Columbo (TV Series) Double Exposure (1973) User Reviews

Sublime entry in the TV series!!

[The Welsh Raging Bull · 8/10 · 24 June 2003]

A Season 3 Columbo episode that is particularly underestimated for its engrossing qualities, which are facilitated by a very tightly-structured plot and script with very few secondary characters, brisk pacing and an enormous amount of screen time between Columbo and villain.

Robert Culp makes his third and final appearance as a Columbo villain, playing a motivational research specialist whose blackmailing scheme, involving his potential (married) business clients and a model he is using for the advertising campaigns, is threatened to be exposed by one of his clients...

Quite possibly this is Culp's best performance of the three; remarkably calm, assured and purposeful throughout despite the increasingly intrusive nature of Columbo's questioning. There are some great scenes between the two in a supermarket and (even better) on a golf course.

The quality of the episode is all the more remarkable given the moderate quantity of circumstantial clues, yet the basic murder set-up is really quite ingenious, particularly as the murderer is able to hide the murder weapon in a very clever and almost foolproof manner. This accentuates the lack of predictability in this story as Columbo has to be really smart to uncover the truth: the finale is superbly ironical and the elements of smartness possessed so markedly by the villain in the preceding sequences are wonderfully transferred to the dogged and ultra-persistent hero.

Addicts may also note that Columbo mentions the "Hayward case" early on in this story, which interestingly refers to the previous episode entitled "Candidate for Crime."

An undoubtedly solid episode, which is precise in its intentions and very competent in its delivery.

One of the most interesting Columbo episodes

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 13 March 2011]

I don't put Double Exposure up there with the very best of the Columbo episodes, but it is one of the better and more interesting ones. While the episode does start off a tad slow, where Double Exposure interests most is in the subliminal images/cues which are very well-done.

Visually, once again Double Exposure looks great with fine photography, lighting, costumes and locations, and the music both adds to the atmosphere and fits well with the 1970s period. The story has very rare a dull moment, has some great interaction between Falk and Culp, has some decent clues and a well thought-out ending where Culp's character is at his most interesting, while the script has its funny and thoughtful moments as one would expect.

The cast do very well and are helped by some good direction. Peter Falk is stellar as always, and Robert Culp is also rock-solid and delightfully snotty. Overall, very interesting, well thought-out and beautifully played. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The Culp factor

[martinxperry-14868 · 9/10 · 9 June 2018]

I am a big fan of Robert Culp. Before his acting career took off he and a pal would make some money weekends by racing motorcycles. His friend was Steve McQueen. There was something that Robert Culp brought to each role, a unique quality. He was always cerebral and wiley. He is always a step ahead, even as the end approached, his character maintained a touch of class. I always liked episodes with Robert Culp in them. As his friend Steve McQueen was able to do, Robert Culp brought his own touch of style and McQueen grade of coolness.

One of the Best Ever

[sunshineplays · 10/10 · 14 August 2005]

Most of the 1970s Columbos are excellent and "Double Exposure" is one of the very best. The motivational psychology angle works well and offers Columbo some intriguing research to do. The villain is played by Robert Culp and this is his third and last appearance in 1970s Columbo. (He would return as the father of a villain in a 1990s episode - "Columbo Goes To College".) Culp is a class act and he brings the right balance of arrogance and likable roguishness to the part. Falk clearly loves playing against Culp and as a result he raises his game giving one of his most grounded performances as the detective. The interaction between the two is a joy and look out for Columbo's "you can't win them all" line which is the climax to some verbal jousting between him and Culp. Overall, this would be in my top 5 Columbos of all time.

One of the very best Columbo-episodes

[jéwé · 10/10 · 21 December 2000]

"Double Exposure" is one of the best in this long running series that peaked in the 70's to my opinion. As these films are no whodunnit's, the detective's opponent needs to be a strong character. You bet Robert Culp is one.And he is in top-form as Bart Keppel with his 'subliminal cuts' in advertisement. I think I've seen this one about ten times now and it's still very good entertainment. Note : Culp is also in one or two other episodes, notably in 'The Most Crucial Game'. Brilliant cat-and-mouse-play.

