Columbo (TV Series) Identity Crisis (1975) User Reviews

Enjoyable but....

[derek_larsson · 7/10 · 9 December 2012]

The acting is excellent, and the story pacing, scenery, and supporting cast are all also very well done. The technical skill and the great acting of Patrick McGoohan (villain), and also Peter Falk (Columbo) in this episode makes this one very enjoyable and entertaining.

But like quite a few Columbo episodes (most all of which I love anyway), something is missing here in the plot, or in the writing.

We do not get a clear motive as to why Nelson Brenner (played by McGoohan) wanted the Leslie Nelson character to be murdered (and is his name "A J Henderson" or not?). We don't get a complete picture here. But it is also never explained why Columbo even suspects Nelson Brenner to begin with, rather than the foil, Lawrence Melville (who had an assault record, and was last seen following "Henderson" right before the murder).

While Brenner was photographed earlier that day with "Henderson" at a Carnival, nothing actually places him at the crime scene later that night, and we have no clear motive. So it's a leap in logic to suspect him over Melville (who was last seen with him) which is never really explained.

And despite Columbo eventually disproving the carefully planned alibi of Nelson Brenner, it would be a standard operating procedure for him to have claimed, since he was a CIA agent, that he simply had advanced knowledge about the Chinese withdrawal from the Olympics, or that he put that in the prepared speech as a hypothetical.

As others have pointed out, Brenner confesses far too easily here, and too unnecessarily over so-called "evidence" that could be easily explained away by someone with his connections, and someone in his position. But moreover, just the lack of an alibi by itself does not even prove actual guilt of anything. Don't we need more than that? So Columbo never puts together a whole case here (crime scene evidence, the motive), and all we are left with is shadows, incomplete speculations, and an improbable CIA-operative confession.

But this is just a problem with the writing, and not with the acting and with the production, both of which are marvelous. A very enjoyable episode, but one that would have been strengthened much more with just a little tighter plot, and writing.

McGoohan drops a few clues for Prisoner fans!

[last-picture-show · 7/10 · 9 March 2007]

Patrick McGoohan spent a lot of time living down his past success as Number 6 in the cult fantasy series The Prisoner, and since 1983 has hardly commented on it. However back in 1975 he was clearly happy to join in the fun and peppered this Columbo episode (which he directed) with numerous Prisoner references. The most obvious one is the 'Be seeing you' phrase which he uses a couple of times at the start of the movie (but thankfully doesn't over- use it), but there are several others: His clothing in the fairground scene is strikingly similar to his Prisoner outfit (piped jacket, black pants, deck shoes, etc); The Long Beach amusement park scene is surely a reference of the fairground scene in The Prisoner episode The Girl Who Was Death (which was itself a Danger Man spoof), where a seductive woman attempts to lure Number 6 to his death; In this scene Brenner makes reference to 'La Paz in '67' which was the year The Prisoner was first transmitted; Brenner's home is designed in the Italianette style, similar to Portmeirion in Wales where The Prisoner was filmed; When Brenner's CIA boss arrives he does so by helicopter which was the only means of transportation into The Village in The Prisoner.

A couple of trivia notes: When McGoohan gives the panda to the girl at the amusement park this a cheeky clue to his the reason for his downfall - the Chinese have pulled out of the Olympic Games. Also McGooghan's character's last name is Brenner which the name of a pass on the Swiss-Austrian border suggesting spies/agents switching loyalties (and his counter- agent alter-ego has the German/Prussian name Steinmetz).

Finally some goofs: When Columbo is looking through the photographs taken at the amusement park the girl shows him two of a fat lady with Henderson (Leslie Neilsen) and Brenner in the background (which is how he identifies Brenner), however this doesn't add up because the girl only ever takes one photo of each visitor so why does she have two of the lady? Also neither the fat lady or any of the people in the background of the photos are in the actual scene at the start of the movie. Earlier in the scene where Columbo and Sgt Kramer leave the advertising agency watch out for a lady in the background wearing yellow slacks, a blue hat and shades, she passes by several times and has a funny exaggerated walk and yet neither cop seems to notice. Be seeing you...

