A tough act to follow, perhaps, but with Ray Milland leading the supporting cast, and Peter Falk now owning every inch of the crumpled mac, anything seemed possible. Read on and find outβ¦. Lieutenant Columbo : Peter Falk Jarvis Goodland : Ray Milland Sergeant Wilson : Bob Dishy Tony Goodland : Bradford Dillman Kathy Goodland : Sandra Smith Ken Nichols : William Smith Gloria : Arlene Martell Directed by : Boris Sagal Written by : Jonathan Latimer Score by : Oliver Nelson.
This all-action opening sequence means that Lieutenant Columbo is on screen within 9 minutes, meeting up with the energetic Sergeant Freddy Wilson at the crime scene. Wilson then reveals that he has been assigned to work with Columbo on the case.
Columbo smells a rat. Any why not? After securing the cash from the bank, Jarvis heads to his opulent mansion home, only to find the Lieutenant rummaging around in his solarium, which is home to a priceless collection of orchids. But the heat finally goes out of Jarvis as he reveals his true feelings towards his nephew. So, armed with the cash, Jarvis receives a fake ransom call from Tony and heads out to the drop-site β tailed all the way by Columbo and Wilson.
At a distant location in the hills, the transfer takes place. As the police photograph the switch site, Jarvis collects Tony on the other side of the hill. The floppy-haired fool folds himself into the car trunk and they ride off into the darkness, eventually returning to the hideout where Tony literally cuddles the cash in delight.
His joy, however, is short-livedβ¦. A buffoon and his money are soon parted. Tony died as he lived β with a look of confused simplicity on his face. He also grills Jarvis about an incident in his solarium the year before, when he was required to fire upon an intruder. He recognises that Columbo considers him a serious suspect, though, so enacts the next stage of his fiendish plan β framing Cathy.
