"Double Exposure" is saved from being one of the very worst episodes, thanks only to the strong, outstanding acting performance of Robert Culp. This was Culp's third appearance in Columbo. Robert Culp was an excellent actor who never quite received the career and recognition that he deserved. He started out in television in the early '50s, and pretty much stayed with television throughout his career lasting 45+ years, only rarely venturing into theatrical movies (cinema). Had it not been for his presence in this episode, it would easily have been one of the ten worst episodes, which isn't so surprising when you consider that it was written by Stephen Cannell, whose name is synonymous with 3rd-rate television writing.
The story has multiple small problems, and one gigantic problem. The gigantic problem is the major plot device itself: the notion of "subliminal cuts" in movies and film. Subliminal advertising is real, but not this silly, fictional notion of subliminal cuts. Each time in the program where a film is shown and it is supposed to contain subliminal cuts, you do not see it, not even if you play it back on your DVR frame-by-frame. They aren't there, because if they were there, it would be obvious to everyone who watches this TV program, and no one would buy it. You would in fact see the frame that was spliced in, without question, and the idea that it would have a subliminal effect on you is ridiculous. Yet, this technique is used not only by the criminal in carrying out the crime, but also by Columbo in catching the criminal.
The motive was never adequately explained. It is implied that Dr. Kepple (the sign outside the institute reveals the correct spelling) had set up Vic Norris and took photographs of him with Tanya Baker, to blackmail Norris. This would have been a motive for Norris to murder Kepple. All we were told is that Norris wanted the negatives. Of course you could argue that Norris refused to be blackmailed and that Kepple decided to just kill him, but in this case it amounts to a wanton killing, which doesn't fit with the setting and just doesn't make for a good motive.
Then there is the murder of the projectionist, Roger White. Columbo supposedly figures out that it was Kepple who started the second reel, because the nickel that would have been on the floor if Roger had started it wasn't there. No one would have assumed in the first place that Roger had started the second reel. Even the theater manager would have said to himself, "The second reel was playing, but who started it?" Yet, they made it seem that Columbo himself had provided Kepple an alibi for Roger's murder, and that it was only because of the business of the nickel that Columbo realized that it wasn't Roger who started the second reel. Very, very dumb. It is similarly not believable that Roger would have tried to blackmail Kepple the way that he did. Roger would had to have been an idiot, but it was apparent that he wasn't an idiot.
Then there was the business of Mrs. Norris being framed. We saw her in just one scene, where she took the phone call from Kepple while he disguised his voice. He convinced her to rendezvous at some location out of her house, at the same time that he was carrying out the murder. How is it that being outside of the house would have made her look guilty of the murder? Huh? Yet, Kepple insisted to Columbo at multiple times that he should be looking at Mrs. Kepple as the murderer. And besides that, there is no way, no how that a woman of that sort would ever agree to meet some complete stranger that way. Completely unbelievable.
The gun that Kepple used to kill Roger White was registered to Vic Norris. Had Kepple previously stolen the gun and kept it hidden, or did he break into Mrs. Kepple's home after Roger confronted him? This is just too convenient.
Finally, there is the business of the barrel insert for the gun that Kepple used to shoot Norris, which Kepple hid in a lamp in his office. Even though the investigation went on for several days, he never bothered to remove it at any of the good opportunities he had. Instead, he got up from the auditorium and rushed to retrieve it at a time when he knew that Columbo was onto him and was watching him like a hawk.
This episode of Columbo is just very badly written. It is comparable to any number of lame, forgettable TV programs that have come and gone over the years. It does disservice to the Columbo series. Stephen Cannell has been the main writer for dozens of TV programs starting in the early '70s, but none of them rise to the standard of Columbo. This one episode was the only episode of Columbo that he wrote, and it is unfortunate that he was allowed to write this one.
The story has multiple small problems, and one gigantic problem. The gigantic problem is the major plot device itself: the notion of "subliminal cuts" in movies and film. Subliminal advertising is real, but not this silly, fictional notion of subliminal cuts. Each time in the program where a film is shown and it is supposed to contain subliminal cuts, you do not see it, not even if you play it back on your DVR frame-by-frame. They aren't there, because if they were there, it would be obvious to everyone who watches this TV program, and no one would buy it. You would in fact see the frame that was spliced in, without question, and the idea that it would have a subliminal effect on you is ridiculous. Yet, this technique is used not only by the criminal in carrying out the crime, but also by Columbo in catching the criminal.
The motive was never adequately explained. It is implied that Dr. Kepple (the sign outside the institute reveals the correct spelling) had set up Vic Norris and took photographs of him with Tanya Baker, to blackmail Norris. This would have been a motive for Norris to murder Kepple. All we were told is that Norris wanted the negatives. Of course you could argue that Norris refused to be blackmailed and that Kepple decided to just kill him, but in this case it amounts to a wanton killing, which doesn't fit with the setting and just doesn't make for a good motive.
Then there is the murder of the projectionist, Roger White. Columbo supposedly figures out that it was Kepple who started the second reel, because the nickel that would have been on the floor if Roger had started it wasn't there. No one would have assumed in the first place that Roger had started the second reel. Even the theater manager would have said to himself, "The second reel was playing, but who started it?" Yet, they made it seem that Columbo himself had provided Kepple an alibi for Roger's murder, and that it was only because of the business of the nickel that Columbo realized that it wasn't Roger who started the second reel. Very, very dumb. It is similarly not believable that Roger would have tried to blackmail Kepple the way that he did. Roger would had to have been an idiot, but it was apparent that he wasn't an idiot.
Then there was the business of Mrs. Norris being framed. We saw her in just one scene, where she took the phone call from Kepple while he disguised his voice. He convinced her to rendezvous at some location out of her house, at the same time that he was carrying out the murder. How is it that being outside of the house would have made her look guilty of the murder? Huh? Yet, Kepple insisted to Columbo at multiple times that he should be looking at Mrs. Kepple as the murderer. And besides that, there is no way, no how that a woman of that sort would ever agree to meet some complete stranger that way. Completely unbelievable.
The gun that Kepple used to kill Roger White was registered to Vic Norris. Had Kepple previously stolen the gun and kept it hidden, or did he break into Mrs. Kepple's home after Roger confronted him? This is just too convenient.
Finally, there is the business of the barrel insert for the gun that Kepple used to shoot Norris, which Kepple hid in a lamp in his office. Even though the investigation went on for several days, he never bothered to remove it at any of the good opportunities he had. Instead, he got up from the auditorium and rushed to retrieve it at a time when he knew that Columbo was onto him and was watching him like a hawk.
This episode of Columbo is just very badly written. It is comparable to any number of lame, forgettable TV programs that have come and gone over the years. It does disservice to the Columbo series. Stephen Cannell has been the main writer for dozens of TV programs starting in the early '70s, but none of them rise to the standard of Columbo. This one episode was the only episode of Columbo that he wrote, and it is unfortunate that he was allowed to write this one.