My Two Cents'

[lovethathat · 7/10 · 7 February 2010]

I enjoyed this episode, but some bits bugged me. I found Columbo's treatment of the other policeman when he first arrived at the scene of the crime out of character. Columbo has always been very polite no matter how tense the situation, so it seems inconsistent to have him so abruptly order them around. Similarly out of character was his unabashed and persistent starting at the belly dancer. In the past he always found it impossible to look at semi-clad women, which endeared him far more to the audience. The fake Korean? Chinese? spoken. Probably jars more today than in the 70's but it's a bit sloppy not to have McGoohan learn a few lines phonetically. Finally: motive. What was the motive? A murder without a motive is like a riddle without an answer. Are we to assume it was just the arcane shenanigans of double agents, or did I miss something?

Spy stuff mixes surprisingly well with the "Columbo" formula in this enjoyable episode

[J. Spurlin · 9 February 2007]

Nelson Brenner (Patrick McGoohan), a top CIA operative, is really a double agent who finds it necessary to rid himself of a fellow spy (Leslie Nielsen) and make it look like a mugging. Brenner inadvertently leaves tiny clues in a photo shop at a carnival, on Brenner's corpse at the beach, in a tape recording he makes while in his Agency-approved identity as a speechwriting consultant—the kind of clues that no one would ever pick up on. No one, that is, except our rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk). The indefatigable detective will find himself followed by mysterious agents, visited by the top man himself and entertained with a recording of "Madame Butterfly" in Brenner's own mansion before solving this difficult case.

Well, Columbo has already battled his own top boss ("A Friend in Deed"), a scientific genius ("Mind Over Mayhem") and a foreign secretary with diplomatic immunity ("A Case of Immunity"). Why not give him a really impossible job: battling a master spy?

It's strange to see standard spy stuff in a "Columbo" episode. We get the cryptic dialogue ("Colorado is a river" "Geronimo is an Indian"), a broken poker chip to prove identity, latex disguises, exploding cars—if I had wanted to see this crap I would have watched "Mission: Impossible."

No, I'm joking. This is an enjoyable episode, with McGoohan delivering two excellent performances: as director and guest villain. He films William Driskell's script at a leisurely, but not lugubrious, pace. The scene where Columbo fumbles for change at a gas station is the only one that seems overlong. McGoohan's splendid Nelson Brenner is fascinated by Columbo—the way a small rodent is fascinated by a snake.

I mean that analogy. Sometimes even we, the "Columbo" fans, underestimate our hero and see him as a simple guy with a gift for detection. But there is a moment or two in every episode where he seems menacing—almost frightening. In this episode, it's the scene where he walks backwards out of Brenner's office, smiling—yet with a penetrating glare. You'd need a master spy's nerves not to be undone by that.

The scene in Brenner's mansion is among the best in the series and make up for whatever deficiencies we might find in the plot and in the ending. Fans of McGoohan's spy series, "Danger Man" and "The Prisoner," will find as much to enjoy as "Columbo" buffs.

Another Columbo classic

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 13 March 2012]

I am a big Columbo fan, and I have always had a soft spot for this episode. It is not absolutely perfect, the scene with Columbo fumbling for change is a little overlong for my tastes, and while the deduction on Columbo's part was brilliant I did also feel that Brenner gave up too easily, it just seemed strange that a man as calculating and smart as he was would give up just like that. However, Identity Crisis looks wonderful, with beautiful locations and slick photography. There is an atmospheric score as well as Patrick McGoohan's purposefully languid but very effective direction, the sharp, witty writing with the "do you have some wine?" and "do you like music?" exchanges standing out and occasionally convoluted but very cleverly written and interesting story. My favourite scene of Identity Crisis is the scene in Brenner's mansion with Madama Butterfly playing in the background, one of Columbo's finest scenes. Peter Falk is exceptional as Columbo, while McGoohan also stars as Nelson Brenner and he is splendid, very snobbish and world-weary. A younger and more serious Leslie Nielson is a good presence as well. In conclusion, a Columbo classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Come for the plot, stay for the mahjongg

[jbirks106 · 9/10 · 7 May 2017]

While I agree with those who point out the plot implausibilities, there is no denying the chemistry that exists between Falk and McGoohan. Other installments surely have a tighter plot and stronger story- telling, but McGoohan is hands-down the finest bad guy the series had. Not for nothing was he featured four times. Just the way he intones "mahjongg" make it worth wading through the borderline ludicrous plot twists.