Can subliminal advertising help you commit a murder? Find out on today's episode of "Columbo"!

[J. Spurlin · 11 January 2007]

Dr. Bart Keppel (Robert Culp) styles himself as a "motivation research specialist," and it's true he has written several books on marketing and made a name for himself on the subject of "subliminal advertising"—which involves inserting frames of an advertised product into the reels of a film. The frames go by too fast for the conscious mind to note them; but subconsciously the mind picks them up and makes the viewer crave what is pictured. But this advertising expert's more lucrative sideline is blackmail. He takes secret pictures of his married clients with a girl hired to tempt them. His latest victim, Vic Norris (Robert Middleton), balks and wants to turn in Dr. Keppel (don't call him Mr. Keppel) to the D.A. The blackmailer prevents this by murdering Norris during a screening of a promotional film. He finds a clever alibi and an even cleverer way of tempting his victim into the wrong place at the wrong time. But his projectionist (Chuck McCann) finds out and blackmails the blackmailer. It's up to our rumpled Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) to use subliminal tricks of his own to unmask the killer.

This enjoyable "Columbo" episode, directed by Richard Quine from a script by Stephen J. Cannell, bears resemblance to "Columbo: Death Lends a Hand," which also featured Robert Culp as a killer who blackmails one victim too many. The subject of subliminal advertising is amusing, though I think the idea was discredited at some point. The last I heard of it was when some Japanese animators innocently inserted frames of American flags into episodes of the TV cartoon, "Alf." There was an uproar, but the idea of hypnotizing people with frames of film came to look silly. Still, give this episode your willing suspension of disbelief, and you'll enjoy it.

The Columbo Story With The Subliminal Images

[ShootingShark · 6/10 · 20 April 2007]

Dr Bart Keppel is a media consultant who uses subliminal images in a marketing film to engineer the murder a blackmailed client threatening to go public. When Columbo is assigned to the case, he decides to use Dr Keppel's own methods to ensnare him ...

This is one of the most interesting Columbo stories - the one where the victim is plied with salty caviar and then shown a film with subliminal images of cool drinks, causing him to go out to the water-font in the lobby and get shot. This main conceit - and Stephen J. Cannell's entire script - is a bit silly (there's even a moment where Columbo leaps out from behind a bush to catch the crook in the act), but it's chock-full of nifty ideas and amusing developments. The moment where Culp asks Falk which way to the murder scene, the projectionist's-penny-on-the-floor idea, and the entire golf-course sequence are all priceless, and Falk and Culp are both sensational. I guess I'm a sucker for any movie that uses subliminal images (The Exorcist, They Live, From Dusk Till Dawn), which were a big advertising concern at the time. This isn't one of the most plausible Columbo stories but it's undeniably fun.

Culp's last appearance as the killer is maybe the best episode of the series

[Mr_Blonde3 · 10/10 · 2 June 2013]

For the longest time, "Any Old Port in a Storm" and "An Exercise in Fatality" were my top two "Columbo" episodes. I enjoyed "Double Exposure" on my first viewing, but it didn't blow me away.

Upon buying a season 3 disc with "Any Old Port in a Storm" at a used bookstore, I lucked into the fact that it also contained "Double Exposure" on the disc. Having not seen it for awhile, I decided to give it another shot.

Needless to say, I watched it several more times and couldn't believe just how great it was. It's unseated the previous two episodes I've mentioned as my favorite, and I've not yet seen another episode that quite beats it.

