Columbo (TV Series) A Deadly State of Mind (1975) User Reviews

A very well-conceived and efficiently executed Season 4 Columbo tale

[The Welsh Raging Bull · 8/10 · 24 April 2002]

A psychiatrist, Dr. Marcus Collier who is the head of the Institute of Behavioral Studies, is having an affair with one of his patients and is using extreme methods to render information from her during hypnosis sessions so that he can write a revolutionary book. When the patient's husband threatens to expose him, a fight involving the three of them ensues and Collier accidentally kills him; he quickly decides to make it look like two intruders executed the act during a burglary...

A refreshingly originally conceived Columbo adventure, which like "Death Lends a Hand" and "Dagger of the Mind" features a spontaneous act of manslaughter, which is covered up to become a murder.

Another asset to this episode is, in spite of the simplicity of the carefully-crafted "burglar" cover-up, how Columbo is able to increasingly undermine it's likelihood with elements the viewer is largely unable to telegraph. This is unusually conveyed by Columbo at a party full of guests; an engaging and sharply observed sequence, which also sees the murderer cleverly execute the murder of this lover through hypnosis over the telephone.

One must also mention the quality of Hamilton's performance in all of this; his character's womanising ways are typically exhibited, but his presence in this episode warrants respect, especially considering his unflappability and self-assuredness; traits which are powerfully upheld until the closing scenes, when he tries to undermine Columbo's perceptions of proof and the validity of an eye-witness (who comes forward rather conveniently late in proceedings) in front of his colleagues.

Like "Death Lends a Hand", "Mind Over Mayhem" and "Negative Reaction" Columbo effectively gambles on the murderer implicating himself. The methodology used here is mind-blowingingly clever and caps another very worthwhile case for Columbo aficionados.

Top-Notch Columbo TV Thriller

[ShootingShark · 6/10 · 8 May 2005]

A brilliant psychotherapist kills his lover's husband at her home and tries to make it look like a robbery, but when she fails to convince the police with their story he uses hypnotic suggestion to murder her too. However, he has not reckoned with Lieutenant Columbo's tenacity in exposing the conspiracy and getting his man.

One of the best of ABC's classic Columbo mysteries, expertly written by Peter S. Fischer, and beautifully played by the cast. Hamilton is ideal as the suave, amoral research psychologist, seducing his patient purely for her literary worth to him. A very young Warren is fabulous as the flaky, child-like rich man's wife, unable to make the cover story stick despite her best efforts. And Falk is simply unforgettable as Columbo - affable, idiosyncratic, painstaking and brilliant. As with the best of these mysteries, it is the details of the investigation that make viewing so pleasurable - the broken flint, the thin tyre track, the jewellry in the stocking and the final masterstroke with the blind man. A fine example of some of the best TV crime drama ever made.

In flagrato

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 June 2012]

In a lot of Columbo episodes you can feel sorry for the perpetrator, sometimes they're driven to kill and the one who died probably should have. Other episodes show a carefully planned scheme gone awry because of the way Peter Falk digs for clues. But this one was spontaneous as it gets. Husband Stephen Elliott catches his psychiatrist colleague George Hamilton with his wife Lesley Ann Warren and Hamilton kills him in the struggle.

Hamilton was one of the most hateful perpetrators ever in the Columbo series. Being a psychiatrist and knowing how the human mind works, he prepares a careful scenario about a home invasion and it looks pretty good. But an extremely tiny piece of evidence convinces Falk otherwise and also Warren begins to fall apart.

However what Hamilton does to cover up after this is where his true worthlessness of a human being is shown. You will stand up and cheer when Falk nails him and how he nails him.

Got to love that Lieutenant Columbo.

