry when her bro, Bryce used a spare key. I thought the contrast between the two scenarios, the plan, and the reality was so well done. I loved seeing her run around and improvise to try and make her plan work. I think probably these scenarios were one of the best parts of the episode.
I didn't find that Beth and Columbo's cat and mouse were that great. I don't know why. Maybe because they didn't have a sort of chemistry and camaraderie there perhaps? I actually found Columbo's scenes with Peter, played by Leslie Nielson more interesting. Beth doesn't seem stable to me. She's played by Susan Clark, who was pretty well known back in the day. Bryce is played by Richard Anderson, whom I always remember as Oscar from the Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man.
Beth seems really resentful of Bryce and jealous. But does she have a point about some things? Her mother seems kind of awful putting her down, and you get the feeling she has always done that. From what is said, both Bryce and her father were extremely controlling of her. Finally, I couldn't help but feel like Beth was being written as an ambitious, hysterical woman. Which frankly comes off as kind of sexist to me. I mean they justified this by showing how she was after Bryce's death. Her spending habits were out of control and she was making radical decisions about the business. But I'm the type of person that tends to be very aware of viewer manipulation and saw what they did. Kind of reminded me of one of the pilots, Ransom for a Dead Man. Both of these were in the 70s and seems like someone behind the scenes didn't like boss women, and would write them as criminally ambitious.
I see that some are people confused that the jury acquitted Beth, so how can Columbo keep going after her due to double jeopardy? Well, that is because it was not a criminal trial. It was an inquest. Inquests are a procedure that can be used to determine the cause of death. If the jury found that it was murder, THEN a criminal trial could move forward. But here they found it was an accident. Hope that helps.
Columbo and the luggage scene was fun. I loved that he latched on to the newspaper clue. Because that actually makes a lot of sense that it didn't fit that the paper was inside on a table. So how did it get there? In fact, Columbo states that was the very thing that made him know that it was a homicide.
I think the weakest part of the episode was the catch-em evidence. I just don't think that's enough and that it would hold up in court. A witness remembering hearing the gunshots first and then the alarm after could indeed be shown as a mistake by a defense lawyer. What else does Columbo have? The newspaper? But Beth came up with a reasonable explanation. The grass? But not enough evidence there. It all really boils down to Peter's ear-witness testimony. See, not enough to convict, imo.
Entertaining episode to watch with good performances by all the actors, despite the weak catch-em part. 8/10.
I love that Beth had everything planned out so perfect in her mind. It was meticulous and extremely devious. I love that her plan went awry when her bro, Bryce used a spare key. I thought the contrast between the two scenarios, the plan, and the reality was so well done. I loved seeing her run around and improvise to try and make her plan work. I think probably these scenarios were one of the best parts of the episode.
I didn't find that Beth and Columbo's cat and mouse were that great. I don't know why. Maybe because they didn't have a sort of chemistry and camaraderie there perhaps? I actually found Columbo's scenes with Peter, played by Leslie Nielson more interesting. Beth doesn't seem stable to me. She's played by Susan Clark, who was pretty well known back in the day. Bryce is played by Richard Anderson, whom I always remember as Oscar from the Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man.
Beth seems really resentful of Bryce and jealous. But does she have a point about some things? Her mother seems kind of awful putting her down, and you get the feeling she has always done that. From what is said, both Bryce and her father were extremely controlling of her. Finally, I couldn't help but feel like Beth was being written as an ambitious, hysterical woman. Which frankly comes off as kind of sexist to me. I mean they justified this by showing how she was after Bryce's death. Her spending habits were out of control and she was making radical decisions about the business. But I'm the type of person that tends to be very aware of viewer manipulation and saw what they did. Kind of reminded me of one of the pilots, Ransom for a Dead Man. Both of these were in the 70s and seems like someone behind the scenes didn't like boss women, and would write them as criminally ambitious.