Culp is Dr. Bart Keppel, a Motivational Research Specialist who specializes in helping businesses give customers what they want. He discovered the power of subliminal messaging and uses it to his advantage when committing his murder. Keppel is a blackmailer, using a woman to lure business associates and then getting photos of them in the act (An interesting parallel to his character in "Death Lends a Hand", who didn't use the same methods, but was nevertheless a blackmailer) His latest victim isn't going to sit still, so Culp gives him oversalted caviar, puts a subliminal photo of a cool drink in a film he's screening, sneaks out while narrating the film (Using a recorded tape while he's away) and then shooting the victim with a gun with a converter after he goes to quench his thirst from the fountain. By using the converter, the bullet appears as a different calibre than the gun used, and covers up the fact the gun was fired.

One of the best things about this episode is the interplay of Falk and Culp, and the character of Keppel himself. Whereas in "The Most Dangerous Game" the interactions between Culp and Falk were heated, here Culp's Dr. Keppel is a very cool man under pressure.

Another great aspect of the episode is how Keppel covers his tracks. Sure Columbo suspects him, but Keppel takes the proper steps. Recording over the tape, copying the film, inserting the cuts and destroying it, etc.

I even forgive the episode for a plot point I dislike in some of the other episodes, and that's the forced elimination of a 2nd victim who uncovers the murderer's plot, here the projectionist who decides blackmailing Keppel is a better plan that going to the police. The idea didn't work in "Dagger of the Mind" but definitely works here, based on the cool, calculating man Keppel, as Culp plays him, is.

And what makes it even better is the fact that Culp knows less than halfway into the episode that Columbo suspects him and taunts him over the fact that he has no proof. In fact, I would challenge viewers to find a better interplay between Columbo and the killer than this episode. "A Stitch in Crime" and "An Exercise in Fatality" are great in this regard, but still not as good as Culp in this role. In the other two episodes, Nimoy and Conrad find out shortly before the reveal Columbo's true feelings about them. Here, Culp has several scenes were both know what the other knows, yet also know Columbo has nothing.

The best scene, IMO, in the entire series is when Columbo asks Keppel to accompany him to the scene of the projectionist's murder. Keppel knows Columbo knows he killed the man who's crime scene they're going to, and casually asks which way to go, as Columbo said nothing about the location. After all, he couldn't possibly know how to get there, right? He compliments Columbo's attempt to trip him up, and Columbo pays respect to the fact that he couldn't. A later scene between Falk and Culp on the golf course is also letter perfect. "Here's my ball. I'll just throw it out here a little bit....And no one will ever know." The episode features great support from Robert Middleton and Chuck McCann as the first and 2nd victims, respectively, Louise Latham as the first victim's wife who Culp unsuccessfully tries to frame for the crime, and even a brief appearance by George Wyner as one of Culp's employees.

But once again, it's Falk and Culp who really make this episode shine. While maybe not the best of "Perfect Crimes" is definitely up there, and definitely is one of the best episodes of the original series. They definitely saved the best for last for Robert Culp.

Short and snappy

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 31 May 2016]

DOUBLE EXPOSURE is another strong contender for the early series of COLUMBO. Clocking in at just over an hour in length, it features a delightful guest star villain in the form of series regular Robert Culp, playing a man who makes a living from inserting subliminal messages into his advertising films. Guess how he kills his victim in this one?

Culp plays an exceptionally slick character and alternates between friendliness and snottiness in his dealings with Columbo. The early murder sequence is executed very professionally and Columbo is on top form in the way he takes little clues and runs away with them. Chuck McCann has a nice supporting role as a friendly projectionist who shows Columbo his 'nickel trick'. As is the usual for this stage of the show, DOUBLE EXPOSURE has strong production values and the episode is complemented by Peter Falk's effortless charm.