Strong material, the usual formula and good performances

[bob the moo · 1 September 2006]

Dr Mark Collier is psychiatrist and Nadia Donner is one of his patients. As well as this she is also the subject for his upcoming book and his lover, despite being married. When Collier goes to visit Nadia he is confronted by her husband who threatens to ruin him by exposing the affair with a patient as well as Collier's drug use. A struggle ensues and Collier kills the husband with one swift blow from a poker. Realising what they have done Collier and Nadia come up with a story about two burglars breaking in, after which Collier slips away. Columbo gets the call and, although her story has some merit, he cannot help but see some holes in Nadia's description of events.

Having seen so many of the Columbo films it is always a nice surprise for me to stumble onto one I've not seen before. So it was with this one which I vaguely recall from childhood but mustn't have seen in decades. I must admit a certain bias to the Columbo formula (as well as Perry Mason) because when I was a kid my father worked from home and took breaks to watch these series on afternoon TV – so, although I think they are great TV treats I do have reasons other than the films themselves. Here everything is pretty much to formula. The murder is one of instinct rather than careful planning but other than that the usual block are all in place. Those crying "entrapment" and picking holes will find plenty to criticise here but personally I found the plot really well built if you go along with it. Although there is less time available for Columbo's investigation than normal, it is still engaging and fun to watch him pick away, right down to the usual trap at the end.

The cast have fun and, as is often the case, the film is made by the lead pair. Falk wears Columbo like a second skin and is as good as always, making it look so easy to be unimpressive on the outside and sharp as a knife on the inside. Hamilton is a strong opponent for Falk and has the arrogance that many of the best guests have. They work well off one another and they bring the best out of the material. Support is good from Warren and a slightly larger than normal turn from Kirby.

Overall an enjoyable Columbo that does everything you would expect from the series. The formula is all in place with good material and both Falk and Hamilton step up into it – working well individually and together. Fans will like it and others might be won over by it.

A Deadly State of Mind

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 16 August 2018]

A straightforward episode which initially looks like a case of self defence. Dr Mark Collier (George Hamilton) is an amoral psychiatrist using experimental hypnosis with a long term patient Nadia Donner (Lesley Ann Warren.) His experiments does not seem to be getting the expected results.

Collier is also having an affair with Nadia and her wealthy husband knows about it. In a violent confrontation Collier kills the husband and then tries to make out that he was killed by intruders.

When Columbo gets too close for comfort and Nadia might soon crack under pressure. Collier uses hypnotic suggestion on Nadia so she drops out of the way.

Columbo uses a cunning to trick involving a blind witness to try to get Collier to incriminate himself.

This is a rather serious Columbo episode, less of him goofing about. Also Hamilton who can be a fine actor when the material presents itself gives a finely judged performance. However he clearly is not as clever as he thinks he is making it easier for Columbo to nail him.

Very strong episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 27 June 2010]

It isn't the best of the lot, but A Deadly State of Mind is a very strong episode. It is efficiently directed and constructed story-wise, with some nice writing, striking filming, excellent music and the pacing I had no problem with at all. The acting is great, Peter Falk is outstanding as always and George Hamilton out of the two episodes he starred in gives the better one of his performances here, his murderer is arrogant, yet likable and is a strong opponent for Columbo and they are well served with some juicy scenes with them together. Lesley Ann Warren was also lovely beyond words as Nadia. Overall, a strong episode benefited by some great acting and efficient directing and plot. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Hypnosis

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 24 February 2016]

George Hamilton stars as Dr. Mark Collier, who is writing a book on hypnosis, which is his specialty. He is also romantically involved with one of his patients, a Nadia Donner,(played by Lesley Anne Warren) who has a troubled mind, and a jealous, hot-tempered husband that Collier must kill in order to protect himself and Nadia in their beach house after his attack. Unfortunately, he doesn't claim self-defense, but instead instructs her to repeat a story of masked intruders being responsible. Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) doesn't buy it, forcing Collier to drastic action that may be his undoing... Clever episode with effective performances and a nice twist ending.

Best catching of the murderer ever

[lbowdls · 10/10 · 29 August 2021]

This is a favourite of mine for many reasons but especially it's my absolute favourite way that Columbo actually gets his murderer George Hamilton. Can't believe someone actually said it was a bad ending? And he George is another reason so brilliant in this role.

