PLOT: Col. Brailie (Robert Foxworth) runs a military think tank where he commits fraud against the wheelchair-bound owner, a famous retired general (Stephen Elliott). Brailie murders a blackmailing investigator (Andy Romano) and makes his death look like a military-games accident.
COMMENTARY: This one has always ranked high on my list of favorites of the latter-day series. Some people don't like it because of the quasi-military setting and Foxworth's supposedly wooden portrayal. But he's no more wooden than Gene Barry in the very first Columbo flick, "Prescription: Murder" (1968). Both roles called for an arrogant, calm, overconfident and inexpressive person.
Janet Eilber plays the general's much younger wife and her character is genuinely winsome and noble, yet she's taken a foolish path and feels guilty about it. This all leads to a convincing and potent sequence.
Look for Lee Arenberg in an amusing bit part.
GRADE: A-/B+
COMMENTARY: This one has always ranked high on my list of favorites of the latter-day series. Some people don't like it because of the quasi-military setting and Foxworth's supposedly wooden portrayal. But he's no more wooden than Gene Barry in the very first Columbo flick, "Prescription: Murder" (1968). Both roles called for an arrogant, calm, overconfident and inexpressive person.
Janet Eilber plays the general's much younger wife and her character is genuinely winsome and noble, yet she's taken a foolish path and feels guilty about it. This all leads to a convincing and potent sequence.
Look for Lee Arenberg in an amusing bit part.
GRADE: A-/B+