Inside a Middle-Eastern embassy in Los Angeles, Diplomatic Secretary Hassan Salah murders his head of security and sets the scene to make it look some a break-in was disturbed with tragic consequences. Columbo is sent to investigate but when Salah sets up and murders another of his colleagues to look like the murderer the case looks closed. However too many little things don't ring true and he continues his investigation while the State Department As with many TV film series (such as Perry Mason), if you like one or two of them then you'll pretty much like them all. This entry in the Columbo series pretty much follows the usual formula we know the killer and the "perfect" plan but then watch Columbo follow his hunch and gradually starts to pick holes in the story he is told before eventually finding enough to prove his suspicions. Saying this is not a spoiler it is simply what happens in all the films. Here we have a plot that basically takes the strongest aspect of the formula and plays it well the cat and mouse relationship in the lead. The mystery is not totally known to us, so although to a degree we are watching Columbo uncover what we already know, there is also an element of the story where Columbo is ahead of us. The story unfolds well and the film uses the limited locations well making the film feel rather contained and involving.
This limited movement around other characters and threads means that more time is spent with the two leads and this makes the film even stronger. Columbo is slightly harder than usual; he doesn't play up the "bumbling" side of his character but is rather more just persistent. He does not allow Salah to overwhelm him, nor does he kowtow to him in the way he often will to fool the murderers. Small moments show him up to have confidence the best moment being him handing his "official apology" to Salah while he is being thrown out of the Embassy! Salah is wonderfully impatient and aloof and it makes for good tension with Columbo helped by the film making this very much the focal point of the whole film. The two actors make it work really well. Falk seems to enjoy playing a stronger character than usual and Elizondo does the "arrogant confidence" thing that always builds a good foundation for the mind games that the Columbo films are famous for. The support cast are OK but no more than that and it is to the film's advantage that it mostly rests on the shoulders of the lead two they are more than up to the task.
Overall this is a strong entry in the series that is worth seeing for the formula pretty much hitting all the marks, a good plot and two fine performances. Fans will definitely want to see it for one specific scene that for me summarises the Columbo personae the moment he arrives at a party for the King, wearing a very nice tuxedo.....under his usual scruffy mackintosh!
This limited movement around other characters and threads means that more time is spent with the two leads and this makes the film even stronger. Columbo is slightly harder than usual; he doesn't play up the "bumbling" side of his character but is rather more just persistent. He does not allow Salah to overwhelm him, nor does he kowtow to him in the way he often will to fool the murderers. Small moments show him up to have confidence the best moment being him handing his "official apology" to Salah while he is being thrown out of the Embassy! Salah is wonderfully impatient and aloof and it makes for good tension with Columbo helped by the film making this very much the focal point of the whole film. The two actors make it work really well. Falk seems to enjoy playing a stronger character than usual and Elizondo does the "arrogant confidence" thing that always builds a good foundation for the mind games that the Columbo films are famous for. The support cast are OK but no more than that and it is to the film's advantage that it mostly rests on the shoulders of the lead two they are more than up to the task.
Overall this is a strong entry in the series that is worth seeing for the formula pretty much hitting all the marks, a good plot and two fine performances. Fans will definitely want to see it for one specific scene that for me summarises the Columbo personae the moment he arrives at a party for the King, wearing a very nice tuxedo.....under his usual scruffy mackintosh!