Columbo

The "Columbo" formula is perfectly executed in "Suitable for Framing." Take a wealthy, arrogant murderer at the top of the social ladder and a seemingly perfect crime. Add Columbo. Watch killer and plot unravel.



As it has been mentioned in this guide, Ross Martin and Peter Falk had a history of working together and it shows in their performances. Their interplay is sharp and witty; Martin's disdain for Columbo oozes gloriously with each sneer, and Falk is in perfect befuddlement, all the while encircling his prey.



The denouement of this one has got to be one of my favorites...SPOILERS...Ross Martin's frantic declaration that Columbo planted the prints on the pictures, only to have Peter Falk hold up his gloved hands. No words, no catchphrase. Nothing. He's just caught the killer. Priceless. And Martin's dejection when he sees the gloves. One of the all-time best endings of the series, in my opinion.

In this one Columbo follows and art critic who suspects of killing a man and stealing paintings. The bad guy always trying to cover up his crime never escapes Columbo's suspicions.

One of the things that attracts me to early Columbo's is how amusingly dated they now appear. In this episode the first thing you notice is the dreadful crushed velvet dinner-jacket and huge bow tie that the central character, Dale Kingston, wears. Later, he goes to a chitzy art exhibition where lots of art luvee's wearing silk neck-ties reside. In every scene, you hear a never-ending bossa-nova tune in the background as Kingston makes cutting remarks and jokes with artists. The cars people drive are ridiculously huge with ultra springy suspension. After all this is 1971, when flares were just starting to become wider and cars were pre-emissions. There are interesting appearances by Don Ameche and Kim Hunter, the latter will be best remembered for being a monkey in the Planet of the Apes series. If you like Columbo and like to see how tasteless wealthy Americans were back then, watch it.



All very entertaining and interesting keeping you quessing to the end how the crime will be solved.