After the comparative disappointment of our last outing, Dead Weight, Season 1 of Columbo came roaring back into life on 17 November 1971 with the art-tastic Suitable for Framing.
Let’s don our velvet tuxedos, crank up the electric blankets and prepare to slay our most lovable uncles as we stride out with Dale Kingston and co to give eloquent critique to this most artful of episodes. Is Suitable for Framing a Degas or merely a De Groat? Read on and find out…
Dramatis personae
Lieutenant Columbo: Peter Falk
Dale Kingston: Ross Martin
Edna Matthews: Kim Hunter
Frank Simpson: Don Ameche
Tracy O’Connor: Rosanna Huffman
Landlady: Mary Wickes
Sam Franklin: Vic Tayback
Mitilda: Joan Shawlee
Captain Wyler: Barney Phillips
Nude model: Katherine Darc
Directed by: Hy Averback
Written by: Jackson Gillis
Score by: Billy Goldenberg
Episode synopsis – Columbo Suitable for Framing
A friendly looking elderly man in a stunning mansion plays Chopin’s Tristesse on a grand piano. A solid, younger man in a crushed velvet tuxedo walks in to the room. The two men exchange pleasant nods, but within seconds Mr Tuxedo, AKA art critic extraordinaire Dale Kingston, has pulled out a gun and slain the lovable old boy – his own uncle Rudy – in cold blood. Yes folks, Suitable for Framing is off to an explosive start!
Note to Uncle Rudy: NEVER trust a man in a crushed velvet tuxedo and bow tie the size of Alaska…
Kingston tucks the corpse beneath an electric blanket (that old chestnut…) and tampers with the patio door locks before going on what may be history’s gentlest rampage around the art-filled house; toppling chairs, worrying bookcases, tilting picture frames, kicking maps to pieces, that sort of thing.
As he’s removing some fine works of art from their frames there’s a ring at the doorbell. Has Dale been busted so soon? No, good reader, it’s his accomplice Tracy, who, despite her initial revulsion at the sight of the cadaver, is soon passionately embracing Kingston as he departs to create an alibi at an art show.
She takes guardianship of the real treasures Kingston wanted: two Degas pastels valued in excess of $500,000. Waiting until the security guard’s 11pm drive-by, Tracy packs away the electric blanket, fires the murder weapon out of a window and trots confidently down the back steps of the garden to safety as the security man dithers uncertainly at the patio door.
“Dale is wowing the crowds at the art show, laughing fiendishly at his own jokes.”
Dale, meanwhile, is wowing the crowds at the art show, laughing fiendishly at his own jokes while making darn sure that everyone knows exactly what time he arrived. Of course he’s alerted to his uncle’s death and dashes to the mansion to find the place packed with policeman, and with one Lieutenant Columbo immediately asking shrewd questions and pointing out the inconsistencies in the crime.
I could’ve watched a whole hour of Dale at the art show quite happily…
Why did the killer bother unframing cheaper paintings, ignoring others, before stumbling across the Degas works – the only things he bothered to take? Why did he break in through the patio doors? Pros always use windows. Columbo also knows there were two people in on the act to ensure they could by-pass the alarm system. He even knows that one was a woman after the security guard confirms that he heard high heels clip-clopping down the garden stairs.
Of course he can’t tie it to Kingston. He was at the art show, after all. But he does arrange to tap his phone in case the artworks will be ransomed. And of course he’ll be needing a lot of help on this case…
After checking out Kingston’s art show alibi (including a rib-tickling scene featuring a surly hungover artist and a nude model giving Columbo the eye), the Lieutenant collars Dale at a TV studio. He’s on the phone to twitchy Tracy, and gets her swiftly off the line. Columbo, however, hangs around and engineers access to Kingston’s home so he can ‘borrow some books’ on art. Kingston, meanwhile, alerts Columbo to the fact that his dotty Aunt Edna – who divorced his uncle years before – could be a suspect as she lives in a house at the bottom of the hill under the mansion. The plot thickens…
Driving out to the LA hills, Kingston meets Tracy to pick-up the Degas from her. Assuring her of his love and affection with a vile kiss, he then promptly brains her with a rock and flees the scene: his only link to the crime now safely erased.
