He does not have to do anything but inform Brenner's boss about Brenner's activities. Brenner will never see the light of day again.

Joe

Steinmetz, I love both of these episodes...for the obvious reason...Patrick McGoohan....such a cool guy.
In Dawn's Early Light, I love the scene where he is talking to Columbo in his office and he his sharing his softest wishes to him....to be with his roses...it is just so tender a side of a man who has spent his entire life in the military.......having a rose garden myself I can relate to the peace he craves of being with his roses again.
In Identity Crisis there is that wonderful scene where Columbo visits him at his home and they spend a wonderful afternoon together...sharing some wine and some food and talking of the mural on the wall and Madame Butterfly....and talk of all the games we play in life...what a sensuous scene....
Both characters are a deep complicated portrayal by McGoohan....but I suppose I find the Nelson Brenner one a bit more intriguing....I would have loved to have known him.

"Barbara Rhodes. 'Nuff said."

Agreed! She certainly has a better presence than in her first "Columbo" appearance in "Lady In Waiting" (which often got cut out from syndicated prints).

Where was she in that one Eric...I don't remember.

She's credited simply as "Hostess", and she's in the scene where Columbo goes to see Beth at the beauty salon after he has lunch with Peter. Barbara tells Columbo to put out his cigar before going in, even though he'd just lit it.

Shows you what I know...I have seen that scene and I thought it was Shera Danese!...but I just looked it up in the Columbo Phile and you are exactly right. Thanks Eric!

I also prefer Patrick McGoohan's
performance in "Identity Crisis" over
that in "Dawn's Early Light" (which is
still a fine episode). In "Identity" he
can use his British accent freely whereas
in "Dawn" he has trouble fighting it and
it pops out from time to time". Patrick
is the quintessential spy character
and he can play it to the full in "Identity".

And it occurs to me now that Barbara Rhoades and Leslie Nielsen coincidentally appeared in the same two episodes for their only "Columbo" appearances.

That's interesting, Eric. I didn't make the connection before that Barbara R. and Leslie N. were in the same two episodes.

Mark

I just have one thing to say - MAHJONG!

I like where Brenner says a long sentence in
Chinese that ends
"beaujoulais(sp?)..........C O L U M B O ! "

And he takes that line and draws it out all so slow!! Wonderful...his voice is so rich and different from so many other actors...it is really a treasure. That is how I fell in love with my husband...his voice...it is so gruff and gravely and sexy.....so I know a thing or 2 about voices. Patrick McGoohan's was sublime. His cadence and syntax are beyong compare. And, as was pointed out by YM, his true voice can be heard in Identity Crisis.
And what about that 'little' scene where Columbo visits him at his home while he is having that party and McGoohan is pouring the orange juice?? Such simple scenes like that are just pure splendour.

And don't forget, "You have the wrong room," even after Columbo shows him his badge!

Mark

Another great one Steinmetz/Mark......the way he says it...and he is showing no regard to Columbo whatsoever!....Soooo McGoohan!!!