For the longest time, "Any Old Port in a Storm" and "An Exercise in Fatality" were my top two "Columbo" episodes. I enjoyed "Double Exposure" on my first viewing, but it didn't blow me away.
Upon buying a season 3 disc with "Any Old Port in a Storm" at a used bookstore, I lucked into the fact that it also contained "Double Exposure" on the disc. Having not seen it for awhile, I decided to give it another shot.
Needless to say, I watched it several more times and couldn't believe just how great it was. It's unseated the previous two episodes I've mentioned as my favorite, and I've not yet seen another episode that quite beats it.
Culp is Dr. Bart Keppel, a Motivational Research Specialist who specializes in helping businesses give customers what they want. He discovered the power of subliminal messaging and uses it to his advantage when committing his murder. Keppel is a blackmailer, using a woman to lure business associates and then getting photos of them in the act (An interesting parallel to his character in "Death Lends a Hand", who didn't use the same methods, but was nevertheless a blackmailer) His latest victim isn't going to sit still, so Culp gives him oversalted caviar, puts a subliminal photo of a cool drink in a film he's screening, sneaks out while narrating the film (Using a recorded tape while he's away) and then shooting the victim with a gun with a converter after he goes to quench his thirst from the fountain. By using the converter, the bullet appears as a different calibre than the gun used, and covers up the fact the gun was fired.
One of the best things about this episode is the interplay of Falk and Culp, and the character of Keppel himself. Whereas in "The Most Dangerous Game" the interactions between Culp and Falk were heated, here Culp's Dr. Keppel is a very cool man under pressure.
Another great aspect of the episode is how Keppel covers his tracks. Sure Columbo suspects him, but Keppel takes the proper steps. Recording over the tape, copying the film, inserting the cuts and destroying it, etc.
I even forgive the episode for a plot point I dislike in some of the other episodes, and that's the forced elimination of a 2nd victim who uncovers the murderer's plot, here the projectionist who decides blackmailing Keppel is a better plan that going to the police. The idea didn't work in "Dagger of the Mind" but definitely works here, based on the cool, calculating man Keppel, as Culp plays him, is.
And what makes it even better is the fact that Culp knows less than halfway into the episode that Columbo suspects him and taunts him over the fact that he has no proof. In fact, I would challenge viewers to find a better interplay between Columbo and the killer than this episode. "A Stitch in Crime" and "An Exercise in Fatality" are great in this regard, but still not as good as Culp in this role. In the other two episodes, Nimoy and Conrad find out shortly before the reveal Columbo's true feelings about them. Here, Culp has several scenes were both know what the other knows, yet also know Columbo has nothing.
The best scene, IMO, in the entire series is when Columbo asks Keppel to accompany him to the scene of the projectionist's murder. Keppel knows Columbo knows he killed the man who's crime scene they're going to, and casually asks which way to go, as Columbo said nothing about the location. After all, he couldn't possibly know how to get there, right? He compliments Columbo's attempt to trip him up, and Columbo pays respect to the fact that he couldn't. A later scene between Falk and Culp on the golf course is also letter perfect. "Here's my ball. I'll just throw it out here a little bit....And no one will ever know." The episode features great support from Robert Middleton and Chuck McCann as the first and 2nd victims, respectively, Louise Latham as the first victim's wife who Culp unsuccessfully tries to frame for the crime, and even a brief appearance by George Wyner as one of Culp's employees.
But once again, it's Falk and Culp who really make this episode shine. While maybe not the best of "Perfect Crimes" is definitely up there, and definitely is one of the best episodes of the original series. They definitely saved the best for last for Robert Culp.
Upon buying a season 3 disc with "Any Old Port in a Storm" at a used bookstore, I lucked into the fact that it also contained "Double Exposure" on the disc. Having not seen it for awhile, I decided to give it another shot.
Needless to say, I watched it several more times and couldn't believe just how great it was. It's unseated the previous two episodes I've mentioned as my favorite, and I've not yet seen another episode that quite beats it.
Culp is Dr. Bart Keppel, a Motivational Research Specialist who specializes in helping businesses give customers what they want. He discovered the power of subliminal messaging and uses it to his advantage when committing his murder. Keppel is a blackmailer, using a woman to lure business associates and then getting photos of them in the act (An interesting parallel to his character in "Death Lends a Hand", who didn't use the same methods, but was nevertheless a blackmailer) His latest victim isn't going to sit still, so Culp gives him oversalted caviar, puts a subliminal photo of a cool drink in a film he's screening, sneaks out while narrating the film (Using a recorded tape while he's away) and then shooting the victim with a gun with a converter after he goes to quench his thirst from the fountain. By using the converter, the bullet appears as a different calibre than the gun used, and covers up the fact the gun was fired.
One of the best things about this episode is the interplay of Falk and Culp, and the character of Keppel himself. Whereas in "The Most Dangerous Game" the interactions between Culp and Falk were heated, here Culp's Dr. Keppel is a very cool man under pressure.
Another great aspect of the episode is how Keppel covers his tracks. Sure Columbo suspects him, but Keppel takes the proper steps. Recording over the tape, copying the film, inserting the cuts and destroying it, etc.
I even forgive the episode for a plot point I dislike in some of the other episodes, and that's the forced elimination of a 2nd victim who uncovers the murderer's plot, here the projectionist who decides blackmailing Keppel is a better plan that going to the police. The idea didn't work in "Dagger of the Mind" but definitely works here, based on the cool, calculating man Keppel, as Culp plays him, is.
And what makes it even better is the fact that Culp knows less than halfway into the episode that Columbo suspects him and taunts him over the fact that he has no proof. In fact, I would challenge viewers to find a better interplay between Columbo and the killer than this episode. "A Stitch in Crime" and "An Exercise in Fatality" are great in this regard, but still not as good as Culp in this role. In the other two episodes, Nimoy and Conrad find out shortly before the reveal Columbo's true feelings about them. Here, Culp has several scenes were both know what the other knows, yet also know Columbo has nothing.
The best scene, IMO, in the entire series is when Columbo asks Keppel to accompany him to the scene of the projectionist's murder. Keppel knows Columbo knows he killed the man who's crime scene they're going to, and casually asks which way to go, as Columbo said nothing about the location. After all, he couldn't possibly know how to get there, right? He compliments Columbo's attempt to trip him up, and Columbo pays respect to the fact that he couldn't. A later scene between Falk and Culp on the golf course is also letter perfect. "Here's my ball. I'll just throw it out here a little bit....And no one will ever know." The episode features great support from Robert Middleton and Chuck McCann as the first and 2nd victims, respectively, Louise Latham as the first victim's wife who Culp unsuccessfully tries to frame for the crime, and even a brief appearance by George Wyner as one of Culp's employees.
But once again, it's Falk and Culp who really make this episode shine. While maybe not the best of "Perfect Crimes" is definitely up there, and definitely is one of the best episodes of the original series. They definitely saved the best for last for Robert Culp.