I see that some are people confused that the jury acquitted Beth, so how can Columbo keep going after her due to double jeopardy? Well, that is because it was not a criminal trial. It was an inquest. Inquests are a procedure that can be used to determine the cause of death. If the jury found that it was murder, THEN a criminal trial could move forward. But here they found it was an accident. Hope that helps.
Columbo and the luggage scene was fun. I loved that he latched on to the newspaper clue. Because that actually makes a lot of sense that it didn't fit that the paper was inside on a table. So how did it get there? In fact, Columbo states that was the very thing that made him know that it was a homicide.
I think the weakest part of the episode was the catch-em evidence. I just don't think that's enough and that it would hold up in court. A witness remembering hearing the gunshots first and then the alarm after could indeed be shown as a mistake by a defense lawyer. What else does Columbo have? The newspaper? But Beth came up with a reasonable explanation. The grass? But not enough evidence there. It all really boils down to Peter's ear-witness testimony. See, not enough to convict, imo.
Entertaining episode to watch with good performances by all the actors, despite the weak catch-em part. 8/10.
A horrid murderess in this early Columbo outing
Leofwine_draca19 January 2016
LADY IN WAITING is a solid early episode of the COLUMBO TV show, but not one of my favourites and the reason for that lies in the character of the murderess, as played by Susan Clark. Clark starts out as a mildly sympathetic character at the beginning but undergoes a transformation into one of the most repulsive and annoying characters in the whole COLUMBO canon. I ended up gritting my teeth every time she came on screen - which is a lot - which takes away from the enjoyment a bit.
Otherwise, the mystery is a simple one for Columbo to solve. Clark murders her controlling brother and pretends that she mistook him for a burglar, but her deed doesn't go exactly to plan and Columbo soon smells a rat. Peter Falk is on excellent form here and the scenes in which Clark belittles him are particularly fine. The direction has dated a little, with some cheesy dream effects and overuse of the zoom lens, but the production benefits as a whole from featuring a typically Leslie Nielsen in support back when he was playing it straight.
Otherwise, the mystery is a simple one for Columbo to solve. Clark murders her controlling brother and pretends that she mistook him for a burglar, but her deed doesn't go exactly to plan and Columbo soon smells a rat. Peter Falk is on excellent form here and the scenes in which Clark belittles him are particularly fine. The direction has dated a little, with some cheesy dream effects and overuse of the zoom lens, but the production benefits as a whole from featuring a typically Leslie Nielsen in support back when he was playing it straight.
Favourite Fussy Flatfoot Foils Femme Fatale's Fiendish Fratricide
ShootingShark6 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Beth Chadwick shoots her brother, making it look like she thought he was a burglar, in order to gain wealth and power in the family advertising business. Columbo however is unconvinced, and has a witness who may just be able to break her story ...
This is an early Columbo but a good one, thanks as usual to a tight script (by Steven Bochco) and a fine cast. Clark, a hard-working seventies actress, is one of the series more cold-blooded killers and her pale green eyes and constant self-interest make her transformation from repressed wallflower to blunt, ruthless power-broker very arresting. Nielsen is great as the straight-talking fiancé who holds the key to the case, and Landis, a great character player from the fifties (To Catch A Thief, North By Northwest), is funny and disparaging in the widower-with-a-prize-pooch role. Falk is full of his customary nuances and head-scratching bemusement, puzzling over a newspaper which shouldn't be there, hidden keys, a lightbulb that's too clean and a sportscar ordered too far in advance. The last piece of the puzzle is a doozy, and director Lloyd (himself a talented actor and producer) turns in a fine TV thriller.
This is an early Columbo but a good one, thanks as usual to a tight script (by Steven Bochco) and a fine cast. Clark, a hard-working seventies actress, is one of the series more cold-blooded killers and her pale green eyes and constant self-interest make her transformation from repressed wallflower to blunt, ruthless power-broker very arresting. Nielsen is great as the straight-talking fiancé who holds the key to the case, and Landis, a great character player from the fifties (To Catch A Thief, North By Northwest), is funny and disparaging in the widower-with-a-prize-pooch role. Falk is full of his customary nuances and head-scratching bemusement, puzzling over a newspaper which shouldn't be there, hidden keys, a lightbulb that's too clean and a sportscar ordered too far in advance. The last piece of the puzzle is a doozy, and director Lloyd (himself a talented actor and producer) turns in a fine TV thriller.