I mean there are lots of exciting and clever ways he finally gets his culprit but yes this is just magnificent whether the first or the hundredth time!

Average Columbo movie in basically every way but it's good.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 23 June 2008]

Well, this is basically an average Columbo movie in every way thinkable but since all of the Columbo movies are such of high quality and features a great and successful formula, this movie is also a perfectly good one to watch.

This is not the Columbo movie that features the best or most original story but it's even more a bigger shame that this also isn't among the fastest ones. The story is progressing quite slowly, which is also reason why this movie isn't among the most interesting or best Columbo movies to watch that are out there. On top of that, the movie also features some silly and just plain unlikely plot elements.

It features all of the usual Columbo ingredients you would expect. Thankfully this also means that it features some good relieving fun humor, of course all involving the unusual Lieutenant, who basically at times is like a child in the big world, although it of course also often is part of his act to gain the trust of his suspects by playing dumber than he really is, in order to get closer to them and getting his information from them. The killers are often underestimating the Lieutenant, which is often the reason of their downfall.

The directing is quite and average for a made for TV murder mystery. It's part of the reason why this movie never surpasses the level of average but its useful and effective directing for a type of movie such as this one, so it's not a big complaint. The director is Harvey Hart, a man who directed a total of 4 Columbo movie. I don't believe there are more directors who did so many Columbo movies. He did all of his work for the series from 1974 till 1976.

In this movie the role of the murderer is being played by George Hamilton, who is a great actor and also plays a good role in this movie. There is also a fine role from Lesley Ann Warren in the movie and of course Peter Falk is great as usual as the scruffy looking Columbo.

Average but perfectly watchable Columbo movie entry.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Intriguing, very entertaining

[CinefanR · 10/10 · 20 November 2012]

I liked this episode, mainly because the killer is so incredibly arrogant and vicious that he almost gets to Columbo. I haven't seen Columbo raise his voice at someone, and him getting so affected by another murder during his investigation sheds more light on his personality. I found the actress who played Nadia to be the only weakness of the episode.

I have always considered the series a character study as well, because Columbo always remains in a vague cloud of mystery, somewhat elusive. His solution to this case is brilliant and surprising. Great and entertaining as ever!

evil shrink with a fabulous tan

[MillieTheRedhead · 7/10 · 26 January 2024]

As a psychologist, I'm interested in the depiction of psychologists and psychiatrists on Columbo. They're generally using their knowledge for foul purposes. Psychiatrists and psychologists often decry their displacement in the field by licensed social workers, counselors, and nurse practitioners, but so far I don't think anyone's examined the role of Columbo in the demise of the power and prestige of the head doctors. There's an academic paper in there for some charlatan.

George Hamilton as Dr. Collier, like a previous psychiatrist/murder depicted by Gene Barry, is having a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient, and therein lies both the emotional and practical drama of this episode. Poor Lesley Ann Warren (Mrs. Donner) has been reduced to an infantile state by Dr. Collier's masterful hypnosis and seduction skills. The murder is accidental and defensible, but I think the implication is that Dr. Collier needed to hide his relationship with his patient to protect his reputation and get his book finished, therefore losing any sympathy he might have gotten from Columbo. Nowadays he'd be big on the TED Talk circuit and on the bleeding edge of psychedelic psychopharmacology research.

I initially found this episode slightly unengaging, I'm not sure why, since the performances were excellent. I found myself admiring the upholstery at the beach house, particularly the pair of orange chairs; superb set dressing. I also liked Dr. Collier's house with the heavy wood and Spanish medieval touches, it conveyed the mix of hipness and prestige that a psychiatrist of his ilk would want to convey. Ms. Donner's apartment décor was a bit tacky and the apartment seemed much more luxurious than the balcony on the outdoor shots suggested, but she was supposed to be a fragile histrionic borderline so no real objections to that esthetic choice by the set designers. Costume design was also delightful. Highlights include Mrs. Donner's white leather suit and the bright green scarf and dark suit worn by Dr. Borden (Karen Machon) in the outdoor scene on the college campus. I've got to learn to tie a scarf like that.

