PLOT: A famous food critic (Louis Jourdan) covertly murders an Italian restaurant owner to protect his laundering scheme. Shera Danese, France Nuyen and Mako have peripheral roles.
COMMENTARY: This is one of the lesser episodes due to Falk's overacting, Columbo's inappropriate actions (e.g. with Mario, who just witnessed his uncle's death, as well as at the funeral), a relatively tedious story and some glaring plot holes if you overthink things.
Of course, even with the lesser segments, there are elements to appreciate, like the exceptional murder method and the stunning Danese in her second of six appearances in the series (she was 28 during shooting). For those not in the know, Peter & Shera married a month before this episode debuted and were married for 33.5 years up to Falk's death in 2011.
Other highlights include the Japanese cuisine dinner at the food critic's mansion accompanied by Geisha girls, as well as the presence of the distinctively-voiced Mako and the exotically lovely Nuyen.
It goes without saying that Jourdan makes for a superb antagonist. He would go on to play Bond-villain Kamal Khan in "Octopussy" (1983).
The installment runs 1 hour, 13 minutes.
GRADE: C
COMMENTARY: This is one of the lesser episodes due to Falk's overacting, Columbo's inappropriate actions (e.g. with Mario, who just witnessed his uncle's death, as well as at the funeral), a relatively tedious story and some glaring plot holes if you overthink things.
Of course, even with the lesser segments, there are elements to appreciate, like the exceptional murder method and the stunning Danese in her second of six appearances in the series (she was 28 during shooting). For those not in the know, Peter & Shera married a month before this episode debuted and were married for 33.5 years up to Falk's death in 2011.
Other highlights include the Japanese cuisine dinner at the food critic's mansion accompanied by Geisha girls, as well as the presence of the distinctively-voiced Mako and the exotically lovely Nuyen.
It goes without saying that Jourdan makes for a superb antagonist. He would go on to play Bond-villain Kamal Khan in "Octopussy" (1983).
The installment runs 1 hour, 13 minutes.
GRADE: C