Decent Columbo episode but the revealing clue could have been spotted earlier!?
The Welsh Raging Bull19 April 2002
Susan Clark gives a fine performance as a male-dominated female who "bumps-off" her brother to protect her relationship with her boyfriend (Leslie Nielsen) and give her back her independence.
This story gathers intensity as the murderess (the first female killer in the actual TV series) is dismissive of any intrusion by others into her family business and she becomes more manipulative and insensitive as Columbo gets closer to the truth - an effective piece of scripting and a hallmark of the series in that Columbo invariably annoyed his chief suspect almost to the point of a nervous breakdown!
The ending is also significant since Columbo's life is clearly on the line. However, the effectiveness of the irony that the killer's boyfriend unwittingly gives Columbo the vital piece of incriminating information, is undone by the fact that the clue could easily have been pinpointed earlier.
This clearly gives the impression that the script-writer had some difficulty in providing a satisfactory conclusion to an originally well-thought-out concept.
This story gathers intensity as the murderess (the first female killer in the actual TV series) is dismissive of any intrusion by others into her family business and she becomes more manipulative and insensitive as Columbo gets closer to the truth - an effective piece of scripting and a hallmark of the series in that Columbo invariably annoyed his chief suspect almost to the point of a nervous breakdown!
The ending is also significant since Columbo's life is clearly on the line. However, the effectiveness of the irony that the killer's boyfriend unwittingly gives Columbo the vital piece of incriminating information, is undone by the fact that the clue could easily have been pinpointed earlier.
This clearly gives the impression that the script-writer had some difficulty in providing a satisfactory conclusion to an originally well-thought-out concept.
But she was proven innocent ??????
rustyredjeep30 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I love Colombo. Have them all on dvd. Watch them every single night years after year. Yet this episode really bothers me. She goes to court is said to be not guilty. Yet Columbo stays on the case. Why ? Why is he allowed to be on the case. It's done over end. Surprised that no one caught this. I almost feel bad for her as she really has a case against Colombo for harassment. And to bring her to court again to be tried for the same crime again don't they call that double indemnity.
So many not yet famous actors!
davislaurie3 March 2022
So i was only going to attempt to type a review bc i am so pleased & tickled with the cast! Luckily i perused prior reviews first & found that reviewer "ksf-2" already pretty much covered what i wanted to say! Funny, years ago i'd have recognized Richard Anderson from Six Million Dollar Man (i think that was the title?) & Leslie Nielson from Naked Gun series for instance but now that i'm old i recall them both from the many westerns i've seen them in. Just one more actor i recognized (from Little House on the Prarie) is Richard Bull - Nels Olsen the shopkeeper on Little House. Adored Columbo as a kid but i was like 5 years old when it began, so i didn't forget these actors were on the program - i simply didn't know them yet! Anyhoo now (at 55) i'm binge rewatching Columbo & especially since over the years i've watched every western series i could find, (re)discovering these eventually famous actors is really a blast! Of course the very best part is the joy of seeing Peter Falk in every episode! He also acted/narrated my very favorite
movie ever: The Princess Bride! Never understood how i could still be head over heels in love with the guy even years after his passing but now that my husband of 30 years died three months ago - ok now i totally get it - simply a fact - TRUE LOVE NEVER DIES! God Bless anyone bothering to read all of
my silliness, TY MUCH for allowing
me to share!