The Time Of The Day

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 9 December 2012]

Peter Falk enters the world of espionage with this case as CIA man Leslie Nielsen is found dead on a beach after leaving a restaurant. He was having dinner with Patrick McGoohan who then murdered him. Nielsen was getting way too close to finding out that McGoohan had a secret identity as a double agent named Steinmetz.

Again Falk is facing a perpetrator who is pretty smart and resourceful and in his case can call down the very forces of the government he's betraying to halt the investigation. In fact he does have Columbo followed and then even has David White who is playing his superior come down and confer with Columbo. All that does is convince Falk that he's definitely got the right guy.

This one is a cleverly written story and how does McGoohan get tripped up. Something as simple as the time of the day. Check this out.

The ending

[Crimpo2 · 8/10 · 9 August 2009]

Several have commented that the murderer gives up too easily.

Well - whatever the verdict of a jury Columbo has anyway proved that he is a double-agent who has killed one of the Agency's best operators. The murderer is finished whether a jury would convict him or not. Given that McGoohan delivers a splendidly world-weary performance the murderer may not even mind too much!

Some fine acting and direction here and the settings for most of the scenes are very attractive. If you like the average Columbo then you will love this. If you don't like the average Columbo then why are you reading this?

Patrick McGoohan as CIA Murderer.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 5 March 2009]

An unlikely case, even more fanciful than usual, in which Columbo is up against a CIA operative who has murdered a colleague for reasons of no consequence whatever and has tried to frame a black guy with a record of assault.

Columbo is his usual ragged self and there are gags about such things as his buying gas for his decaying Peugot -- "Make that two dollars worth. No, wait! (Fumbles in his pockets.) Make it two dollars and twenty -- twenty-two cents." McGoohan is the imperturbable CIA agent. It's not the first time he's been Columbo's adversary. He was great as the stern colonel in charge of a military academy in "By Dawn's Early Light." He's almost as good here as a superior, snobbish, condescending man of weight. McGoohan has this idiosyncratically clipped voice that suggests a childhood spent in latitudes somewhere to the south of Greenland, but it's as adaptable as his mannerisms -- those quirky pauses between words that should come out in one breath. Yet he does a splendid job. The colonel and the CIA agent are two quite different heavies. The colonel would never dream of chuckling over Columbo's lack of elegance, but the CIA man relishes it. He was an exceptional actor.

The episode is like all the others, unbelievable if a viewer gives the plot a second thought. McGoohan, as a trained operative, would never stage such a clumsy murder. Nor would he be brought down by the evidence Columbo musters against him. The final blow to McGoohan's alibi is that he taped a speech in which he mentioned that the Chinese might withdraw from the Olympics but they could never withdraw from soybeans. Columbo demonstrates that McGoohan taped the speech before the Chinese withdrawal was announced, therefore his alibi is a phony jury-rigged job. The murderer then crumbles over this featherweight of evidence against him. But of course all McGoohan had to do was claim that, as a rich and powerful member of the Central Intelligence Agency, he had sources informing him that the Chinese would withdraw from the Olympics before the official announcement. And, naturally, he can't reveal his sources for reasons of national security. Such claims can cover a multitude of sins. At least, instead of just shrugging and giving up the game, McGoohan could have said he was just guessing about the Chinese withdrawal. The statement is couched in the conditional.

Not to bash the episode. It's enjoyable mainstream stuff. Fantastic, hearing McGoohan pretending to speak some Asian language to his servants -- Vietnamese or Cmirian or Alpha Centaurianese or something. I mean, it's not really a language, but McGoohan almost manages to make it sound like one of the tonal languages of Southeast Asia -- if those languages all consisted of repetitions of the phrase "Mah Jong" with the occasional insertion of "beaujolais" and "Columbo."