“Assuring her of his love and affection with a vile kiss, Dale then promptly brains Tracy with a rock.”
When he returns home, however, with artworks in tow, he finds Columbo slumbering in an armchair. The confused Lieutenant claims he dropped off, and wants to know about Dale’s day – and what he’s carrying in that art folder. As he reaches in to the folder, Kingston sharply cuts him off and is saved by the ringing phone. It’s for Columbo: a girl has been found dead in the hills. Looks like a car accident, but it turns out she’s an art student so the Lieutenant sets out just in case there’s a link to the first killing.
Accomplice Tracy predictably becomes Kingston’s second victim
The case continues to challenge Columbo. He makes the acquaintance of Edna, who seems harmless, but is thrown when he discovers Rudy’s will has been changed. Dale won’t inherit the artworks. They’ll all go to Edna. There’s more: Dale has known for more than 10 days about the change in the will, so he’d have nothing to gain by killing his uncle. ‘Go and find the real killer,’ he hisses at Columbo and seethes out of there.
More twists and turns ensue. The murder weapon (planted by Dale) is found on land near Edna’s house; the paper the stolen paintings were wrapped in is found in her rubbish (yep, Dale again). Things are looking bad for her, Kingston says. Columbo agrees but maintains his belief in her innocence. This stings Kingston into his fatal error.
In cahoots with lawyer Frank Simpson, Kingston arranges for the police to search Edna’s house. It’s the only way to give her peace of mind, and prove to the police she’s innocent, he claims. He and Frank also conspire to get Columbo thrown off the case.
Of course Kingston is stabbing Edna in the back. He plants the pastels in her linen closet. The police arrive and begin a search. Columbo is late on the scene after seemingly being kept out of the loop. Kingston attempts to shoo him away, but the doughty detective hangs in the background and attempts to comfort a worried Edna.
Columbo comforts loopy Edna as Dale’s trap tightens around her
There’s a commotion! The pastels have been uncovered! Edna is in shock, and Dale acts like the wounded party. “Edna… How could you?” he mourns. Columbo steps in. It’s still his case – much to Kingston’s surprise – and he has no intention of charging Edna. He knows Kingston did it, and now he can prove it – through fingerprints.
Nice try, says Kingston. I already told you my fingerprints were all over those because I unpacked them. I’m not looking for your fingerprints, explains Columbo. I’m looking for mine. He recounts the evening when he lay in wait for Dale at his home, and reached into his art folder, actually touching the paintings. If Edna stole the paintings, how could Columbo’s fingerprints be on them?
A trembling Dale seeks a last way out. This is entrapment, he stammers! You touched those paintings just now when I wasn’t looking! Without a word, Columbo removes his hands from his pockets where they’ve been since he arrived. He’s wearing gloves. It’s game, set, match to Columbo as credits roll…
Best moment – the gloved hand reveal
A moment so marvellous it’s hard not to roar with approval, the wordless revelation that seals Kingston’s fate is a work of art in its own right.
It’s such a clever clue, and is arrived at so startlingly that there’s nothing Kingston can say in his defence. Watch closely and you can see his lip quiver in terror. It’s so satisfying for the viewer.
It tops my list of the best Columbo ‘gotcha’ moments. But more than that, I personally rate this as the single greatest TV moment of all time. Quite a claim, I know, but I stand by it.
BEST TV MOMENT EVER!
Suitable for Framing – my opinion
From the startling impact of the quickest Columbo killing of all, to its gripping conclusion, Suitable for Framing is virtually picture perfect.
It satisfies on every level. We have a killer we can really loathe, a scintillating support cast, and a compelling mystery containing one of the best central clues the series ever cooks up. All credit to writer Jackson Gillis. As well as that barnstorming finale, the script allows for a number of memorable clashes between Kingston and Columbo, while also showing the Lieutenant’s everyman appeal and nous. It was Gillis’s first Columbo script. He would write several more, including Short Fuse and Requiem for a Falling Star, but never topped his effort here.