Susan Clark, Fratricide.
rmax30482325 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Susan Clark is this rich, mousy woman who is dominated by her brother, Richard Anderson. They dwell in this mansion in which Anderson runs everything. He also runs the family's advertising corporation which is making megabucks. Clark is seeing a lawyer who serves on the Board of Directors, Leslie Nielsen, younger than we're used to seeing him in the recent spoofs, more distinguished, more handsome and virile, but just as bulb-nosed. Anderson disapproves of Nielsen, whom he considers nothing more than an upwardly mobile con man. (Forgive all this exposition. I'm trying to hurry through it, honest.) As is pro forma in the series, Clark sets up an elaborate scheme to murder Anderson by tricking him into entering through her bedroom window when he returns late at night from a trip. It works -- well, almost -- and she shoots him, claiming it was an accident, that she thought he was a burglar. This far into the movie, she's been so thoroughly demeaned by Anderson that we feel sorry for her, though not sorry enough to see Anderson die. He's overbearing but not a villain, and his motives seem clean.
Enter Columbo, dressed in his usual clown outfit, smoking the good five-cent cigar that Will Rogers pined for, and in the first shot of him, he's already gotten his hands on the clue that will undo Susan Clark.
Also starring is Jesse Royce Landis in her last film, old enough now to actually BE Cary Grant's mother, her dental plate slipping -- "You mush be insane." But the movie is Susan Clark's and she does a marvelous and thought-provoking job. The thought she provokes is: "What is it that makes a person beautiful?" At first, with her black hair tied back and her face plain, she looks quite ordinary -- eyes close together, upper and lower lips identical twins, an unexceptional nose, and a strong jaw.
Once Anderson -- that nuisance -- is out of the way she takes over the company and transforms both it and herself. Her hair is dyed red and let down, and it's really fluffy, and nice to look at too. Any normal man would want to run his toes through it. Her face, properly prepared, is glorious. And she sheds her ordinary, drab outfit and wears these mind-boggling ensembles that must have driven the designer, Burton Miller, mad with ecstasy. She now flounces confidently around, taller than we'd thought, announcing her engagement to Nielsen without bothering to announce it to him first and, when he balks, she discards him as an unworthy mate after all. Who let this woman loose? Well, this is no place for a discourse on aesthetics, I guess, so let's just say it's surprising what a bit of make up and grooming can do.
I can't say the plot is entirely plausible. It suggests that the only thing standing in the way of happiness for us mousy people is one or two murders. Just bump off your brother and you're mistress of the universe -- only you have to be very careful and more thorough than Susan Clark was. She never should have left that late-edition newspaper next to the doorway where it would be the first thing that Columbo sees upon entering the house.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but Columbo unravels the scheme and solves the case.
Enter Columbo, dressed in his usual clown outfit, smoking the good five-cent cigar that Will Rogers pined for, and in the first shot of him, he's already gotten his hands on the clue that will undo Susan Clark.
Also starring is Jesse Royce Landis in her last film, old enough now to actually BE Cary Grant's mother, her dental plate slipping -- "You mush be insane." But the movie is Susan Clark's and she does a marvelous and thought-provoking job. The thought she provokes is: "What is it that makes a person beautiful?" At first, with her black hair tied back and her face plain, she looks quite ordinary -- eyes close together, upper and lower lips identical twins, an unexceptional nose, and a strong jaw.
Once Anderson -- that nuisance -- is out of the way she takes over the company and transforms both it and herself. Her hair is dyed red and let down, and it's really fluffy, and nice to look at too. Any normal man would want to run his toes through it. Her face, properly prepared, is glorious. And she sheds her ordinary, drab outfit and wears these mind-boggling ensembles that must have driven the designer, Burton Miller, mad with ecstasy. She now flounces confidently around, taller than we'd thought, announcing her engagement to Nielsen without bothering to announce it to him first and, when he balks, she discards him as an unworthy mate after all. Who let this woman loose? Well, this is no place for a discourse on aesthetics, I guess, so let's just say it's surprising what a bit of make up and grooming can do.
I can't say the plot is entirely plausible. It suggests that the only thing standing in the way of happiness for us mousy people is one or two murders. Just bump off your brother and you're mistress of the universe -- only you have to be very careful and more thorough than Susan Clark was. She never should have left that late-edition newspaper next to the doorway where it would be the first thing that Columbo sees upon entering the house.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but Columbo unravels the scheme and solves the case.