Another mystery thriller from the master sleuth

[vpadgett · 8/10 · 24 November 2001]

This episode has all the trademarks: Guest appearances by Hollywood notables; memorable one-line throwaway gags; a baffling mystery; familiar L.A. locations; problems with the car ("there's only three like this in the country" he says; and Columbo's tying things together by staying on that one thing that doesn't make sense.

Guest was Leslie Nielsen, looking younger and much more serious than in the other roles I've seen him in.

Can we catalog the great one-liners in these 68 movies? Here are two from this episode: Columbo: "Do you have any wine?" McGoohan: "I have a whole cellar full." Columbo (waving his hand) "Oh, I'll just have a glass." Another classic: McGoohan: "Do you like music?" Columbo: "Oh, I hear it all the time."

Seeing the action at Travel Town, where I took my daughter 10 years ago, added to my enjoyment of this episode.

Maybe it's my tv adjustment, but the clash is getting greater between the color of Columbo's suit and his raincoat ...

Stay the course, Lieutenant Columbo, stay the course.

"Identity Crisis" (1975)

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 5 September 2019]

PLOT: A VIP CIA operative and double agent (Patrick McGoohan) finds it necessary to murder a colleague (Leslie Nielsen) and make it look like a random night mugging at a pier. Otis Young, David White and Vito Scotti appear in peripheral roles.

COMMENTARY: This was McGoohan's second of four appearances on Columbo as the antagonist. It was also the first of five episodes he directed. He and Falk were friends in real life and thus McGoohan's presence usually ensures a quality segment.

This is a longer Columbo outing at 1 hour, 37 minutes. It has the usual dialogue-driven cat-and-mouse and features the disheveled sleuth's penchant for details in his detective work, like meticulously going through random photos at an amusement park. Speaking of which, I like the location shooting at the park and pier, as well as the Middle Eastern-styled nightclub. As is typical, the murderer is arrogant and underestimates Columbo. On the downside, his motive is decidedly ambiguous.

The film scores pretty well on the female front with statuesque redhead Barbara Rhoades as a photographer at the amusement park and Angela May as the antagonist's secretary in a brief role, not to mention the winsome blonde girl at the carnival, played by Alicia Chambers.

GRADE: B

love this one

[blanche-2 · 9/10 · 11 December 2017]

Columbo does a great job unraveling this multilayered mystery in "Identity Crisis" from the fifth season. This episode starred Patrick McGoohan, who also directed.

McGoohan plays Nelson Brenner, who works for the CIA. He's a double agent but his front is being a speech-writing consultant. When another spy, known as Geronimo (Leslie Nielsen) wants money that is owed him from a scam, Brenner has to get rid of him. He makes it look like a mugging on the beach, and gives himself an alibi.

We all know he can't fool Columbo, and I loved the look on his face when he realizes that Columbo isn't going to give up on the case. The denouement is very well done.

A few people mentioned that Brenner, a tough, arrogant man, gave up too easily. I don't agree. He knew Columbo had him; also, I think he was fascinated by our sloppy police lieutenant and intellectually really wanted to know why he persisted on the case.

Truly excellent episode, with Columbo followed by agents and being taken to task by someone at the CIA. But he really nails it.

Fantastic Falk Vs McGoohan Clash Of Wits Columbo Murder Thriller

[ShootingShark · 7/10 · 21 February 2007]

A C.I.A. double-agent kills a rival under a pier, making it look like a mugging. Columbo doesn't figure it that way though, traces the victim back to the killer and starts snooping around until he is warned off by the C.I.A. Director himself ! But when the evidence doesn't add up, our hero just can't let it go ...