I must say, I LOVE Ross Martin’s performance as Dale Kingston. He gives us a different kind of killer than we’ve seen up till now: an unpleasant, unlikable, smarmy ASS! He’s also more condescending than previous killers, talking down to Columbo time after time. And, of course, what a low-life to try to frame his delightful Aunt Edna for his crime. It all helps to make him a killer we can love to loathe, and it makes his downfall all the more enjoyable.
I’d pay any amount of money for the transcript of this lecture delivered by Dale Kingston…
It’s hard to pinpoint when Martin is at his zenith, such is the strength of his performance. However, the art show cut scenes, which show him at his egocentric best, are a joy to behold. Here he is, resplendent in velvet tuxedo, making highbrow jokes about art that are utterly unfunny, but he has the temerity to lead the laughter as he and his hangers-on quaff the champers. Could it be that Gillis was playfully poking fun at the shallowness and obsequiousness of the art world? I rather think so, and it’s a hoot to watch.
Kingston must have been great fun to play. Not only committing actual crimes, but also crimes against fashion (have you seen how big his tie knots are? Bigger than Spain!) and crimes against humanity (terrible art show gags). I’ve said before and will undoubtedly say again that Jack Cassidy is my perennial favourite Columbo killer, but of the one-off guest star murderers, Ross Martin really made an impact.
The same can be said for his co-stars. In the role of Edna, Kim Hunter brings the kooky eccentricity and vulnerability demanded by the storyline. Don Ameche plays one of the great cameos. Despite just a few scenes, I rate his turn as lawyer Frank Simpson as one of the best of all guest star appearances.
He gives Simpson a depth of character that makes a mockery of his limited screen time. Who is this man? What motivates him? Is he a good guy at heart, or corrupt as sin? Compared to Tim O’Connor’s openly bent lawyer in Double Shock, it’s a very interesting portrayal. Simpson is anything but black and white.
Oscar winners Kim Hunter and Don Ameche help make the Suitable for Framing line-up one of the series very strongest
Continuing the theme set out in the early Columbo episodes, the Lieutenant is sharp as a tack and quick to reveal his sagacity to his quarry. He seems to jump to conclusions extremely quickly, although he’s always able to justify it. He’s on to Kingston in a flash. His alibi is too perfect, and when Columbo explains this we can see why a hardened homicide cop would be suspicious.
Detractors of the show do bleat on about Columbo cottoning onto the suspects unreasonably soon, and worrying them into confessions. That mindset does the show, and its writing, a great disservice. Pay any decent level of attention and it’s clear that Columbo’s an assiduous professional, who follows his hunches and finds the evidence to back them up. We don’t always see this activity on screen, but we are told it. Case closed, haters!
“As well as the double delight of the finely crafted mystery and the top tier performances, Suitable for Framing is notable for a rich vein of humour.”
In a rarity for the series, Columbo’s superior officer – Captain Wyler – appears sporadically, and he gives the Lieutenant his full backing. It’s a nice indication that the powers that be have full faith in his capabilities, as well they might.
As well as the double delight of the finely crafted mystery and the top tier performances, Suitable for Framing is notable for a rich vein of humour. There are several scenes to treasure, notably Columbo interviewing prickly hungover artist Sam Franklin (Vic Tayback displaying possibly the hairiest back and shoulders ever immortalised on screen); Kingston berating his TV producer for leaving him mugging at the camera at the TV studio; and, best of all, Columbo’s hilarious meeting with Tracy’s busybody landlady, played with aplomb by Mary Wickes.
As she gossips away and flips through photo albums, denying the Lieutenant the quick getaway he’s desperate for, Columbo is finally given a taste of his own medicine. Wonderful stuff…
If you can’t enjoy this scene between Falk and Wickes you’re not truly alive…
Billy Goldenberg wrote the score, and it’s very nearly as memorable as his previous outings. It’s perhaps less grandiose than Ransom for a Dead Man, and less inventive than the typewriter-sampling in Murder by the Book, but its jaunty closing number ranks among the iconic Columbo themes.