I enjoyed the party scene at Dr. Collier's house. The drunk intellectuals seem a little condescending when they first invite Columbo to join them, but there's a subtle shift and a few seem eager for his approval as the conversation progresses. Having been a member of numerous gatherings of tipsy eggheads, I thought that was very realistic, nicely written and acted. Intellectuals tend to be pretty insecure and crave the approval of the working class.

The denouement was clearly foreshadowed by the near hit and run of the blind man, but the final confrontation was nevertheless fun and satisfying. I have a soft spot for Fred Draper.

A Superior Columbo!

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 20 May 2006]

Columbo episodes always seem to have the same formula. Especially since we know who does the crime after the first ten minutes, we love surprises in how Columbo catches his man or woman. In this episode, George Hamilton shows off his acting talents. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the man can act very well. He plays a psychiatrist who kills the husband of Lesley Ann Warren's character rather than ruin his reputation. The fun with Columbo episodes is that the crime is never too gruesome or motives are never too dark. Anyway, the doctor's patient is the prime witness and he gets her in the worst way. The crime happens at a beach-front estate secluded from neighbors and traffic. Anyway, watching Columbo catch him is particularly worth it especially sine you don't feel for Hamilton's character as a victim.

"A Deadly State of Mind" (1975)

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 16 April 2019]

PLOT: A psychologist (George Hamilton) murders the husband of a patient (Lesley Ann Warren) in passionate rage and they agree to cover it up as a break-in. When it becomes apparent that the delicate woman might expose the murder the doctor uses hypnosis to control the situation. Karen Machon, a low-rent Angie Dickinson, is on hand as a colleague.

COMMENTARY: The first half is routine with a boring intro based around psychotherapy & hypnotism but, thankfully, the story perks up in the second half with the rumpled sleuth meeting friends of the doctor at a house party and, especially, a surprising turn of events. Columbo again stages things at the climax to crack his quarry.

Hamilton would resurface in the series 16 years later in the worthy "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" (1991).

GRADE: B

Flawed script..

[tyronejackson-29066 · 5/10 · 19 July 2020]

First flaw in the script, this is not a murder, the accused was defending a woman who was being attacked, he probably also feared for his own life. From this point on the story is unbelievable, the fact that a qualified psychotherapist would try to cover up a case of self-defence.

George Hamilton is a Svengali-like psychiatrist in this weak "Columbo"

[J. Spurlin · 29 January 2007]

Things aren't going well for Dr. Mark Collier (George Hamilton), a psychiatrist who specializes in hypnosis. He's stealing drugs from his clinic to use in an experiment with his disturbed patient, Nadia Donner (Lesley Ann Warren), but he's not getting the results he wants. Nor is he getting them from the lab experiments conducted by his harried research assistant (Karen Mochon). It seems his book, which is dependent on these results, will fail. Far worse, he's having an affair with Mrs. Donner - and Mr. Donner (Stephen Elliot) finds out. The husband confronts these two illicit lovers at his beach house, but in an angry moment Dr. Collier kills him with a fireplace poker. Collier convinces Mrs. Donner to lie to the police and claim that two intruders killed her husband. But can she convince the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) that she's telling the truth?

This episode has almost no extraneous comic business, which at first makes it seem sharper than many others made around this time. Hamilton and Warren give particularly strong performances. But the circumstances of the second murder (which I won't reveal) are difficult to believe; and the ending is flat. "Columbo" fans will enjoy it somewhat, but the average viewer will be sorry he wasted his time.

Blind Man's Bluff!