This is a fabulous TV thriller, one of the top three Columbo stories, and the second of four to feature the wonderful combination of Falk and McGoohan, as unlikely a symbiotic pairing of actors as you'll ever come across. As a straight mystery story it's terrific stuff, with a bamboozling setup about international intrigue and stolen microfilm which quickly gets thrown out when cop and killer meet and start to size each other up. It then becomes the definitive cat-and-mouse story (in a series which excelled in those), in which all the villain's assets - money, power, charisma, intelligence - ultimately fail in the face of experience, careful consideration and simple determination. There is a wonderful scene towards the end where McGoohan invites Falk to his house and plies him with food, wine, cigars and trophies of his amazing life, but somehow loses his footing and ends up unnerved; this is done through incredibly subtle, expressive acting by both stars. There are also lots of funny bits, some great locations, a nice turn by Nielsen as the victim and some talented Columbo ensemble players in the supporting cast (Kirby and Scotti). Also of great interest for fans of McGoohan's Danger Man / The Prisoner persona, since this was the last time he played a spy, and there are several amusing references to his past ("Be seeing you."). In short, a great script with a delicious twist, great direction, tremendous performances and a complete knockout of a TV thriller.

Unidentifiable

[sol1218 · 5/10 · 22 December 2005]

**SPOILERS** Hard to follow Columbo TV movie that seems to get lost as soon as one of the main characters secret agent/operator code name Geronimo, Leslie Nielson, is sent to the Santa Monica piers in the middle of the night. This to contact his drop man Larry Melville, Otis Young, about some payoff in gold worth $350,000.00. The man who sets this whole operation up secret agent/operator Nelson aka Brenner aka Colorado (Patrick McGoohan) suddenly poops up, after Melville checks out, and whacks the startled Geronimo over the head with a tire iron cracking his skull and killing him.

The film "Identity Crisis" never seem to explain just why Nelson murdered his fellow agent Geronimo since it wasn't for money. The $350,000.00 in gold was just an excuse to get him to the pier. So you could only assume that it had something to do with a dislike of him by agent Nelson. Maybe Nelson, in his suspicious mind, felt that Geronimo was working against the agency that they were both employed by.

Using the name A,J Henderson as cover Geronimo was impersonating an advertising executive and that's what the L.A police at first thought who the dead man was. Nelson engineers an elaborate alibi to cover-up his murder of Geronimo but as smart as he is he forgets about the time difference of a surprise news event that he mentioned happened six hours before it did that Nelson foolishly dictated into his office tape recorder for a speech he was to deliver the next day. This totally blew his alibi that he wasn't at the scene of the crime of Geronimo's murder.

Let. Columbo, Peter Falk, is put on the case and in his usual nagging and irritating manor gets under Nelson's skin by constantly badgering him to the point where he almost confesses to his crime just to have Columbo stop pestering him! As the story begins to drift out to sea with no one able to figure out just what's going on we have Melville brought back into the picture as the last man to have seen Geronimo alive. Only to have him doubled-crossed by his contact Steinmax, also Nelson is disguise, who has his car "fixed" and blown up after a midnight meeting! For some reason Nelson/Steinmax just put enough explosives in Melville's car to only shake him up not kill him?

We soon get to see both Nelson's and Geronimo's boss agent X-9 or Phil Corrigan, David White, who shows Let. Columbo an identification card that looked about as authentic as a phony business card you have made up for yourself in order to impress your friends, or enemies, or a girl you want to take out on a date. Agent X-9 also disappears from the scene after he's introduced to Let. Columbo and the audience just to show that agent Nelson and the late Geronimo were actually legit.

We suffer through an almost non-stop battle of wits, or BS session, between Let. Columbo and agent Nelson for the last twenty or so minutes of the movie. In order to keep the audience from passing out from boredom there's a totally useless scene where Lt. Columbo at a local gas station is fumbling around with his change in order to pay, $4.50 in gas, for filling up his jalopy. It's then that Nelson, from out of nowhere, drives up and gives Let. Columbo a ten dollar bill for his troubles; was this all supposed to be comedy relief?

You didn't even realize that the movie ended and that Let. Columbo got his man Nelson to confess to his crime in just how sloppily it was acted. Nelson or actor McGoohan, seemed so uninterested and unmoved to what Columbo was telling him about his alibi in the Geronimo murder being full of holes that he looked as if he lost his concentration in trying to play a guilty man being exposed. McGoohan read his lines with almost no show of emotion or any shock of being exposed and caught at all!

Just saw this one today on the Hallmark Channel

[bribabylk · 18 February 2007]

Rather convoluted, not completely satisfying. Without having read several synopses of the episode, it would have been impossible for me to figure out why the murder even occurred.

