I'll try not to repeat other reviewers' plot descriptions. I'd like to explain my theory as to why this Columbo seems so popular, based on the reviews I've seen.
It's not because Columbo brilliantly finds five or six key clues, like he often does. The only thing that really gets him going is that the supposed suicide victim took a sleeping pill shortly before.
It's not because Columbo has a hilarious encounter with some other new technology, like he does in several episodes.
And it's not because of a really elaborate way for the killing to take place, like so many other episodes.
It's the characters, played by Janet Leigh and John Payne, and Sam Jaffe that intrigue the fans of the series. They are truly interesting, likable people--even the killer is likable for virtually everything else we ever learn about her.
I just saw this again last night and find that although I thoroughly enjoyed it, the holes in the plot and the fact that I never really disliked the murderer didn't keep it from being quite a good show.
Generally, my least favorite Columbos are where we like the killer too much and the clues that lead to his/her downfall are skimpy or perhaps stretched too much to be believed.
Aspects of this were weaker than lots of episodes, but it certainly is a very enjoyable show featuring wonderful characters, with some fine remembrances of the days of the Hollywood musical, which undoubtedly are fascinating to many, many people of today.
It's not because Columbo brilliantly finds five or six key clues, like he often does. The only thing that really gets him going is that the supposed suicide victim took a sleeping pill shortly before.
It's not because Columbo has a hilarious encounter with some other new technology, like he does in several episodes.
And it's not because of a really elaborate way for the killing to take place, like so many other episodes.
It's the characters, played by Janet Leigh and John Payne, and Sam Jaffe that intrigue the fans of the series. They are truly interesting, likable people--even the killer is likable for virtually everything else we ever learn about her.
I just saw this again last night and find that although I thoroughly enjoyed it, the holes in the plot and the fact that I never really disliked the murderer didn't keep it from being quite a good show.
Generally, my least favorite Columbos are where we like the killer too much and the clues that lead to his/her downfall are skimpy or perhaps stretched too much to be believed.
Aspects of this were weaker than lots of episodes, but it certainly is a very enjoyable show featuring wonderful characters, with some fine remembrances of the days of the Hollywood musical, which undoubtedly are fascinating to many, many people of today.