A delight from start to finish

[jamesraeburn2003 · 9/10 · 21 February 2023]

A 'motivation research specialist' called Dr Kimble (played by Robert Culp) blackmails his clients by fixing them up with a model employed by his company, taking compromising photographs then threatening to hand them over to their wives unless they pay him money. However, his latest top client, Vic Norris (played by Robert Middleton), isn't intimidated and plans to report him to the district attorney. Kimble arranges what he thinks will be the perfect murder. He adds a 'subliminal cut' to a film being screened at his private cinema, which will subconsciously will his victim to leave the auditorium for a drink at the water cooler in the lobby. When he does he shoots him dead and there can be no witnesses. In addition, Kimble attempts to frame Norris's wife (played by Louise Latham). As his alibi, Kimble creates the illusion that he is narrating the film from behind the stage by playing a pre-recorded tape into the microphones. Lt Columbo (played by Peter Falk) is assigned to the case and he immediately suspects him, but finding hard evidence to convict him is going to be incredibly difficult. Meanwhile, Kimble's projectionist, Roger White (played by Chuck McCann), has rumbled his boss and sees the opportunity for blackmail. Kimble wastes no time in killing him too by arranging another seemingly fool proof murder and further implicating Norris's wife...

Enormously enjoyable entry from this long running and popular series, which keeps the viewer hooked from beginning to end. Robert Culp makes a superb villain and the way in which Peter Falk's Columbo attempts to trap him by constantly hanging around, irritating him and pretending to be bumbling is a joy to watch. Like so many murderers, Kimble never banks on the fact that no matter how well he thinks he might have arranged his crimes and covered his tracks that there will always be a flaw somewhere. In addition, he doesn't think for one second that anyone would think to look into his extensive knowledge of film techniques, including the use of 'subliminal cuts' to prove that he was a cold blooded killer. As always with this series, we know who the killer is from the beginning and how he perpetrated his crimes. But, here, the writers have kept one vital clue from us that isn't revealed until the end after we have been invited to work out for ourselves how exactly Kimble did it. That is a plus. The denouement where Columbo finally nails Kimble by exposing him as a man who is too clever by half is amusing and will take the audience by surprise. Fans of the technical side of filmmaking and cinemas will also be delighted with this. For instance, the killer exploits old fashioned film projection techniques to create a false alibi for the projectionist's murder by performing a reel-to-reel changeover on a projector himself to create the illusion that his victim had still been alive while he himself was miles away from the scene. All in all, this is unmissable.

Based on long since debunked 'science'.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 25 August 2019]

I cannot blame "Columbo" for this entirely, but the science behind "Double Exposure" is pure bunk. It seems that back in the early 70s, with books like "Subliminal Seduction", folks were convinced that brief frames of information could be subconsciously observed and processed...leading to changes in behavior. For example, if a movie had one frame out of the usual 24 per second replaced with a photo of soft drinks, the theory was that people wouldn't notice it BUT would be drawn to visit the snack bar and buy a soda. A great idea...but one which has not been borne out by research. So, while in 1973 it seemed like a great idea for a "Columbo" episode, by now folks would often realize that the foundation for the show was in error.

Dr. Kepple (Robert Culp, in his 3rd appearance on the show) hates Vic Norris. So, he concocts a very complicated plan (including the use of subliminal messages in films) to kill the man and get away with it. The problem is that Columbo is on the case and eventually you know that the brilliant doctor will be exposed for the murderer that he is.

Apart from the faulty science, this is an interesting and even enjoyable episode. You cannot fault the writers for using the subliminal angle...talk about it was the rage back in the early 1970s. But it makes for a silly plot when seen today. The same could be said for the use of a tape recorder to build an alibi.

One of the best

[Apalerwuss · 10/10 · 21 May 2021]

Well written, and a really great gotcha (though I'm really not sure the ploy would have worked in real life).

Columbo was at his annoying best, the culprit's exacerbated expressions at times were priceless - even his teeth had gritted teeth.

"Double Exposure" (1973)

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 5 April 2019]

PLOT: An arrogant motivational research specialist (Robert Culp) uses subliminal cues in a short film to murder a nemesis (Robert Middleton).