Kicking off the episode, meanwhile, a chilling, shrieking strings crescendo underscores the shock of the crime, the camera work jumping from painted face to painted face, accentuating the horrific deed. A spiralling, manic piano solo then takes over as Kingston trashes the house. It’s a truly arresting couple of minutes’ TV. If you can’t remember clearly, view the clip below. It’ll be time well spent.
So, electric from the off, with the best gotcha of them all to wrap it up, and oodles to cherish in between, Suitable for Framing is pretty special stuff. It easily stands shoulder to shoulder with the strongest Columbo episodes of them all. Is it the Mona Lisa of Season 1? I believe it is.
Did you know?
As well as sporting the single most 70s hair-do ever seen in this episode, Rosanna Huffman (Tracy O’Connor – below right) was married to none other than Columbo creator Richard Levinson.
Meanwhile, after a mystery stretching back nearly 50 years, I can now confirm the identity of the uncredited nude model who so abashed the Lieutenant. Read more about that here.
How I rate ‘em
It was always going to take a titanic effort to oust Murder by the Book from top spot, but Suitable achieves it, largely due to that magnificent ending. Check out my other reviews via the links below.
- Suitable for Framing
- Murder by the Book
- Death Lends a Hand
- Prescription: Murder
- Ransom for a Dead Man
- Dead Weight
Many a fan rates Suitable as their very favourite. If you’re one of them, do vote for it in the Columbo favourite episode poll here. More than 1000 people have cast a vote so far, so get amongst it!
As always, I really appreciate you taking the time read this, share it and pass comment. And I’ll be back again soon with the next episode in Season 1: Lady in Waiting.
Read my views on the 5 best moments form Suitable for Framing here.
Contribute to this site’s upkeep from just $3
See you next time? I’ll drink to that *uproarious laughter to fade…*
Interestingly, the writers for Columbophile’s top three Columbo episodes in order–“Suitable for Framing,” “Murder by the Book,” and “Death Lends a Hand” (written by Jackson Gillis, Richard Levinson and William Link, and Steven Bochco, respectively)–were each nominated for the “Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama” Emmy Award in 1972.
Levinson and Link won the Emmy, but I’d suspect that they had the edge as the show’s creators and leaders. Bochco, who passed away on April 1, 2018, would go on to win many Emmys, of course, for “Hill Street Blues” and “LA Law.” Gillis, on the other hand, a freelancer and an outsider to Hollywood, never did go on to win an Emmy, in spite of his many wonderful and creative scripts for such diverse shows during his long career as Superman, Perry Mason, Columbo, I Spy, Mission Impossible, Lost in Pace, The Wild, Wild West, Lassie, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Murder She Wrote, to name some of his best-known shows.
When Gillis passed away on August 19, 2010, in Moscow, Idaho, far from Los Angeles, Gillis’s daughter Candida recalled that the soundtrack of their household was the rat-a-tat of his typewriter. She also said that her father was interested in acting before he turned to writing. His daughter said that “One play he did was by George Bernard Shaw, who came to see the play and sent him a postcard afterward criticising his exit. I have the postcard.”
Do you know which Man from UNCLE he wrote?
Thanks so much for this. I watched this episode last night and it’s my favorite one. Your review was spot on and really funny. (His tie knots!! Truly humungous) I just discovered this site while perusing the net for more info about my favorite episode. It’s so satisfying to find a place where people love this show as much as I do!
I just subscribed to your blog and I am so delighted that my most favourite episode “Suitable for Framing” currently ranks on top of your list for the reasons you mentioned. My only wish is that it remains there.
Thanks for your wonderful review of this episode which is probably my joint favourite with “Ransom for a Dead Man”. I was crying with laughter at your description of Dale struggling to pull books off shelves, a brilliant moment. I also love the moment at the end of his broadcast when he looks away from the camera with that goofy grin still on his face.
The music in this episode really makes it for me. My favourite part is the cracking theme played as Columbo drives up to park outside Edna’s house in time for the search. I loved this so much I actually recorded it onto my phone and use it as my alarm call, even at 5.50am I still love hearing it!
I’ve only just discovered your blog today but I can’t wait to read all your other reviews and comments. Thanks so much for such an awesome site!!
