Playback
- Episode aired Mar 2, 1975
- TV-PG
- 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
A gadget-happy inventor murders his mother-in-law; Lt. Columbo is on the case.A gadget-happy inventor murders his mother-in-law; Lt. Columbo is on the case.A gadget-happy inventor murders his mother-in-law; Lt. Columbo is on the case.
Photos
Herbert Jefferson Jr.
- S. Baxter
- (as Herb Jefferson Jr.)
Frank Baxter
- Officer Bronson
- (uncredited)
Henry
- Columbo's Dog
- (uncredited)
Mike Lally
- Man in Snack Bar
- (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
- Man in Art Gallery
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPeter Falk traveled all the way to Switzerland to persuade Oskar Werner in person to take part in this segment.
- GoofsColumbo has the security video (a wide shot of the room) enhanced and is able to read the wording on a card on the mantelpiece, thereby nullifying the suspect's alibi. This would have been impossible. It is stretching technology and image-enhancement way too far to be able to extract a clear image of the card from something that occupies only a few lines of the video image and to manufacture information that was simply not there in the original image.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Remington Steele: Stronger Than Steele (1985)
Featured review
One of the best Columbo adventures
The two-timing president of an electronics firm uses his expertise in electronic gadgetry to bump off his mother-in-law who has had enough of his wasteful and philandering ways.
A very well-devised Columbo story; Oskar Werner plays a confident, cold-blooded murderer which is fully evident in his excellent portrayal.
The set-up for the murder is fascinating: the script never complicates the story and is clever in using various elements of the electronic gadgetry (not all involved in the murder) to yield Columbo's clues. This is extremely ironic given that the murderer is certain that the hi-tech, modernised equipment in his house will allow him to commit the perfect murder.
The pacing of this adventure is well-judged, the performances are efficient and the conclusion is very thoughtfully executed - the murderer's wife is on hand to confirm that what she can see on the taped version of the murder is the clinching piece of evidence.
Highly recommended - if you haven't seen a Columbo adventure before, this will highlight what you've been missing and it is very representative of the quality of the series as a whole.
A very well-devised Columbo story; Oskar Werner plays a confident, cold-blooded murderer which is fully evident in his excellent portrayal.
The set-up for the murder is fascinating: the script never complicates the story and is clever in using various elements of the electronic gadgetry (not all involved in the murder) to yield Columbo's clues. This is extremely ironic given that the murderer is certain that the hi-tech, modernised equipment in his house will allow him to commit the perfect murder.
The pacing of this adventure is well-judged, the performances are efficient and the conclusion is very thoughtfully executed - the murderer's wife is on hand to confirm that what she can see on the taped version of the murder is the clinching piece of evidence.
Highly recommended - if you haven't seen a Columbo adventure before, this will highlight what you've been missing and it is very representative of the quality of the series as a whole.
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- The Welsh Raging Bull
- Apr 23, 2002
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