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 3 June 2013]

***SPOILERS*** A notch above the usual Columbo made for TV movies in that Let. Columbo, Peter Falk, isn't as annoying and pesky as were used to seeing him and shows that he's really trying to solve a murder. Not fake his way through the movie by throwing the murderer off guard with his nerdy and childless antics that he's so well noted for. Here Let. Columbo has to solve the murder with a fireplace poker of Carl Donner, Stephen Elliott, who's brains were smashed in by his cheating wife Nadia, Lesley Ann Warren, lover and personal head shrinker, or psychiatrist, Dr. Mark Collier, George Hamilton.

It all began when Dr. Collier together with Nadia spilled the beans about their sexual relationship right in Carl's face with the smug and arrogant Collier daring him, like having a duel for Nadia's love, to do something about it! Well Carl did attacking both Dr. Collier and Nadia with his fists only to end up getting bopped from behind by Collier with the poker splitting his skull opened. In an effort to cover up the crime Dr. Collier concocts this cock & bull story about Carl and Nadia, of course Dr. Collier was nowhere around during the murder, being the victims of a home invasion. Sounds good doesn't it but you know what the detective in charge of investigating the murder our hero Let. Columbo doesn't quite buy it! In fact the only witness to the crime Nadia can't quite seem to get her story, that her lover Dr. Collier made up for her, straight making Columbo highly suspicious that she's making the whole Migilla,long and disjointed winded duologue in Yiddish, up.

**SPOILERS*** Dr. Collier now seeing that Nadia is about to crack under the pressure plans to off her, by an induced or hypnotic enforced suicide, as well. Before you know it Nadia gets this call from the good doctor using an secret and subconscious phrase or code word:" Go take yourself a cold dip in the pool and cool off: Hearing that, the magic and fatal words, Nadia without thinking jumps naked as a jay bird five stories to her death into the swimming pool beneath her patio apartment. The fact that Dr. Collier was so ready and willing to knock off the woman that he supposedly loved-Nadia Donner-proved that he had no use,in the romance department, for her at all. All he needed from Nadia was her brain to experiment with like the rats rabbits and monkeys in his on campus laboratory. What Dr.Collier didn't know is that Let. Columbo got his number, and It isn't his car license plate, and is going to lay it on him when he lest expects it! At the very scene of the crime the Donner beach house where he had committed it!

George Hamilton as the slickest of villains

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 5 September 2016]

A DEADLY STATE OF MIND is one of the best Columbo episodes I've watched. It's a story that never puts a foot wrong, packed with engaging and enjoyable performances and a wonderfully twisty plot with some great surprises hidden along the way. George Hamilton plays a delightfully suave hypnotist who accidentally murders a love rival in the opening scenes and decides to cover up the crime as best he can.

Unfortunately for him, Columbo is soon on the case and sniffing out some of those delightfully insignificant clues that become important later on in the game. What follows is a cat and mouse story in which the stakes are gradually raised to breaking point. There's a wonderful swimming pool set piece and great acting from supporting starlet Lesley Ann Warren, who makes the most of her conflicted and fragile character. Hamilton gives a performance that reminded me of Roger Moore, all bluff and bluster and raised eyebrows; he's great fun. And of course, Peter Falk excels as Columbo in one of his most likable appearances as the detective. Plus, A DEADLY STATE OF MIND incorporates one of the best twist endings I've seen in any Columbo film.

Lesley Ann Warren Steals the Show !

[elshikh4 · 7/10 · 7 May 2016]

Smart episode no doubt. It assures the show's uniqueness when it comes to different ways of killing. In one, we saw murder with subliminal message (Double Exposure - 1973). In another, it's just a word in a telephone (How to Dial a Murder - 1978). And now, it's hypnosis. Ladies and gentlemen, a requisite curtsy to the writers' diligence.

Speaking about writing, I have to recall the little party scene in the doctor's house. Observe well that the writers never meant to make Columbo a geek, despite all the reasons that could make him one. So in that scene, we see how the guy can be real friendly, not shy, and good speaker too. The thing is he just doesn't have the time for it. 30 years later, "Monk", another mystery show, would take advantage of that neglected idea, and create a big comedy out of it.