I’m so pleased to be acquainted with a new visitor to the site! I do hope you’ll continue to enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun to write.
I completely agree about the theme playing when Columbo pulls up in front of Edna’s house. It could be my favourite bit of Columbo music ever! I’m terrible with audio stuff but would love this clip myself if you’re able to email it to me? What fun to set that tune as an alarm!
I’m not too great with attaching sound clips, but I’ll give it a go, hope it works! It’s complete with car engine and door sound effects for authenticity. Hope you can use it and enjoy it as much as I do.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Wonderful, thanks Helen. My email is columbophile@hotmail.co.uk
Upon my latest viewing of this top tier entry, I was struck by the moments when Ross Martin persists that adorable Kim Hunter must be the culprit, only our intrepid Lieutenant isn’t buying it. Columbo himself baits the trap that the killer falls into, seemingly content to sit on the evidence at hand until the pastels turn up, only then does Martin act to finally incriminate himself with the stolen merchandise. I would be hard pressed to imagine a better scripted episode from beginning to end, an absolute joy to return to.
This is such a great episode. It all comes together in this episode, all the things that make Columbo great. The bad guy, Dale Kingston, played by Ross Martin, is such a good adversary for Columbo. He is arrogant and very nasty indeed. We love seeing him get his comeuppance. The “gotcha” at the end is so clever and made much more powerful by the way Columbo sets up Kingston using his arrogance against him. There comes a point where Kingston actually believes he is sort of running the case. There is a great scene near the end where he effectively tells Columbo to run along now. Columbo is at his best there because Columbo acts out the role of being a doormat and Kingston buys it hook, line and sinker. This is the Columbo character at his best, Columbo, the character, is a great actor just as Peter Falk is a great actor.
That ending is so very tight as well. As this episode nears the end you are wondering, how is Columbo going to turn this around? There is so little time left, just a couple of minutes. However everything is turned on it head in such a very short time.
The different aspects of the story are revealed to the viewer at exactly the right time. Yes, we do see the murder right at the start, but the full plan is not revealed until much later, so we are kept in suspense.
I think this is a contender for best single detective episode of all on TV. If there was such an award I would give it to this!
Excellent review. The writing and Ross Martin make the episode. The ending edges out the “You’re a witness” ending of the Dick Van Dyke episode, but “greatest TV moment of all time?” 🙂 I will say it certainly made me smile.
And I take it the mystery of the cameo actress remains unsolved?
Alas, the mystery actress remains unnamed. The search continues, though…
Susan Jacoby? Her stated date of birth may not be accurate — actresses have been known to fudge that info due to Hollywood’s notorious ageism.
This looks a lot like Lee Meriwether.
one of the true classic columbos i like it a lot ,the story the beggining is very good and the ending and glove reveal is superb
For me the best moment is when Columbo says: “no, we’re not looking for your prints” …
That was a great review of a great episode. Maybe now you can just run along have your dinner…
I have always enjoyed this episode mightily, but I love it even MORE now that I have seen it through your hilarious, adoring lens. Aunt Edna was a particularly moving & charmingly eccentric character…you wanted to cry for this dear, addled lady. Thanks for another highly entertaining review!
I’m SO pleased you enjoyed it! Thanks very much for your comments.
Just watched this for the first time. Great review of a great episode! Your assessment of Ross Martin’s performance as Dale Kingston is spot-on. His overt disdain for the lieutenant– complete with eye rolls and audible sighs– had me chuckling through the entire show. I loved how quickly his air-tight plan began to unravel; and the baby-like petulance at the reveal– bravo, sir; bravo!
Ross martin was such an Awesome actor here, Can you refer me to his body of work?
He’s best known for playing Artemus Gordon in “The Wild, Wild West,” which at its best was a lot of fun.
I’m not sure I’m remembering correctly, but was he nominated for a best supporting actor Emmy for WWW?
He also played the gangster Tony Alika in the original Hawaii Five-0 and he was in a memorable episode of The Twilight Zone, The Four of Us Are Dying.
Belatedly:
Ever see Experiment In Terror?
Glenn Ford as an FBI guy, Lee Remick, and Stefanie Powers?
