Columbo

Hector Elizondo plays the First Secretary of a Middle Eastern (Suarian) Embassy in the US, who murders the Chief of Security in a bid to enhance the power and influence he holds within his country. Masking it also as burglary and trying to frame one of the protesting students outside the Embassy, he quickly turns to framing his accessory to the murder, who also ends up a victim of the power struggle....



This is certainly a different slant on the usual Columbo mysteries, but it is all done convincingly, with Elizondo portraying a serious-minded, aloof villain with the straight-facedness it deserves. His scenes with Falk are clinical, substantial and well-portrayed, particularly as Columbo has initial difficulties in adapting to the culture of the Suarian natives within the Embassy as Elizondo's character looks on in mild disgust, thus maintaining a vitally important humorous air to proceedings.



Columbo's ongoing difficulties with the culture is mirrored well by the complexities of the case: however, the shift of power from villain to hero is gradually and effectively invoked - firstly, as a a complaint is put into the State department about Columbo, but secondly, and more significantly, as Columbo (in a tuxedo no less) greets the Suarian king in his own language at a lavish outdoor party, much to the shock of Elizondo's character. This scene also re-inforces Columbo's friendship with the King, something which plays an important part in the resolution soon after.