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"Columbo" A Stitch in Crime (1973)


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18 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :-
Inventive plot, cool adversary, smart comedy, great twist ending: this "Columbo" has it all, 29 March 2005
10/10
Author: J. Spurlin from United States

What a great "Columbo" episode. For fans, this has everything. A brilliant adversary. A tricky plot. Deftly chosen jokes. And a twist ending that comes like a thunderclap.

Dr. Mayfield (Leonard Nimoy) is a surgeon with an ingenious scheme for murdering the kindly Dr. Hidemann, his infuriatingly cautious partner in a research project. But Hidemann's devoted nurse (Anne Francis) catches on to the scheme, and Mayfield murders her to prevent discovery. It's up to our Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) not only to find out who killed the nurse but prevent another murder from taking place.

Two things often trip up even the best writers of this series. One is the ending. Too often an episode ends with Columbo revealing a damning piece of evidence that doesn't seem all that damning. Or he tricks the killer into giving himself away, which never quite feels satisfactory. I won't give away this ending, of course. Let's just say it'll please the most demanding fan.

The other thing is the comedy scenes. Columbo affects dimwittedness and bad manners to trick his quarry into underestimating him. But too often the writers seem to think that he is genuinely a buffoon. For instance, there's a terrible scene in "Dagger of the Mind" where he inadvertently creates havoc at an airport. It's not funny, and it's not our Columbo. "A Stitch in Crime," by contrast, has some splendidly comic moments where he is not a clown, just a bit inattentive to manners. What he does with a hardboiled egg is priceless.

He also has the standard scene where something makes him queasy. In "Ransom for a Dead Man" it's the airplane ride. In "Dead Weight" it's the boat ride. Here it's hospitals, especially the operating room. But I like how he's able to steel himself when it really counts. I also love a novel moment. We actually see our faux-obsequious detective drop the pretense and lose his temper. I don't think he's done that since "Prescription: Murder."

Leonard Nimoy is essentially Mr. Spock in a white coat. His Dr. Mayfield is better able to keep his emotions at bay than just about any other murderer in the series. He makes brilliant move after brilliant move, but Columbo checks him every time. And then in the very last frame: checkmate.

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12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Well enough stitched together Columbo adventure, 3 January 2003
7/10
Author: The Welsh Raging Bull (leighton.phillips@sihe.ac.uk) from Port Talbot, South Wales, UK

This is a largely potent, cleverly-titled and unpredictably effective Season 2 episode from the Columbo series which sees an impulsive and scheming surgeon (played by Leonary Nimoy) murder a nurse who realises that he is going to botch a heart valve operation on his more circumspect and cautious colleague, who are both involved in a revolutionary medical project.

Leonary Nimoy "warms up" in his role as the villain: he is initially a little wooden but ultimately his character provides a stern test for Columbo's powers of deduction and, in turn, Nimoy is very effective in portraying the villain's tenacity and calculating nature.

The script-writer allows the plot to drift a little in mid-section, primarily because of the pursuance of the drug-related theme which is the made-to-look motive used by the killer.

Will Geer's portrayal of his slightly irritating and fussy characterisation is almost too good; since it borders too much towards comedy and this dilutes the tension a little.

The last twenty minutes or so are very well-portrayed: the remarkable thing in this episode is that it is very difficult to anticipate how Columbo will nail the killer. In separate sequences, we see Columbo uncharacteristically lose his temper infront of the murderer and then shake his hand and admit defeat.....

Despite some lesser moments in the middle, the brisk opening and the relentlessly surprising end make this a highly recommended, if not totally faultless Columbo story.

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Good cat and mouse stuff and some nice additions to the usual formula, 20 June 2005
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Dr Barry Mayfield is a great surgeon but he knows that he will always play second fiddle to the imminent Dr Hidemann. When Hidemann requires a heart operation, Mayfield performs it but Nurse Martin is very suspicious and believes that Mayfield will let him die during it. Nothing happens during the operation but when Martin discovers a suture on the floor that cannot be accounted for she confronts Mayfield with it. Knowing the game is up if she tells anyone Mayfield kills her and makes it look like a drug killing. It doesn't sit with Columbo and soon Mayfield is trying to help the case along by setting up possible motives for others.

