Funny story about the first time I saw this episode, on TV.
After Tina returned alive from Europe, I knew that this episode wasn't following the traditional Columbo "formula". I thought that, for once, they were spoiling Columbo's perfect record. There was a commercial break after Tina's return, the champagne celebration, and Columbo dumping his out in disgust. I thought that was the end, and I turned it off! It was late and I was tired. It wasn't until years later when I saw the episode again, and realized I had missed the final 15 minutes!
Interesting that this is the only episode where the murder takes place in the last 15 minutes instead of the first 15 minutes!
I like how there were similarities with the following three episodes:
Prescription: Murder - Imposter on the plane. Or not?
Blueprint for Murder - Columbo spends big bucks to find the buried body, and fails. Thus eliminating this technique as a future option.
A Trace of Murder - Watching how she takes her coffee.
Yeah, about thinking this would break Lt. " perfect record"...
I think that is what made this ep such a memorable one. They waited till the very last second for the GOTCHA!
This is one of the better of the later Columbo episodes, but I agree with Matti - I can't stand either the Sean or Tina character. The movie is enjoyable, but I find both of them incredibly annoying. I suppose that's a credit to the two actors.
I didn't like this episode at first, but it grew on me. I also can't stand Tina. She acted in the same phony way as Ed Begley's girlfriend in Undercover. I also thought it was kind of ridiculous that Sean and Dian would expect the police to get surveillance tape from England, notice the coffee, etc. It's a little far-fetched, but if you can get over that, it's a very entertaining episode. And I hated Sean so much that it was one of the best "gotchas". Literally in this case.
If I saw the episode for the first time today, I would immediately have thought that Dian had crossed the cartel and Hector Salamanca took care of things (for the Breaking Bad fans out there).
If I saw the episode for the first time today, I would immediately have thought that Dian had crossed the cartel and Hector Salamanca took care of things (for the Breaking Bad fans out there).
Absolutely, Pete! Last week was my first post-Breaking Bad viewing of Columbo Cries Wolf, and I immediately recognized Hector. First time I've seen him out of the wheelchair. I'm not familiar with the actor, so this was the first time I've seen him elsewhere.