The Lt. Columbo Forum

An area where fans from all over can ask each other questions and voice their own ideas and opinions on anything Columbo.

This Forum is fondly dedicated in memory of  "cassavetes45"  (Carleen Zink),
Columbo's greatest fan and a great friend to us all.
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The Lt. Columbo Forum
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Re: Entrapment?

In this case though, I think Columbo's superiors would be more happy to find that a rotten apple at the top of the department has been weeded out. Besides, it wouldn't have to be the Commissioner's actions based on possible entrapment that would get him convicted, it would be the fact that Hugh Caldwell will have confessed at this point and incriminated Halperin.

Re: Re: Entrapment?

It's just a plot convenience. Setting the Commissioner up where Artie really lived would have been too convoluted for a 75 minute runtime.

Fact is, a good lawyer could get just about any case thrown out (outside of the self-incriminations and confessions), but in my view, the closing sequence in AFID is the most memorable of the entire series.

However, some of us understand that such violations in real life can never be so cavalierly forgiven, and oddly enough, conditioning viewers to all kinds of them are just what shows like "Cops" are for.

TV sure has changed, huh?

Memorable Endings

I agree that A Friend in Deed has one of the most memorable endings (by which I don't mean the best clue, but the most striking to watch) -- Halpern taking the Walk of Shame out of that shabby room, Columbo shaking his head over the waste of it all, that moody music playing... it's right up there with Murder by the Book and Blueprint for Murder. Murder, Smoke and Shadows probably had the most memorable ending among the ABC episodes, although I thought Columbo as ringmaster was a little over the top.

Re: Entrapment?

and of course 'you just lost your badge my friend'

Re: Entrapment?


when he says that it is so incredible!! i love it!! yay!!
but hell....columbo gets the last laugh...yay!!

Re: Re: Entrapment?

I like the scene near the beginning when
Caldwell tracks down the Deputy Commissioner in a fancy, illegal gambling den, surrounded by a bevy of bimbos...some example for his fellow citizens!
I find the colors and visuals of this
episode to be especially striking.

Re: Entrapment?

i always thought Columbo would have taken an interest in the fact that Hugh called Mark Halperin on the night of the murder and then actually tracked him down at the club. Also that his demeanor was obviously upset enough for Mark to ask (in front of witnesses), "What's wrong?" Then they go off together to a dark area of the club and talk, and shortly after that Mark disappears.

Seems like those would have been some good clues.

Re: Entrapment?

good stuff everybody...excellent points..

and ym, i agree with you totally on the colors and visuals...very striking indeed! all the red...everywhere!!! all the mirror shots!! terrific! and the long panning shots, i.e. in the bar/gambling spot in the beginning...excellent!
benny gazzara dun good!

Re: Entrapment?

Columbo does quite often say'that doesn't count what counts is.....'
The commisoner had it in mind all the time that he was going to somehow get his hands on his wife's money somehow.The fact that Hugh Cauldwell killed his wife just seemed to have brought his plans into play sooner than he had expected.Hugh Cauldwells confession would have sealed the commisoners fate then, but now perhaps he would have got off. Even the confession would have been treated quite differently now.