COMMENTARY: This was Culp's third and final appearance as an antagonist in the 70's run, but he would return for "Columbo Goes to College" (1990) as the father of the murderer. By this point Falk and Culp are very familiar with each other and work well together, which is reflected in the interesting interactions of their characters. Indeed, this installment features the best "I know you know I did it, but you can't prove it" interplay since the pilot "Prescription: Murder" (1968).

There's a long grocery store sequence in the middle and an amusing golf course segment in the last act. While I don't buy the reliability of the subliminal images, it makes for a good story.

A mysterious woman named Tanya Baker is mentioned several times, but she's curiously never shown or heard. The end credits list hottie Arlene Martel as the character, but the part was obviously cut. The fools.

GRADE: B

great acting by Robert Culp; awful script by Stephen Cannell

[tom-456 · 3/10 · 15 July 2015]

"Double Exposure" is saved from being one of the very worst episodes, thanks only to the strong, outstanding acting performance of Robert Culp. This was Culp's third appearance in Columbo. Robert Culp was an excellent actor who never quite received the career and recognition that he deserved. He started out in television in the early '50s, and pretty much stayed with television throughout his career lasting 45+ years, only rarely venturing into theatrical movies (cinema). Had it not been for his presence in this episode, it would easily have been one of the ten worst episodes, which isn't so surprising when you consider that it was written by Stephen Cannell, whose name is synonymous with 3rd-rate television writing.

The story has multiple small problems, and one gigantic problem. The gigantic problem is the major plot device itself: the notion of "subliminal cuts" in movies and film. Subliminal advertising is real, but not this silly, fictional notion of subliminal cuts. Each time in the program where a film is shown and it is supposed to contain subliminal cuts, you do not see it, not even if you play it back on your DVR frame-by-frame. They aren't there, because if they were there, it would be obvious to everyone who watches this TV program, and no one would buy it. You would in fact see the frame that was spliced in, without question, and the idea that it would have a subliminal effect on you is ridiculous. Yet, this technique is used not only by the criminal in carrying out the crime, but also by Columbo in catching the criminal.

The motive was never adequately explained. It is implied that Dr. Kepple (the sign outside the institute reveals the correct spelling) had set up Vic Norris and took photographs of him with Tanya Baker, to blackmail Norris. This would have been a motive for Norris to murder Kepple. All we were told is that Norris wanted the negatives. Of course you could argue that Norris refused to be blackmailed and that Kepple decided to just kill him, but in this case it amounts to a wanton killing, which doesn't fit with the setting and just doesn't make for a good motive.

Then there is the murder of the projectionist, Roger White. Columbo supposedly figures out that it was Kepple who started the second reel, because the nickel that would have been on the floor if Roger had started it wasn't there. No one would have assumed in the first place that Roger had started the second reel. Even the theater manager would have said to himself, "The second reel was playing, but who started it?" Yet, they made it seem that Columbo himself had provided Kepple an alibi for Roger's murder, and that it was only because of the business of the nickel that Columbo realized that it wasn't Roger who started the second reel. Very, very dumb. It is similarly not believable that Roger would have tried to blackmail Kepple the way that he did. Roger would had to have been an idiot, but it was apparent that he wasn't an idiot.

Then there was the business of Mrs. Norris being framed. We saw her in just one scene, where she took the phone call from Kepple while he disguised his voice. He convinced her to rendezvous at some location out of her house, at the same time that he was carrying out the murder. How is it that being outside of the house would have made her look guilty of the murder? Huh? Yet, Kepple insisted to Columbo at multiple times that he should be looking at Mrs. Kepple as the murderer. And besides that, there is no way, no how that a woman of that sort would ever agree to meet some complete stranger that way. Completely unbelievable.

The gun that Kepple used to kill Roger White was registered to Vic Norris. Had Kepple previously stolen the gun and kept it hidden, or did he break into Mrs. Kepple's home after Roger confronted him? This is just too convenient.