I can understand why having Lt. Columbo do his thing in a secret agent - spy - Mission Impossible milieu must have seemed appealing at the time, but it doesn't really work that well. The CIA / spy stuff comes off as dated an unconvincing; it bugged me that they kept referring to the agents as "operators" instead of "operatives."

This episode does have some things to recommend it - namely Patrick McGoohan's performance. It's a lot of fun to watch: very mannered and theatrical and British. It's obvious this guy and his imperious manner gets under the Lt.'s skin, and that Columbo really enjoys lowering the boom on him - his refusal to accept a gift of $10 in cash from the villain, insisting on paying it back, I think points this out rather well. McGoohan must have loved the show because he guest-starred on it a record four times.

I think the clues are rather contrived - if there hadn't been an amusement park photographer who just happened to snap a picture of the killer and victim, would the Lt. have ever caught his man? And the clinching mistake, with the killer tape recording a piece of news information that he couldn't possibly have known if had been where he said he was - well, Columbo had this one spoon fed to him. It was also a little dissatisfying to have it end so abruptly after the killer's confession; I would have liked to have seen him squirm a little more and maybe be confronted by his CIA boss at the end as well, with some hint as to what his possible fate will be for murdering a government agent, but I guess it's easy to write a better ending after it's over.

McGoohan resurrects the secret agent for one last outing

[Moor-Larkin · 8/10 · 25 August 2005]

Leslie Nielsen dying in the first few minutes tells you that this is going to be a good TV film after all! However he does get to accompany McGoohan at the funfair first. McGoohan's portrayal of a cynical killer who is kind to little girls takes us all right back to those gallant Danger Man days! Then he even has the nerve to deliver the line "Be Seeing You" repeatedly, a farewell to his Prisoner devotees? What a star! Peter Falk shuffles in and you know even McGoohan's time is limited but what a lot he packs in first! McGoohan even gets to do his favourite 'pretending to be a very old man' party-piece. As other reviewers have said, an excellent piece with many strands. Columbo was always great but some episodes were brilliant. The only criticism of this one would be that even Columbo would never have caught this guy!

Good job Patrick McGoohan!

[Boba_Fett1138 · 8/10 · 7 July 2008]

Being a good personal friend of Peter Falk, Patrick McGoohan starred in quite a few Columbo movies and he as well directed some. In this movie he both stars and directs and does a good job with both but it's mostly his directing that stands out and makes this one fine Columbo movie to watch.

I liked the movie it's beginning. McGoohan did a great job from the start, making this a nice mysterious movie to watch, with a very solid suiting atmosphere. It's not really a typical Columbo atmosphere but it works out well for the overall movie and its style.

The movie its story also allowed this movie to be more mysterious than the usual Columbo movie entry, also due to the presence of the CIA this time. Perhaps the movie is not always good or fast going in parts but it overall is a great different story for a Columbo movie.

Its directing really gave the movie something special. Also the camera-work is outstanding and uses some interesting angles, which are consistent with '70's style but not really the Columbo style in particular.

The movie features also Bruce Kirby again, who played the same character in a total of 4 different Columbo movies, as Sergeant Kramer and he starred in a couple of more Columbo movies as a different character. Leslie Nielsen also once more plays a role in a Columbo movie, this time as the victim, from the time he he still mainly played serious roles. But it of course above all is Peter Falk's and Patrick McGoohan's movie, they mostly carry the movie with their roles and their fine acting performances.

One fine Columbo movie, mostly also thanks to Patrick McGoohan's great directing.

8/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Major plot error !!

[jonjax71 · 7/10 · 18 February 2007]

The very murder this episode of Colombo is about makes it impossible for the Lt. to have been summoned to investigate. The murder takes place underneath the Santa Monica Pier which is in the City of Santa Monica, so since Colombo is L.A.P.D, he would not been called for this case.

