I too enjoyed this episode very much. The ending kind of reminds me of the ending of Playback where Columbo studies the film and eventually sees the inivitation on one side of the film, but not the other. Similar yet different. The champagne thing in Murder of a Rock Star is also classic when Columbo wonders abnut the price. But that could be a whole other thread.

This is actually one of the best episodes of the new series.
I enjoy it very much: plenty of clever clues (the raking on the pathway to the sea-cottage, the champagne cork, the lack of the shadow on the mask etc ...).

Very very good: and Columbo is at its best (considering this is a "new episode"): I also like the way he repeatedely watch the film to get disturbing details.

Great smile/smirk on Creighton's face when Columbo fumbles (is that being redundant?) around starting to read him his rights.

I don't think it was scripted. I think Dabney coleman was starting to crack-up laughing.