Writer:	Jackson Gillis
Director:	Patrick McGoohan
Star:	Peter Falk (Lieutenant Columbo (no first name))
Recurring Role:	John Finnegan (Guard),  Bruce Kirby (George Kramer),  Fred Draper (Swanny Swanson)
Guest Star:	Jimmy Joyce (Handwriting Expert),  Jerry Crews (Watchmaker),  Hanna Hertelendy (Woman),  Joseph Roman (Foreman),  Rod McCary (Coast Guard),  Susan Foster (Lisa),  Joshua Bryant (Wayne Taylor),  Diane Baker (Joanna Clay),  John Dehner (Commodore Otis Swanson),  Wilfrid Hyde-White (Kittering),  Robert Vaughn (Charles),  Tom Williams (Bartender)

Second appearance for Robert Vaughn. His first appearance was as the murderer in "Troubled Waters" in Season 4. (edit) 90 minutes long. (edit) This is the second of two appearances on Columbo by veteran actor Wilfrid Hyde-White. His first appearance was in Season Two's "Dagger of the Mind". (edit) This is the only episode of the original series where we don't know who the murderer is. Or rather, that the writers and producers play it clever by setting us up to think we know who the murderer is and then leave us to guess who the second one is. (edit) A clip from this episode can be seen in the movie "Big Daddy", directed by Dennis Dugan. Mr. Dugan, who plays Mac in this episode, can be seen in the clip, behind Lt. Columbo . (edit)

Charles Clay: Isn't the police always called in when there's any possibility of an accident?

Columbo: Accident? Oh, I'm sure it's just an accident. Don't worry just because I'm from homicide. Didn't I mention that? Well, never mind. (edit) Charles Clay: They're on duty 24 hours. I simply could not have returned without them seeing me.

Columbo: Yes sir, I guess that's all true and that guard, he certainly remembers what time you left just like I told you he did. But that's exactly what's been bothering me right from the beginning-- time. Ever since I saw that beautiful watch of yours. Time. Why would you check with the guard when you were leaving the island, the time? He's got a drugstore watch. Unless you wanted to make certain when you were leaving he would remember...

Sgt. Mac Albinsky: The time. (edit)

What are the chances that a wealthy boat designer would have put the name of his beloved young bride on his favorite boat using crate stencils? (edit) Columbo is only able to confirm that Swanny is the murderer because he obligingly responds to Columbo's little experiment with the watch. Not only does one wonder why Swanny (or anyone else) respond to Columbo's watch-listening experiment, but it seems unlikely this would be anywhere close to convictable for a jury. (edit)

This episode does not have any allusions. Add some now!