Directed by Blake Edwards?
Ross Martin is the villain in this one.
He’s always filmed in shadow; you never see his face until the end of the movie.
His voice is unmistakable, though …
Ross Martin and Blake Edwards were old friends, going back to the Mr. Lucky series; this showy villain role was a gift for him.
If you see the movie, note that Ross Martin’s screen credit doesn’t come up until the finish; it was a true showcase.
Experiment In Terror – watch for it!
(You’ll always remember Henry Mancini’s music!)
A fine episode– but I have to wonder if the whole thing was based on the writer thinking about the phrase “Suitable for Framing” and realizing it could have a delightful double-meaning. I wonder how many episode names have a little pun or wordplay?
Puns galore in the episode titles. Must have been fun to come up with them!
One of the reasons that the interplay between Peter Falk and Ross Martin is especially strong and memorable in this episode, in addition to the great script and their acting skills, is that they had an interesting history together. Long before they began their professional acting careers, Ross Martin was Peter Falk’s summer camp counselor. When Falk was 12 years old, Martin was like an elder brother to him when Falk played a part in the camp’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.”
It’s a lovely connection and great they were able to harness it so effectively all those years later.
Wow, how cool! I wonder what Falk played in Pirates? Considering he couldn’t sing–which is obvious in “Robin and the Seven Hoods.”
Just watched this episode for the first time, and I have to admit I did howl at the screen at the glove reveal. Wonderful episode across the board, and Martin was delightful.
Glad you enjoyed it. What a treat to view this for the first time. It’ll never be quite as enjoyable again, although still brilliant time and again.
When Columbo sees the photo that Tracy’s landlady shows him, he seems to dismiss it. I’m absolutely terrible with faces and wouldn’t recognise myself in a lineup. If that was indeed the villain, why did he dismiss it, and if it wasn’t, then what was the significance of the scene? For that matter, Tracy’s murder seems to be a loose thread in the plot, as the police department put it down to an accident (or at least, that’s what they claimed).
Columbo does unnerve the villain by showing Tracy’s painting, but beyond that point, this is never followed up.
What do you make of this?
I just watched this episode again tonight with my girlfriend, and I have to say I don’t know what I was thinking back in February when I made the above comments. It really couldn’t be any clearer. I must have been distracted that day! Sorry about that.
i love the bit where Dale says to Columbo ”you are not needed here, so why don’t you just go home and have your dinner” it makes me laugh every time i watch this episode.
He’s deliciously condescending. I love Dale!
How can any top Columbo list omit “Exercise in Fatality” ?
As for “Framing”, it is indeed an absolute gem. I wonder if any of the superb interplay between Falk and Martin was ad libed ?
I just saw this episode for the first time two nights ago. The “gotcha” made me hoot with laughter at my TV screen! I’m 49 years old and my parents watched Columbo in the seventies, but as a kid I never paid any attention to it. Suitable For Framing clinches things for me–I will watch the complete series. (And your site is excellent.)
I’m really pleased you enjoyed Suitable. It’s SO GOOD! I never tire of it. Please let me know how you’re enjoying the other episodes you’re encountering for the first time. There’s a lot of enjoyment in store!
I can’t get over the drawing of the owl behind the bar in Aunt Edna’s living room. This woman has just inherited one of the world’s greatest private art collections, and there, prominently on display in her own home, is a kitschy doodle that looks like it was picked up at a garage sale. Whenever it’s on camera, I can’t take my eyes off it.
Maybe Picasso did it when he was 5! You’re right, it’s a shocker.
“He gives us a different kind of killer than we’ve seen up till now: an unpleasant, unlikable, smarmy ASS!”
Man, ain’t that the absolute truth! What a total POS Kingston was, and Ross Martin just tore it up in this episode. Must have been a great role to play. Always more fun to be the bad guy, right?
And while I must confess I often root for the bad guy, in this case it was a real pleasure to watch Kingston get his comeuppance. That lip tremble at the end was priceless!
Ross Martin’s swarmy, totally unlikeable Dale Kingston is the reason this is my favorite Columbo episode (and yes, I’ve voted).