Finally, there is the business of the barrel insert for the gun that Kepple used to shoot Norris, which Kepple hid in a lamp in his office. Even though the investigation went on for several days, he never bothered to remove it at any of the good opportunities he had. Instead, he got up from the auditorium and rushed to retrieve it at a time when he knew that Columbo was onto him and was watching him like a hawk.

This episode of Columbo is just very badly written. It is comparable to any number of lame, forgettable TV programs that have come and gone over the years. It does disservice to the Columbo series. Stephen Cannell has been the main writer for dozens of TV programs starting in the early '70s, but none of them rise to the standard of Columbo. This one episode was the only episode of Columbo that he wrote, and it is unfortunate that he was allowed to write this one.

Great storytelling

[emjbf · 11 September 2003]

Classic episode. Cannell's script is spot on with great Columbo traits and dialogue. Holds up thirty yeas later as good as any writing currently on TV. Culp is well cast and has the right amount of smugness--"Dr. Keppel" is the type of character you love to see foiled by his own invention.

First rate Columbo

[fcasnette · 9/10 · 21 May 2016]

I particularly liked this episode because of Robert Culp's excellent acting and star presence. Falk as always is immaculate, but the sparring with Culp when both know that Columbo knows he did it, is as good as McGoohan, which is the best there is.

The tiny nuances on Culp's face as the plot unravels are priceless, his arrogance at believing himself much cleverer than Columbo, his taunting about the lack of real evidence, even his inane grinning at the end at the irony of being found out by his own method. A great Columbo.

Some great comedy and repartee as the murderer is stalked on the golf course spoiling his game with that undertow of seriousness in finding the clues for the knock out evidence.

Culp don't go!

[edgeofreality · 9/10 · 5 July 2021]

Last outing for Robert Culp as a villain inwhat is a very stylish Columbo episode. The setting is the evil world of advertising. The thing about Culp is he always manages to be a bit different when playing a villain - this one is cooler than the last - yet still a nutcase and still very much Culp. Splendid ending with a maniacal laugh.

Above average entry.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 19 August 2007]

This is the one in which Robert Culp is a murderous motivational research scientist who uses subliminal cuts in an advertising film to lure his victim, Robert Middleton, out into the lobby of the screening room. It's pretty good too. Culp is a cool, thoroughly organized killer. He's more amused by Columbo's antics than irritated by them -- except when they screw up his golf game.

And it has two truly likable supporting players: Chuck McCann and Louise Latham. McCann is intrinsically funny. There's something about his clown-like smile and the blubber that surrounds it that evokes smiles in his audience. He had a children's TV show in New York that was so outrageous that, even as an adult, I caught it whenever I could.

Louise Latham will be immediately recognizable. She's not at all unattractive although her eyes almost meet each other, separated only by the thin bridge of her nose. As an actress, she's hard to beat. Her range is from mean and Southern to vulnerable and appealing, as she is here.

I hope no one takes this subliminal motivation business too seriously. The impact is debatable but no one has claimed it can be used in a conspiracy to corrupt the population or get everyone to rush out and buy Nokia. I used a tachistoscope in some studies at Cornell and the results were minimal -- probably real for some people, but not very important. If you want to change someone's attitudes towards things or thoughts, there are more efficient ways of doing it.

One of the best

[hipchecker20 · 9/10 · 22 April 2018]

Too much criticism of this episode. Everything can't be made perfect in a ninety minute TV show.

The idea is great. A well planned murder.

Columbo figures it out from too much salt in the caviar.

Robert Culp is on a killing spree again!

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 7 June 2008]

One year after Robert Culp appeared as the killer in the Columbo movie "Columbo: The Most Crucial Game" he returns once more to play the role of killer in this movie but in a totally different role this time of course. It was the third out of four Columbo movies he ever appeared in and I must say that he probably plays his best role in this movie. I don't any other actor besides Peter Falk appeared in so many different Columbo movies.