Although George Hamilton isn't an excellent actor in my viewpoint, but he was very good as the villain. He utilized his smoothness, elegance, and coldness to be that so confident malicious doctor. Peter Falk is the master. For example, he did the scene of encountering the doctor's assistant, in front of the hospital, flawlessly. He was that painstaking lieutenant, who couldn't sleep because a murder was happened, while suspecting someone as the killer. Watch how his voice gets scary at the end of the scene. Just one line, with certain acuteness, and the nice elf turns into a furious lion.

Nevertheless, I can't hold it; Lesley Ann Warren ate everybody around. Her sensitivity was ultra-marvelous; being that trembling, and tormented, psychologically sick girl. If I was behind the camera while the scene of her suicide, I must have waited till the yell of "Cut" to applause admiringly.

What didn't have my admiration though was the climax's trick. While being outwardly wily, you can notice a little "fabrication" crack in it. Because the way that the witness's double acted could assure to any doctor that he was blind. Even for me, "the cast in his eyes", and "the way he moves", were convincing that he had no eyesight; so that would make me a murderer?!! It wasn't fair to make the man look that obviously blind, because it would have deceived the suspect, whether innocent or not. Thus when Columbo asks: "How could you know that this man is blind?!" the logical answer must be: "You have to be blind not to see it!".

Lastly, I must refer to a point that may sound unimportant. Supposedly, Lesley Ann Warren kills herself in the nude. However, look at the classy way of filming that. I mean they could have showed more skin, or shadows of her as fully naked. But they didn't. Not only because the situation is serious and sad, but also because sexuality wasn't essential element in the show's ingredients. In the 1980s and 1990s episodes though, I believe the same scene could have had more skin to it (remember frankly sleazy episodes like: Columbo Cries Wolf - 1990). And if it were made nowadays, Oh God, they would show her fully nude, for at least 2 hours, before jumping out of the balcony! It's not about the 1970s standards and the post-2000s standards. It's about art and cheapness.

A Deadly State of Mind (1975) is classic TV. It has many merits, and Lesley Ann Warren is their best.

I'd consider using a different doctor!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 13 September 2019]

Dr. Mark Collier (George Hamilton) is a psychiatrist whose moral compass is a bit bent to say the least! For example, he's having a sexual relationship with a patient he's currently treating! Then, when they arrange to meet for another round of hide the sausage, the angry husband shows up and confronts them. A fight ensues and Collier bashes the man over the head to get him off his scared wife. Not surprisingly, the husband is dead. And, instead of telling the police what happened, the doc insists his lover create a story about two masked men entering the house and killing the husband. The problem is that the wife (Lesley Ann Warren) is rather unstable and eventually the psychiatrist comes up with a hard to believe way to silence her using hypnosis.

The story is enjoyable and interesting. Unfortunately, the writer assumed hypnosis is MUCH more powerful than it really is, as you couldn't use it to kill anyone. I have training in hypnotherapy....and if I COULD use it for evil, I might! But such stuff is more the creation of TV and movie screenwriters than fact. Still, it IS enjoyable and Hamilton is very good as a suave killer.

Too Much to Believe

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 3 April 2024]

People like this episode because George Hamilton is a sociopathic psychiatirst, smug and self centered. He commits a murder and we want him to get what's coming to him. Leslie Ann Warren is a patient he has been nurturing so he can use her to help him write his next book. He convinces this weak willed woman to carry on a lie, which she does. But because it is his story, she does a terrible job convincing Columbo. All this is the usual Columbo fun. The problem is how the second murder is orchestrated. Through post hypnotic suggeston, she is made to believe she is going swimming and dives off a fifth story balcony. The final scene is vintage and Hamilton is a rat, but the fact that she follow in lock step is too much.

Analyst Gets Theraphy From Columbo

[DKosty123 · 9/10 · 1 July 2010]

A solid entry in this season of the series. George Hamilton plays a psychologist who is caught cheating with another man's wife, kills the man as he attempts to beat up his wife, then with her schemes to lie to Columbo about how her husbands death happened. As Columbo keeps closing in, the Analyst gets uncomfortable with the widows lies.