Never the less, I enjoyed seeing the pier as it was in the 70s when I used to hang out there. The Santa Monica Pier is the home of the old-fashioned wooden merry-go-round, carousel that is seen as the home of Paul Newman in The Sting, it is still in use. I also enjoyed the scenes of the Long Beach Pike, (amusement park), which no longer exists as the site of the Pike is now the shopping and dining village adjacent to the Long Beach Convention Center. This area was also used in the filming of the conclusion of the chase in it's a Mad, Mad, Mad, World, which was also shot in the state park near the Santa Monica Pier where the Big W was set up and you can see the taxis driving up n down the road from PCH to the park.

Jon Jax 71

Directed like no other Columbo episode

[peterwcohen-300-947200 · 10/10 · 4 August 2021]

I think the plot mechanics of this episode are quite fine, as good as almost any other. There is not too much that far out, except for the the Director admitting that Nelson Brenner is someone they've been trying to catch for years, but still somehow he's still in this very sensitive position. The seemingly random bits of news on the car radio over the opening credits providing the essential clue (China pulling out of Olympics) that Columbo uses to break the alibi is a fantastic touch.

The real pleasure of this episode is that it is directed like no other Columbo, not even others directed by Patrick McGoohan. First, the artful use of facial closeups in conversations, often from a slightly low angle, add real heft to the import of the words being spoken. It's used not just between Columbo and Brenner, but elsewhere, like in dialog with Sgt Kramer (the great Bruce Kirby), the amusement park photographer, and others. Next is Columbo's attitude. Here the lieutenant is more forceful and straightforward. A nice touch is the very beginning where he directs the criminalists and coroner to get away from the body so he can inspect it. It's an unusual touch. Then, there's the way he interacts with his suspect. Columbo here is smiling, as usual, but this time his smile is derisive, almost mocking, as if to say, "can you believe this jackass." That's very unique for Columbo.

I think McGoohan created one of the best Columbo episodes here, raising it above standard TV fare for the day. He used the camera in a way that elevates the material above its usual standards, and directed his star to appear more consequential in the story. Nicely done!

How many times have I seen this episode? Countless, This is the first time I ever noticed what I describe in this review. It pays to re-watch!

Identity Crisis

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 12 July 2018]

Identity Crisis heads for the world of espionage. Nelson Brenner (Patrick McGoohan) is trying to set up a meet for fellow agent Henderson (Leslie Nielsen.) They spend a day in the fair on Long Beach discussing it and probably sizing each other up.

However Brenner plans to kill Henderson and make it look like a violent mugging.

When Henderson's body is found, Columbo makes a link with Brenner by looking at photos taken in the fair. Brenner's cover is as a speech writer, he is clever and arrogant. Brenner also makes implied threats to Columbo that he has powerful backing.

Patrick McGoohan stars as Brenner and also directs. He makes good use of the outside locations such as the fair on Long Beach and also night shooting on the beach when Columbo comes in to investigate the dead body. McGoohan uses the car lights to lit up the scene.

I did have problems figuring out the motive for the murder. Their just did not seem to be one unless Henderson knew who Stieglitz was and concluded that Brenner was a double agent.

Also after the intervention of the bureau chief of the CIA, Brenner was in the clear there was no need for him to contact Columbo any further. Whatever Columbo had on him was flimsy at best.

Columbo met his match?

[robrogan-43533 · 8/10 · 13 October 2020]

I really enjoyed this episode because of the clever choices that the writers made in depicting Columbo and his nemesis.

Columbo is not depicted as his usual self in this episode, and that is hinted at by his odd behavior at the crime scene, and then his even more odd behavior at the Adult Lounge where he is entranced by the woman belly dancing. Usually, he would be somewhat shy and reticent about seeing a woman seductively dancing, but in this episode he is very engaged. Columbo seems truly befuddled by Bremmer, so much so that as he's leaving Bremmer's office after questioning him, he doesn't turnaround and say "sir, one more question". No, it's Bremmer that stops Columbo and says, let me see you to your car. In fact this happens twice where Columbo is leaving after questioning Bremmer, and doesn't turn to Bremmer again, but Bremmer stops Columbo. Bremmer seems to relish the cat and mouse game and is amused by Columbo. A clever choice by the writers.

