Playback
- Episode aired Mar 2, 1975
- TV-PG
- 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
2.6K
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
Electronics expert murders his mother-in-law to retain possession of the family business.
This is one of the better "Columbo" episodes. Oskar Werner is excellent as Harold van Wyck. The company name is "Midas Electronics." The previous reviewer misspelled that. Van Wyck is an inventor ahead of his time. The gadgets portrayed are now everyday things so someone on the production staff did a bit of research in '74 when the episode was filmed. It was originally broadcast during the spring of '75. Van Wyck is a complex genius as the character shows. He clearly enjoys creating the new "inventions." But, he is no saint in that he does apparently like the ladies, and has several extra marital relationships going on. The acting is excellent from an excellent cast. Martha Scott as the mother-in-law is suitably nasty as the company owner out for profit over ideas. Gena Rowlands is, as usual, equally good. This episode of "Columbo" is a rarity. It is the only work done by Oskar Werner on American television.
helpful•140
- pamhw
- May 7, 2006
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content