So then he drugs her as he is her doctor as well as her lover, then induces her suicide using the drug & a trance to finish her. This only makes Columbo more determined than ever to trip him up. Hamilton is a real cad here as he is romancing another Doctor along with the Widow.

In the end, Columbo out smarts him & off to jail he goes.

Excellent acting, pitiful forensics.

[chrismontgomery-43584 · 6/10 · 29 February 2024]

While I would give extremely high marks to the principal actors in this episode (Peter Falk, George Hamilton and Leslie Anne Warren, who all hit it out of the park), and high marks to the writers for generally good scenario ideas and realistic dialogue, I would have to give the episode only one star in its treatment of forensic investigation. I had high hopes when Columbo found the lighter flint on the shag carpeting, and later mentioned that the suspect was using matches to light his cigarettes on the night when he first met him, but was using a lighter with a brand-new flint the next time they met. But I was in disbelief when the writers introduced some other, much more damning evidence, and then seemed to forget about it altogether for the rest of the story. For example, Columbo makes a point of getting a photo taken of a narrow tire track in the driveway that is presumably from the suspect vehicle, but then he does nothing to compare the photo to the suspect vehicle's tires later in the story (tire tread wear, nicks and gouges on a tire tread are as individual as fingerprints or snowflakes).

Even worse, Columbo's Sergeant leads him out to the driveway to to show him some recent damage to a pillar at the end of the driveway, which we see was caused by the suspect's car during his getaway - but this evidence is completely forgotten for the rest of the story. The absolutely irrefutable points that COULD have been obtained from this great piece of evidence - but WEREN'T - are staggering things to omit from the story of a criminal investigation: 1. The blind man knew the exact time (by his Braille watch) when the suspect car came screeching out of the driveway and nearly ran over him, but no one asked him if he heard the vehicle collide with the column that was within 10 feet of where he was standing, to prove that it was, in fact. The suspect's car that had caused the damage.

2. Columbo later checks the suspect's car, and even after noting that the narrow tires seem to be of the same width, tread pattern and make as the suspect vehicle that left the tire tracks he insisted on having photographed, he fails not only to try to match the photo to the tires themselves, but he also fails to check the front driver's side of the vehicle for collision damage (there would have been bumper and/or fender damage, with paint transfer from the car onto the column and vice versa, plus the height of the impact marks on both the column and the vehicle would have matched. Not only this, but, even decades before this episode was made, paint flakes from the vehicle that were left at the crime scene could have been exactly matched to the suspect vehicle by spectrographic analysis of the paint's chemical composition at the LAPD Crime Lab. This would not only be able to determine that the paint had come from a Mercedes, but that the paint at the crime scene came from the same production batch as the paint on the suspect's car)! Additionally, paint chips found by the column could be shown to fit exactly into the spaces on the vehicle where they had come off - and the same is true of pieces of headlight glass, had there been any left at the scene.

To miss these excellent opportunities to gather such conclusive pieces of evidence kind of knocked me right out of the story.

I can't entirely fault the writers for making such glaring omissions in their script. I admit that I only know these things because I used to be a crime scene investigator. But then again, that's why so many good writers hire script consultants.

A Solid Episode

[kyrn123 · 8/10 · 28 September 2022]

I'm dating myself but I saw this episode on it's first run. I was quite young at the time. I remember watching McCloud and McMillan and Wife. A story arc where each week you watched a different episode. I always wanted to watch the Columbo episodes. Peter Falk was born for the part. Unkempt, confused and probably not smelling that great with his signature cigar.

Leslie (missing Ann) turns in a fragile, disturbed woman easily molded by George Hamilton as her doctor. Of course Columbo figures out how everything went down (so to speak), and it's an ordinary show at the time but now all we get are CSI type shows by the bushel full. Just cutout characters. Columbo is worth checking out.

