A C.I.A. double-agent kills a rival under a pier, making it look like a mugging. Columbo doesn't figure it that way though, traces the victim back to the killer and starts snooping around until he is warned off by the C.I.A. Director himself ! But when the evidence doesn't add up, our hero just can't let it go ...
This is a fabulous TV thriller, one of the top three Columbo stories, and the second of four to feature the wonderful combination of Falk and McGoohan, as unlikely a symbiotic pairing of actors as you'll ever come across. As a straight mystery story it's terrific stuff, with a bamboozling setup about international intrigue and stolen microfilm which quickly gets thrown out when cop and killer meet and start to size each other up. It then becomes the definitive cat-and-mouse story (in a series which excelled in those), in which all the villain's assets - money, power, charisma, intelligence - ultimately fail in the face of experience, careful consideration and simple determination. There is a wonderful scene towards the end where McGoohan invites Falk to his house and plies him with food, wine, cigars and trophies of his amazing life, but somehow loses his footing and ends up unnerved; this is done through incredibly subtle, expressive acting by both stars. There are also lots of funny bits, some great locations, a nice turn by Nielsen as the victim and some talented Columbo ensemble players in the supporting cast (Kirby and Scotti). Also of great interest for fans of McGoohan's Danger Man / The Prisoner persona, since this was the last time he played a spy, and there are several amusing references to his past ("Be seeing you."). In short, a great script with a delicious twist, great direction, tremendous performances and a complete knockout of a TV thriller.
This is a fabulous TV thriller, one of the top three Columbo stories, and the second of four to feature the wonderful combination of Falk and McGoohan, as unlikely a symbiotic pairing of actors as you'll ever come across. As a straight mystery story it's terrific stuff, with a bamboozling setup about international intrigue and stolen microfilm which quickly gets thrown out when cop and killer meet and start to size each other up. It then becomes the definitive cat-and-mouse story (in a series which excelled in those), in which all the villain's assets - money, power, charisma, intelligence - ultimately fail in the face of experience, careful consideration and simple determination. There is a wonderful scene towards the end where McGoohan invites Falk to his house and plies him with food, wine, cigars and trophies of his amazing life, but somehow loses his footing and ends up unnerved; this is done through incredibly subtle, expressive acting by both stars. There are also lots of funny bits, some great locations, a nice turn by Nielsen as the victim and some talented Columbo ensemble players in the supporting cast (Kirby and Scotti). Also of great interest for fans of McGoohan's Danger Man / The Prisoner persona, since this was the last time he played a spy, and there are several amusing references to his past ("Be seeing you."). In short, a great script with a delicious twist, great direction, tremendous performances and a complete knockout of a TV thriller.