This Season 5 Columbo story has a prodigious main cast, headed by Patrick McGoohan (who also directs) and Leslie Nielsen.
McGoohan plays Nelson Brenner who is an operator for the CIA whose past comes back to haunt him in the shape of fellow-operative Nielsen, who suspects him of betraying him and the organisation as a double-agent. The former knows this and eliminates him.
A decidedly complicated affair with a well-maintained aura of secrecy and slyness; nevertheless, it also has an awkward style about it since the script-writer seems to struggle with the development of a spy story whilst maintaining the familiar elements of the Columbo formula.
Overall, it is a rather drawn-out adventure which only really warms up once Columbo establishes Brenner's "real" job. There is a classic scene as Columbo goes to Brenner's house and they play a cat-and-mouse game as Madame Butterfly plays majestically in the background.
Satisfying in parts but not as a whole; grade A for effort but only grade C for the end product.
McGoohan plays Nelson Brenner who is an operator for the CIA whose past comes back to haunt him in the shape of fellow-operative Nielsen, who suspects him of betraying him and the organisation as a double-agent. The former knows this and eliminates him.
A decidedly complicated affair with a well-maintained aura of secrecy and slyness; nevertheless, it also has an awkward style about it since the script-writer seems to struggle with the development of a spy story whilst maintaining the familiar elements of the Columbo formula.
Overall, it is a rather drawn-out adventure which only really warms up once Columbo establishes Brenner's "real" job. There is a classic scene as Columbo goes to Brenner's house and they play a cat-and-mouse game as Madame Butterfly plays majestically in the background.
Satisfying in parts but not as a whole; grade A for effort but only grade C for the end product.