As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula – we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler – it is simply what happens in all the films. With this film we have things going a little differently, Mayfield's intended victim is actually Hidemann and the murder will take a few days to kick in – however he is forced to do another murder to cover his tracks. It is this second murder that is the crime of the film and also the one that sees the perfect plan fall down. In some regards the lengths that Mayfield goes to to suggest other people for the crime is a bit hard to believe and would surely have made him look guilty, but then I suppose this is what is meant to happen and explains why Columbo is so sure despite the lack of evidence. The cat and mouse stuff is enjoyable and the ending is sudden and enjoyable because the murderer is so close to fooling Columbo.

Falk is as good as always but the additions to his character aren't so well handled; specifically the sudden burst of temper is out of nowhere and would have been better if we had been allowed to see Columbo have a slow burn first. It took me a minute or two till I got into Nimoy in the main role but he was actually pretty good. Nicely assured of himself, Nimoy convinces as Columbo's equal and the fact that they both know what the other is up to makes for some nice tension. Francis, Geer, Talbot and others provide reasonable support but as with all these things it is the lead two that make the film work.

Overall an enjoyable entry in the series that is not a real standout but is easily up to the usual high standard of this generally strong series of television movies.

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
wonderful entry in the series, 26 September 2004
Author: blanche-2 from United States

I have loved most of the Columbos. This one is a favorite because of the cast: Leonard Nimoy, Anne Francis, Nita Talbot and Will Geer. There's a wonderful relationship between Geer and Francis, which makes the murders all the sadder.

Of course, leave it to Nita Talbot to provide one of the funniest Columbo scenes, where she describes the differences between herself and her roommate, Francis. Paraphrasing: "She is kind and devoted to helping people, so she works in a hospital...I am only interested in shallow things like money, so I work for a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon." She's fabulous as always.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Solid Columbo, 20 April 2005
8/10
Author: bensonmum2 from Tennessee

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

- One of the better Columbo movies I've seen thus far. The mystery is intelligent and the killer's actions are what you would expect from a doctor. The mystery will keep you guessing up to the last scene. Often, these Columbo movies have a less than satisfactory ending. It's as if the writers too often had no idea how to end the thing and resort to having the killer confess when faced with the flimsiest of evidence. That's not the case here. The evidence, when finally presented, is damning and leaves no doubt about the doctor's guilt.

- Leonard Nimoy makes an excellent advisory for Peter Falk's Columbo. He is essentially playing Mr. Spock - calm, rational, and intelligent. Even with faced with Columbo's erratic behavior, he never loses his cool. In fact, this is one of the few episodes where I remember Columbo losing it. In one scene, he slams a clock to the desk and let's the unflappable Nimoy have it. It's a very uncharacteristic moment for Columbo, but only proves he's human like the rest of us.

- The only real weakness I see in the movie is the decision to cast Will Geer as the head of an important research project. Maybe I saw the Waltons too many times while growing up, but Geer is too kindly and simple to be my ideal choice to play such an important doctor and researcher.

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Did anybody notice "Helen Crump"??, 19 November 2006
Author: Ripshin from North Carolina

Aneta Corsaut portrayed Andy Taylor's girlfriend/wife in the top-rated (Number 1!!) TV show, "Andy Griffith." Yet, three years later, she goes by barely noticed in a series of guest supporting TV appearances, as with her Nurse Morgan walk-on here. Interesting.

Overall, a great "Columbo" episode, minus the overacting of the previous two installments.

Perhaps the script goes a bit overboard in portraying Columbo's slovenly appearance and behavior, and I certainly do not want to watch him eat another meal, ever again.

Jared Martin is excellent in his brief appearance, and Geer plays the type of character he specialized in bringing to life. Nimoy is indeed a bit "wooden" at times, but I assume that's why he was cast in the role. Anne Francis's second "Columbo" outing is fine.

