PLOT: A former musical star plans to stage a risky comeback (Janet Leigh), but her retired husband refuses to finance it so she murders him in his bed in a locked room, making it look like a suicide. She has a great alibi but, as usual, the details don't add up for Columbo. John Payne appears as her star partner from the past while the beautiful Linda Gaye Scott is on hand as a maid.
COMMENTARY: Janet was 48 years-old during shooting and in good shape, but made to look like she's in her early 60s. Her convincing performance carries the flick, which is a longer one at 1 hour, 37 minutes. A highlight is the rumpled sleuth climbing a tree, not to mention "Dog." The ending is effective, but one of the oddest in the series.
GRADE: A-
COMMENTARY: Janet was 48 years-old during shooting and in good shape, but made to look like she's in her early 60s. Her convincing performance carries the flick, which is a longer one at 1 hour, 37 minutes. A highlight is the rumpled sleuth climbing a tree, not to mention "Dog." The ending is effective, but one of the oddest in the series.
GRADE: A-