Great to read this, thanks Mark. As single killers go, Ross Martin puts in an amazing performance, and it must have been a blast to play. Thanks for voting, too!
Kingston is one of the very few killers who doesn’t turn on the charm around Columbo–offering to help him, giving him “helpful” advice, etc. He is hostile from the very beginning, which certainly doesn’t help his case any. He even accuses Columbo very early of suspecting him. I haven’t seen all the episodes, at least not in a long time, but the only other one I can think of offhand is Richard Kiley’s police commissioner, who is also Columbo’s boss, so his attitude has some legitimacy.
Oops I meant to post that on the “mystery of the nude model” page but you know what I mean!
Have you considered bringing this to the attention of Stephen Bowie at the Classic TV History blog — https://classictvhistory.wordpress.com — he and the folks who read that blog are often very good at identifying obscure character actors.
Thank you, I’ve not come across this blog before so will put the question to them.
Just one thing : did you finaly find out who is the blond model ???
No, not yet. But it’s too early to abandon ALL hope…
Great review and a great episode. I never tire of watching this one. There is such a sense of satisfaction when Columbo nabs a murderer that truly unlikable.
Absolutely right. All credit to Ross Martin for being so horrid in his portrayal of Dale Kingston. Love seeing him taken down!
I agree with 99% of this review. In fact, I’ll take your praise one step further. This is one of the few Columbos in which you don’t fully appreciate the intricacies of the murderer’s scheme in the first segment. The Aunt Edna piece (her inheritance; Kingston framing her so she can’t inherit) is foreshadowed early on (with the sound of high-heeled shoes running from the scene), but is an additional, delicious plot twist that comes midway through the episode.
Here’s my 1% disagreement: The brilliance of the ending is marred slightly in my view by the string of coincidences leading up to it. Jackson Gillis needed to find a way to get Columbo’s fingerprints on those Degas pastels. To accomplish this, he had to rely on the lucky coincidence of (1) Columbo hanging out interminably in Kingston’s apartment, (2) Kingston choosing that night to collect and bring home the Degas, (3) Kingston carrying the pastels in an open bag, (4) Columbo managing to reach into the bag, and (5) touching the correct surface when he did. Yes, it could have happened — but luck rarely plays this large a role in a Columbo solution.
Hi Rich, thanks for another such thoughtful comment. You really nailed it with the intricacy of the crime being revealed in installments (so to speak). Yes, that’s a most enjoyable aspect of the episode which I didn’t really address in the review. Clever writing
worth pointing out: we don’t know if Columbo’s fingerprints are in fact on the pictures. all that matters is if Kingston thinks they are.
I disagree. Dale never admits to the crime on screen, and since he advised Edna to stop talking when it looked like she was busted, it’s fair to assume he will also lawyer up.
If Colombo’s prints aren’t actually on the Degas, he’s got nothing.
We do know that the stolen paintings are in the bag, that Columbo (who isn’t wearing gloves) reaches into the bag, and that Dale won’t let him see the paintings, so yeah, he can prove it, with fingerprints.
What gives me pause here is that we don’t actually see–at least I didn’t–Columbo touching the paintings themselves. He reaches for the portfolio, but it isn’t clear that he really gets his fingers on them.
Hi Elaine. Columbo’s right hand goes into the portfolio and stays there for several seconds. If we, and he, had seen his hand touch the paintings, then he would know straight away that they were the two stolen dancing girls. It’s important that we don’t see him touch the paintings (even Dale in unaware that he did) but it is entirely plausible that he did so.
Great review! I think the episode is one of the better in the series; however, I prefer ‘Death Lends a Hand’ and ‘Murder By The Book’, if only because there’s not much of an arc in the culprit’s attitude towards Columbo in this episode. Dale detests him throughout, whereas in the others, you have a more subtle maturation in the culprits’ estimation of Columbo, going from treating him like a loveable clod to discovering too late it was a trap all along.
Yes, interesting point. You’re right, Dale doesn’t undergo quite such a voyage of discovery as he figures out slowly just how dangerous an adversary the Lieutenant is. I think I like that aspect so much because it’s comparatively rare in Columbo.