Just saw this episode for the second time last night. It wasn't bad, there weren't big plot holes or anything to really dislike, but I think the reason most reviewers say it wasn't one of the best Columbos is because it was missing the things that make the best ones so good.
Columbo's dog was briefly seen, but there was nothing funny about anything with the dog. There were no funny scenes involving any of Columbo's props. Nobody seemed confused about who the man in the raincoat was, and Columbo didn't interview any really strange people.
Another element in many Columbos is introducing us to a look at some sort of technology--video recorders, how perfume is made, computer robots, etc, from past years--and there is none of that in this episode.
We also don't get a behind-the-scenes look at movie making, running a TV network, wine producing, bull fighting, or any of the other occupations/professions of Columbo villains.
I recall one scene where Columbo opened a door in the "think tank" and saw people on the floor. But instead of going in and being introduced to their activities, he basically said, "wrong room" and left. No laughs there.
There was one slightly humorous bit, a silent one right at the end, which I won't mention here. But the most it could produce was a snicker, a sort of breaking-the-fourth-wall moment without any people on the screen.
I did like that the murderer was someone we could really dislike--stealing funds for personal use from his employer, having an affair with the boss's wife, etc. Unlike the previous episode, the killer had a real reason to kill the victim--his lifestyle and reputation were to be ruined, if not a jail sentence.
Below is the "spoiler" more-or-less The killer, Robert Foxworth, set it up that he was supposed to be putting together a display of miniature soldiers while the killing took place. He arranged it so he would be told the soldiers have arrived right before a party for the general. He excused himself to put the display together so they could present it to the general later during the party.
In reality, the soldiers had come earlier, in a box marked books, and Foxworth assembled the display earlier. The later shipment marked "military miniatures" was actually the books that were part of the gift. Taking these out and sticking them on the shelf next to the toy soldier display took almost no time. This is when Foxworth left to commit his murder.
Columbo's biggest evidence that led to arresting Foxworth was that the books supposedly sent the morning of the murder wouldn't fit inside the book box. He guessed that the box marked books contained the soldiers and the one that arrived in the evening marked "Military Miniatures" was the books.
I know Columbo has always explained some things a bit too carefully. But I agreed with Foxworth's reaction. Columbo actually explained the "Military Miniatures" means toy soldiers. Foxworth sneered "Don't patronize me, Lieutenant." What makes this so weak is that 1) Foxworth could have claimed that only most of the books were in the shipment, that he added a few others from his own collection, 2) Foxworth could not guarantee that nobody would have had a chance to see the display before the evening shipment arrived, and, most significantly, 3) there was no explanation at all to tell how the company that sent the books used a box marked as miniatures, while the company that sent the soldiers used a box marked books.
It would have been better had the boxes not been marked specifically, but Columbo checked the shipping company and found that the evening shipment was weighed at so many pounds, which couldn't possibly have been the light-weight soldiers, but that would be the right weight for the books, and vice versa.
It was reasonably entertaining, better than the average TV detective show, but definitely not among the better Columbo episodes.
Columbo's dog was briefly seen, but there was nothing funny about anything with the dog. There were no funny scenes involving any of Columbo's props. Nobody seemed confused about who the man in the raincoat was, and Columbo didn't interview any really strange people.
Another element in many Columbos is introducing us to a look at some sort of technology--video recorders, how perfume is made, computer robots, etc, from past years--and there is none of that in this episode.
We also don't get a behind-the-scenes look at movie making, running a TV network, wine producing, bull fighting, or any of the other occupations/professions of Columbo villains.
I recall one scene where Columbo opened a door in the "think tank" and saw people on the floor. But instead of going in and being introduced to their activities, he basically said, "wrong room" and left. No laughs there.
There was one slightly humorous bit, a silent one right at the end, which I won't mention here. But the most it could produce was a snicker, a sort of breaking-the-fourth-wall moment without any people on the screen.
I did like that the murderer was someone we could really dislike--stealing funds for personal use from his employer, having an affair with the boss's wife, etc. Unlike the previous episode, the killer had a real reason to kill the victim--his lifestyle and reputation were to be ruined, if not a jail sentence.
Below is the "spoiler" more-or-less The killer, Robert Foxworth, set it up that he was supposed to be putting together a display of miniature soldiers while the killing took place. He arranged it so he would be told the soldiers have arrived right before a party for the general. He excused himself to put the display together so they could present it to the general later during the party.
In reality, the soldiers had come earlier, in a box marked books, and Foxworth assembled the display earlier. The later shipment marked "military miniatures" was actually the books that were part of the gift. Taking these out and sticking them on the shelf next to the toy soldier display took almost no time. This is when Foxworth left to commit his murder.
Columbo's biggest evidence that led to arresting Foxworth was that the books supposedly sent the morning of the murder wouldn't fit inside the book box. He guessed that the box marked books contained the soldiers and the one that arrived in the evening marked "Military Miniatures" was the books.
I know Columbo has always explained some things a bit too carefully. But I agreed with Foxworth's reaction. Columbo actually explained the "Military Miniatures" means toy soldiers. Foxworth sneered "Don't patronize me, Lieutenant." What makes this so weak is that 1) Foxworth could have claimed that only most of the books were in the shipment, that he added a few others from his own collection, 2) Foxworth could not guarantee that nobody would have had a chance to see the display before the evening shipment arrived, and, most significantly, 3) there was no explanation at all to tell how the company that sent the books used a box marked as miniatures, while the company that sent the soldiers used a box marked books.
It would have been better had the boxes not been marked specifically, but Columbo checked the shipping company and found that the evening shipment was weighed at so many pounds, which couldn't possibly have been the light-weight soldiers, but that would be the right weight for the books, and vice versa.
It was reasonably entertaining, better than the average TV detective show, but definitely not among the better Columbo episodes.