The movie itself is basically your average standard Columbo movie entry. No surprises and the movie stick to the usual successful formula. As a matter of fact I found the story to be even a bit tiresome at times since it reminded me a bit too much of other previous Columbo movies. Oh well, perhaps I've just seen a bit too many Columbo movies lately.

The story gets perhaps a bit too silly at times, especially toward its ending, which also makes this Columbo movie perhaps a bit more outdated than others. The story was written by Stephen J. Cannell, who is better known as the big man behind '80's hit-series "The A-Team".

It could be just me but I thought that this movie its atmosphere was perhaps also a bit darker than the usual Columbo movie. Nothing wrong with this though, it's just an observation. It can also have to do with the fact that the movie is mostly set indoors.

It's certainly the best Columbo movie that got directed by Richard Quine. It was his third and last Columbo movie he ever did. His first movie "Columbo: Dagger of the Mind" was perhaps the very worst Columbo movie ever made and his second "Columbo: Requiem for a Falling Star" was a below average entry. This movie is also lacking a certain style to make the movie more interesting than the average entry and is lacking too much in surprises to consider this one of the best Columbo movies.

Nevertheless, it's an obviously perfectly watchable one. Even though the story is formulaic it doesn't bore and is the reason why this movie is just as good to watch as any other standard Columbo movie.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Very cleverly plotted.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 8 April 2024]

Motivational research specialist Doctor Bart Kepple is set to lose his job, so he plots the perfect crime, to murder Vincent Norris, his boss, dropping in so called subliminal clues to outwit Columbo.

This surely has to be one of the best paced, most well imagined episodes of the show, incredibly well plotted, it was great to see Columbo face off against an intelligent foe, one that for the most part keeps quiet, and forces Columbo to work.

The opening sequences were terrific, that plot twist with the caviar was fantastic, so well imagined, it really worked to grab your attention.

Columbo is at his most irritating, if you were Kepple, you'd half expect him to pop up when you're in the bath, he's everywhere.

Robert Culp is excellent as Kepple, played the part very well, great scenes between the pair.

8/10.

A Subliminal Cut! You used a Subliminal Cut!

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 31 July 2006]

(There are Spoilers) Lt. Columbo, Peter Falk, is far more in charge and less bumbling and fumbling in this movie then he usually is. The L.A detective comes straight out and confronts the murderer of an ad agency president Victor Norris,Robert Middleton, without his usual bumbling and fumbling act. Columbo has no trouble at all confronting Well known motivation expert Dr. Bart Keppel, Robert Culp,and telling him that he knows that he's the killer but at the same time doesn't have the evidence to arrest or have Dr.Keppel convicted in a court of law.

Dr. Keppel uses underhanded tactics to blackmail people, who he feels are a threat to him, plants the false story that Victor Norris is having an affair with an employee of his the very attractive Tanya Baker, Arlene Martel. Dr Keppel is caught red-handed by Norris in an effort to blackmail him by trying to get is wife Mrs. Norris, Louise Lathan, to think that Tanya and Victor are fooling around with each other. Norris confronts Dr. Keppel at a movie house playing Dr. Keppel's motivation film to a number of potential clients. Told by Norris he'll report him to the police the doctor, unknown to Norris, had already set him up for the kill.

Having the very rotund Norris stuff himself with globs and globs of very tasty but highly salted caviar and then sublimity splicing into the movie a cold drink against a dry and hot desert scene was all that Dr.Keppel needed to get Norris to walk out into the lobby. I's there that Dr. Kepple blew him away as he was taking a cold cold drink from the water fountain. while all this was happening Dr. Keppel was, or made like he was, back in the theater narrating the movie that gave him a perfect alibi in Norris' murder.

Let. Columbo put on the case is baffled to why anyone would murder Norris under the conditions that he was done in. Leaving the theater for just a moment to take a drink. Let. Columbo feels that Norris' killer had to be someone at the theater who did it since he must have known that Norris would be alone at the very moment that he murdered him but who?