Leslie Ann Warren was so annoying....

[sheezcrazy · 4/10 · 12 November 2020]

....with her cloying, breathless delivery of every line. It ruined a perfectly good episode for me.

Good performances by all and an interesting story

[RRozsa · 10/10 · 26 September 2023]

I won't go into details that have been amply stated by other reviewers (George Hamilton's performance is great, Lesley-Ann Warren was good, etc.), except to echo one reviewer's observation about the scene in which Columbo joins in conversation with Dr. Collier's colleagues at a party: Normally when Columbo is shoved involuntarily into the spotlight (e.g., brought on-stage during a cooking show on TV, or brought to the podium to address a group of fans attending a lecture by a murder novel authoress, etc.), he puts on a silly grin, shuffles his feet, and pretends to be completely tongue-tied and uncomfortable; in this case, he responded to questions confidently and intelligently, which I enjoyed. I was, however, surprised that he talked so openly about his doubts about Mrs. Donner's story, while the investigation is still ongoing.

I didn't see anyone else mention the brief humorous moment when Columbo was walking down the hallway at the clinic, looking for Dr. Collier. At one point, he opened a door and peered inside, and we heard a woman scream, after which he hastily apologized and shut the door. Nice touch by the writers to throw that in!

Some observations about the supporting cast: One reviewer compared Anita Machon, who played Dr. Borden, to Angie Dickinson; actually, when Dr. Borden made her appearance, I was absolutely convinced it was a cameo by Dr. Joyce Brothers. And there was a receptionist at the clinic who I thought might be Morgan Fairchild, but I did not see her in the cast credits. I did see Priscilla Barnes (from Three's Company) listed as an uncredited nurse, but did not notice her in the show.

One reviewer made a comment that it was not realistic that Dr. Collier would be so cavalier about so coldly disposing of Nadia, "whom he supposedly loved"; however, I thought the writers did a solid job of establishing the fact that Collier was merely using sex/romance to manipulate Nadia to participate in the study for his book, and never had any genuine feelings for her in reality. Likewise, we witnessed a passionate kiss at the clinic between Dr. Collier and Dr. Borden, who stated to Columbo that she had helped him research his book on hypnosis. This might imply that Dr. Collier has a history of using sex to manipulate women into providing services that would further his own career.

Some reviewers questioned why Dr. Collier didn't just tell the truth about why he killed Dr. Donner, since it was clearly self-defense. But you have to keep in mind that Dr. Collier had a lot riding on the success of his new book. If he claimed self- defense, the circumstances surrounding the attack (Dr. Collier's affair with Mrs. Donner) would come to light. Not only would such a scandal create negative publicity that would jeopardize Collier's pending book deal and ruin his reputation, but even more damaging would be the fact that the AMA would certainly revoke his medical license (for engaging in a sexual relationship with his patient -- an absolute ethical no-no), thus ending both his medical practice and his position at the clinic. Not to mention the huge fall-out from Dr. Borden, when she found out he had been using her and had made a fool of her, professionally and otherwise. There would likely be other women to come forward with similar stories.

There were two main reasons why Collier faked Nadia's suicide and framed her for the killing of her husband: 1) When Mrs. Donner's story started falling apart, Collier realized that it was just a matter of time before the truth of his affair with his patient (which would end his career) and his cover-up of his involvement in the killing (which would put him in trouble with the law), so his only chance was to eliminate Nadia as a witness (and prevent her lie detector test), and frame her as the murderess by planting the stolen items at her apartment. 2) Even if they had gotten away with their lie about how Mr. Donner was killed by intruders, there was still the problem of Mrs. Donner's testing data, which was beginning to contradicte the hypothesis of his book. By killing her off before the testing went any further, he could prevent his book from being invalidated by any more contradictory testing data. He might even be able to include the "suicide" in his book to further support his hypothesis and increase sales of the book! So he was "killing two birds with one stone" when he disposed of her and framed her as the killer.