In addition, the CIA involvement puts Columbo distinctly lower in authority to even pursue Bremmer, a CIA operative. Bremmer warns Columbo that he is getting involved in more power and authority than he realizes. The Director of the CIA even sets up a secret meeting with Columbo to basically tell him to stand-down and not pursue a valued CIA agent. Columbo seems awed by the authority of the CIA Director and eager to comply. In my opinion, it is at this point that Columbo knows he has no authority over Bremmer, he will not be able to make an arrest. But the cat and mouse game has not ended. Columbo visits Bremmer at his home, and in an unusual encounter Bremmer hints to Columbo that he has bugged his home, and knows that Columbo's wife enjoys the score from Madam Butterfly and plays it for Columbo. Brennan is in Columbo's head, and even in his home. Bremmer also tells Columbo he knew of the meeting with the Director of the CIA, and even had it set up. Even if Columbo were to go to the Director of the CIA with evidence against Bremmer, it's more likely Columbo would wind up dead than Bremmer be arrested, that is how the CIA works.

In the final scene, Columbo is back in his familiar position, waiting in Bremmer's office for him to arrive with the evidence that proves Bremmer killed Geronimo. The cat and mouse game plays out, and many have commented that Bremmer gave up too easily. The reason is because, in my opinion, he wasn't going to be arrested and he knew that. Their interesting cat-and-mouse game had come to an end and there would be no arrest. That is my interpretation, take it or leave it.

Some have written that they didn't understand why Patrick McGoohan's character, Nelson Bremmer, killed Geronimo. You should watch the opening scene on Youtube and really pay attention, it's easy to miss. They were spys together in South America and had some sort of "currency scheme" which netted them $300k. Geronimo has returned 3 years later and wants to collect, and makes a veiled threat about exposing Bremmer as a double agent. So, that is Bremmer's motivation for eliminating Geronimo.

Spy-themed Columbo story is a good 'un

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 3 October 2016]

IDENTITY CRISIS is another Columbo instalment starring Patrick McGoohan, certainly the most prolific and hard-working of returning guest stars. McGoohan is a hoot in this one, and plays the most likable villain of his Columbo career: he's a spy who bumps off a rival and makes it look like a mugging, at least until Columbo shows up. Said rival is Leslie Nielsen, still playing it straight at this stage of his career.

This is one of the episodes that's slightly unusual and works well for being atypical. The background is one of spies and spying and the viewer is treated to the sight of Columbo being tailed by a couple of CIA agents for part of the running time, which is quite amusing. The emphasis on humour is strong and the scene at the gas station is particularly amusing. However, my favourite moment is the lengthy conversation between Falk and McGoohan towards the climax, where they chill out in McGoohan's house and discuss his possessions. Two fine actors at the top of their game - what more could you possibly want?

Why did Nelson Brenner kill Henderson ?

[freddy41 · 8/10 · 9 April 2020]

I have seen this episode several times but still have not figured out why.

Some classic moments, but ultimately a rather flawed adventure

[The Welsh Raging Bull · 6/10 · 2 September 2005]

This Season 5 Columbo story has a prodigious main cast, headed by Patrick McGoohan (who also directs) and Leslie Nielsen.

McGoohan plays Nelson Brenner who is an operator for the CIA whose past comes back to haunt him in the shape of fellow-operative Nielsen, who suspects him of betraying him and the organisation as a double-agent. The former knows this and eliminates him.

A decidedly complicated affair with a well-maintained aura of secrecy and slyness; nevertheless, it also has an awkward style about it since the script-writer seems to struggle with the development of a spy story whilst maintaining the familiar elements of the Columbo formula.

Overall, it is a rather drawn-out adventure which only really warms up once Columbo establishes Brenner's "real" job. There is a classic scene as Columbo goes to Brenner's house and they play a cat-and-mouse game as Madame Butterfly plays majestically in the background.

Satisfying in parts but not as a whole; grade A for effort but only grade C for the end product.

This one is terrible

[Rainmaker1984 · 1/10 · 8 January 2022]

The plot is a jumbled mess. Even worse, Columbo himself seems to be having an identity crisis. His behavior is just strange and bizarre throughout the episode. For example, in one scene he is too distracted by a belly dancer to even be able to focus on questioning a witness. He lacks his usual charm, which is most of what makes the show so enjoyable. Skip this one.