Best Episode, Phenomenal Acting
JANMAYFEB111 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
All the previous reviews elicit such passionate opinions because of the superb acting skills of Susan Clark. She was so authentic as the wounded kitten heiress. Who could not sympathize with that character? As she morphed into the liberated Beth Chadwick, she again was so authentic. This time so authentically ruthless, that the affections of the audience changed from pity to loathing. I love the character, love the script, love the score, love the performances. I believe along with other viewers that if Beth hired a decent lawyer, she would beat this rap. The evidence was far too flimsy to hold up in court. This is by far my favorite episode. All around excellence, start to finish.
so many well known actors in this one.
ksf-25 September 2020
SO many fun names here... Leslie Nielsen is the very serious boyfriend in this one. He went on to become known for dry, low-key humor. Jessie Landis was the mother in "To Catch a Thief"... here, she's the commanding mother again, who resents her son's fiancee. Richard Andersen, probably best known as Oscar Goldman in Six Million Dollar Man. keep an eye out for Marcia Wallace.. she's in the courtroom, sitting next to Columbo at the inquest. she will probably be known best as Carol, the secretary on Bob Newhart. and the running gag, where Columbo tells the little tiny barky dog to stay back, saying "Easy, easy!". will Columbo solve the murder mystery? of course, he always does! although he doesn't always get hard evidence, he sometimes finds enough to make the guilty confess. Columbo is currently showing on Sundance channel, and frequently shows on MeTV, as well as Netflix. this one is pretty good! and he DOES say "one more thing...".
Groundbreaking early episode
hnt_dnl29 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This very early Columbo episode is intriguing for several reasons. The first reason is that the antagonist is both very young and very female, which is a rare combination in the Columbo universe. Most of the female antagonists have been older, in their 40s or above. The first female killer was played by Lee Grant in the 2nd Pilot episode and she was already in her 40s and most female killers tended to be in this age range, if not older. Also, regardless of gender, the killers are almost always older and more mature. But in this episode Lady in Waiting, the antagonist is played by Susan Clark, who was actually still in her 20s at the time. And Clark was brilliant! Beth Chadwick is actually one of the very few murderers in the series that actually feels like a psychopath. In most cases, the murderer feels like a 1-and-done (sometimes 2-and-done), but in the case of Beth, I legitimately think that had she not got caught, she would have continued to kill thinking she would just get away with it. Clark plays Beth as a very disturbed young woman who has been internalizing, plotting, and planning for years for the perfect opportunity take over the family business. Make no mistake, Columbo obviously featured tons of beautiful young starlets across the decades that it was on the air, but they were usually playing either secondary parts of jilted or accomplice lovers to the male antagonists or only had bit parts as nothing more than eye candy. The sexy young female in this is the cold blooded mastermind for a change.
Another reason this episode is unique is that there was this great scene of Beth IMAGINING how her "perfectly" planned murder would go, played as a hazy dreamlike sequence. But the actual crime went a lot differently than she expected. This was a great way of showing how Beth hadn't thought of every contingency prior to enacting her plan, so we as the viewer knew something would punch a hole in her story that she accidentally shot her brother thinking he was an intruder. This episode also features a rare scene of the case actually going to court in the form of a preliminary hearing to determine the cause of death. In this case, Beth was acquitted by ruling of accident, but of course our lovably nosy Lieutenant Columbo couldn't let it go at that. At first, I wondered why Beth would get tried a 2nd time, but she actually wasn't tried the first time. It was only a hearing, not a full blown court trial. Of course had it gone to trial and she was acquitted, she couldn't be tried a 2nd time for murder. In addition to Clark's fascinating performance, the steadfast Peter Falk delivers as always and the supporting cast of Richard Anderson (of Six Million Dollar Man fame), Leslie Nielsen (from Naked Gun) and Jesse Royce Landis (from North by Northwest). The ending is pretty cool, if a bit predictable. Still, this episode deserves recognition for the showrunners taking a chance on a younger, less experienced actress as it's main villain.