Talking with the projectionist Roger White, Chuck McCann, Columbo finds out that there's a TV/Video monitor in the lobby that could have well recorded the killing but was mysterious turned off at the time. White is smart enough to realize that Dr.Keppel may well have murdered Norris because he caught him fiddling around with the TV monitor just moments before he was murdered.

White is a bit on the dim-witted side in trying to blackmail, which is Dr.Keppel's specialty, Keppel into giving him $50,000.00 to have him keep his mouth shut. All this leads to White being shot and killed by Dr. Keppel who tries, for some strange reason, tries to make it look like he was killed by Mrs. Norris at his moon-lighting job at the Magnolia Theater.

The scheming Dr.Kepple tricked White into believing that he'll come up with the 50 grand only to have him put his guard down and end up with a bullet up his chest. What Dr. Keppel didn't know is that White told Det. Columbo a little trick of his that he uses on the reels of film to alert White when to change them, with a nickel, that in the end helped cooked the not so clever Dr. Keppel's goose.

Columbo on to that Keppel is a double murder, of Middleton & White, is still out in the cold in getting evidence to arrest him. During the rest of the movie Let. Columbo harasses the doctor to the point of even interrupting him in a very important game of golf, that so unnerves him, causing Dr. Keppel to miss a number of critical shots. Columbo in the end uses the very tactics that Dr. Keppel used to set up and murder Norris, a subliminal cut in a movie, to trap him. This flash on the screen, subliminal cut, gets Dr. Keppel himself to lead Columbo to the evidence that would finally convict him and Lt. Columbo does it with his usual pizazz.

Interesting Concept

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 26 March 2024]

The whole business of subliminal suggestion was big when I was starting in the business world. For whatever reason, the practice was made illegal and commercial enterprises had to stop doing it. I think Coca Cola was a part of it, but I am only guessing. Here, Robert Culp is a master of controlling the thoughts of people for salesmanship. He uses whatever works. When one of his biggest financial supporters starts to bring down the hammer, Culp shoots him, and then uses technology to cover things up. Columbo, as he often does, educates himself and then turns the tables on the perpetrator. I liked this one because we were made privy to the sophistication of the murder plot.

Double Exposed!

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 19 May 2006]

Columbo has to match wits with Robert Culp again in this episode. I don't know offhand how many episodes that featured Robert Culp but I remember this one. He is a scientist who specializes in mental manipulation. I couldn't think of another way to explain it. Anyway, Columbo has met his match in this episode. Robert Culp's character kills somebody who wants to destroy his professional reputation as a top scientist who helps improves sales in grocery stores and other ways. Anyway, you have to watch how Columbo catches him. Like a typical episode, he becomes interested in his line of work but does not forget the victim or the crime. It's worth noting that it's pretty sophisticated in 1973 and I would watch it again if I have too but it's not my favorite episode of his or with Robert Culp.

Market research analyst murders his employer

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 11 May 2014]

Robert Culp is our guest murderer in this Columbo story and he's not about to get fired by Robert Middleton whom he works for. For such a clever guy he concocts a rather clumsy blackmail scheme in which Middleton calls his hand. Therefore he has to murder him.

It's in a large building so it's one of those closed circles mysteries albeit a large circle. No one's left the building in the short time it takes LAPD and Lt. Columbo to get there. So Peter Falk has a specific set of suspects to eliminate. As usual he zeroes in on the right one.

Culp is a market research analyst who in the course of the investigation Columbo discovers has written books. Why contract employment with Middleton was so important is never really explained. Presumably this guy could get offers all over the place for his market analyzing.

He does however concoct a perfect murder alibi and a method of murdering Middleton that is clever with Culp's own expertise working full blast. Later on he has to murder film projectionist Chuck McCann who has caught on to his guilt. Even that where he uses Peter Falk as an alibi works for a while.

To catch him Falk has to hoist Culp on his petard so to speak.

This Columbo episode left quite a bit to be desired.