Director Averback specialized in TV movies, pilots and series episodes, so the production is professional, is not somewhat pedestrian.

Does anybody know what building is used for exteriors of the hospital?

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
An interesting twist in crime!, 19 May 2006
7/10
Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States

A Stitch in Crime is a typical Columbo episode with it's usual twists. We know who did it from the every beginning. Leonard Nimoy is superb as the unlikable surgeon who is very vain and conceited in my opinion but I love Leonard Nimoy as an actor anyway. The story is better written than most. They don't spend that much time in the hospital which is nice. Of course, Columbo buts heads with Nimoy's surgeon character quite often enough to irritate him but you can't help but love Columbo. When he catches his man or woman in some cases, it's always the least likely way. He has a good supporting cast but forgettable since I can't remember any of their names.

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
leonard nimoy is great in this one!, 4 July 2003
Author: angela nimoy (leonardnimoybabe) from TX

it was a very nice pices of work! very well acted out and great script! it keeps you on the edge of your seat and i was hoping that with some luck barry mayfield would make it! the crime was not planed out very much ahead of time but it went smoothly until the end! i love leonard nimoy and peter falk acting together, they are both great actors and work well together in this show!

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Spock/Nimoy Serves Up Bad Crab To Columbo, 30 December 2008
7/10
Author: DKOSTY from United States

Directed by Hy Averback, veteran sit-com producer/director, this episode is paced more quickly than many Columbo episodes. It is cleverly written and slickly filmed & seems shorter than other shows.

Faulk not only has an excellent villain in Leonard Nimoy to pursue, but has Will Geer (Grandpa Walton) waiting in the wings as another victim of the evil opportunistic doctor Nimoy. Geers role in this is small but effective.

Columbo gets tortured himself in this one as he has a sleepless night and some bad crab at Nimoy's house party making him sick. This gives him a short temper which finally boils over in Nimoy's office late in the show.

Then, there is Nimoy who is a brilliant surgeon but a bumbling criminal who keeps trying and failing to throw Columbo off the scent. In this show he is the anti-Spock as he is neither logical nor anywhere near as smart as he is conceited. It would have been a crime to name him Dr. Spock in this episode as the real Dr. Spock would have really sued Universal.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A movie that handles its usual formula really well., 26 April 2008
8/10
Author: Boba_Fett1138 from Groningen, The Netherlands

Of course every Columbo movie is a cat and mouse play between the Lieutenant and the killer but in this movie this is perhaps more the case than in any other Columbo movie. This is mostly due to Leonard Nimoy and Lt. Columbo gets on his back pretty early on during their first meeting already. There is some great interaction between those two. It's great also to see Columbo get angry for once.

Leonard Nimoy is actually one scary looking dude and he has a great villainous look over him. Too bad he never really made a career as playing villains, I'm sure he would had been just perfect for it. He shows some great acting skills in this movie. Also Peter Falk is great once more as the scruffy Lieutenant, that also suffers from insomnia and is ill (again) this time. There is always something unusual going on with him.

The movie features all of the usual Columbo ingredients and it handles them well, so therefor this movie can be regarded as a simply good and also definitely above average Columbo entry. Also the amount of relieving comedy is just enough to also regard this movie as an entertaining one, without loosing any of its credibility as a murder-mystery.

The movie its story is using a fine setting of an hospital, that seems to really suit murder mysteries. It's like the story is really much special but its strong enough to keep you interested throughout. The killer himself is also definitely clever enough to provide the movie with some good clever moments. It's also all being told in a good quick pace, which makes the movie perfectly good to watch. It's one fine put together movie. It's definitely a step up from Hy Averback's previously directed Columbo movie "Columbo: Suitable for Framing". Also makes it sort of too bad that Shirl Hendryx never delivered any more Columbo screenplays. As a matter of fact he hardly wrote anything again after this and it seems to me that it was more of a writer who wrote stage-plays instead.

A great Columbo entry that follows the usual formula and does very little wrong doing so.

8/10

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