Another reason this episode is unique is that there was this great scene of Beth IMAGINING how her "perfectly" planned murder would go, played as a hazy dreamlike sequence. But the actual crime went a lot differently than she expected. This was a great way of showing how Beth hadn't thought of every contingency prior to enacting her plan, so we as the viewer knew something would punch a hole in her story that she accidentally shot her brother thinking he was an intruder. This episode also features a rare scene of the case actually going to court in the form of a preliminary hearing to determine the cause of death. In this case, Beth was acquitted by ruling of accident, but of course our lovably nosy Lieutenant Columbo couldn't let it go at that. At first, I wondered why Beth would get tried a 2nd time, but she actually wasn't tried the first time. It was only a hearing, not a full blown court trial. Of course had it gone to trial and she was acquitted, she couldn't be tried a 2nd time for murder. In addition to Clark's fascinating performance, the steadfast Peter Falk delivers as always and the supporting cast of Richard Anderson (of Six Million Dollar Man fame), Leslie Nielsen (from Naked Gun) and Jesse Royce Landis (from North by Northwest). The ending is pretty cool, if a bit predictable. Still, this episode deserves recognition for the showrunners taking a chance on a younger, less experienced actress as it's main villain.
Double indemnity
stepcoach17 December 2019
Det. Frank Drebin in Columbo
SnoopyStyle12 September 2023
Bryce Chadwick (Richard Anderson) disapproves of his sister Beth Chadwick (Susan Clark) dating employee Peter Hamilton (Leslie Nielsen) and threatens to fire him. She has had enough. After a lifetime dominated by her father, she refuses to let her brother do the same. She murders her brother and it's up to Columbo (Peter Falk) to catch her.
I like that the murder is a complete mess. It's far from the perfect crime. It's also interesting to see the transition of Beth from a flustered victim to a ruthless psychopath. It's great to have a pre-comedy Leslie Nielsen and he has good scenes with Peter Falk. I would have loved Det. Frank Drebin team up with Columbo in a comedy. I know Peter Falk did a few comedies but I don't know if he did them with Leslie Nielsen.
I like that the murder is a complete mess. It's far from the perfect crime. It's also interesting to see the transition of Beth from a flustered victim to a ruthless psychopath. It's great to have a pre-comedy Leslie Nielsen and he has good scenes with Peter Falk. I would have loved Det. Frank Drebin team up with Columbo in a comedy. I know Peter Falk did a few comedies but I don't know if he did them with Leslie Nielsen.
Columbo in Waiting.
Sylviastel18 May 2006
Another Columbo episode featuring Webster actress Susan Clark as the woman who wants to lead her life without her overbearing brother's interference over the decision of her life. After his murder or accidental death, we miss Marcia Wallace, the lady at the inquest. I saw this episode on television so I don't know if it was edited out of the original episode. I like watching Leslie Nielson play the man who loves Susan Clark's character. You wonder what happens to the woman who has murdered her brother. Tired of domination, she has had enough and had planned the murder so carefully but not carefully enough until Columbo steps in asking questions. This family is definitely one of a dysfunction. Like most of the families here, they are wealthy and prominent so their lives are not as easy as we think they are because they have money. Sometimes money can cause problems as well. If her character was given independence in the first place to make her mistakes and live her life in the first place, maybe she would have faired better. Anyway, I recommend feminist critics watch Columbo episodes featuring women killers because I think there is a lot there.
Where is the blood?
wrc-9068019 April 2021
She plugs the man with three shots at close range, killing him instantly. But when she drags the body toward the door, there is no blood whatever. In the real world there would be pulsing blood and a horrible trail of blood showing that she had move the body. This ruined the whole show for me. And she was an amateurish killer - leaving other obvious clues. Columbo has cracked tougher cases.
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