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"Columbo" A Friend in Deed (1974)


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14 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Enthralling, stylishly-scripted and plotted, vintage Columbo story, 17 September 2005
9/10
Author: The Welsh Raging Bull (leighton.phillips@sihe.ac.uk) from Port Talbot, South Wales, UK

In all honesty, Columbo adventures do not come much better than this one, simply because plot, script, acting, clue development and analysis, Columbo's characterisation and direction all interlink to captivating and thoroughly entertaining effect.

The plot is easily the best in the series: man kills wife after argument, rings his friend (the Deputy Police Commissioner) - he makes it look like a burglary gone wrong (taking advantage of a recent spate of burglaries in the area) and he also kills his own wife later on for her money, further capitalising on the "burglary gone wrong" theory.

In typical Ben Gazzara style, the story is carefully and deliberately developed with Columbo's meticulous appreciation of the crime scene the first hint that he is going to disagree with the prevailing burglary theory.

Falk's scenes with Kiley are well-crafted and incisive; Columbo is not afraid to be forthright about his observations in front of his boss as he subtly uncovers the truth.

The conclusion is arguably the best entrapment of a murderer in the entire series; the Deputy Police Commissioner turns to Columbo, after the latter states that he thinks that he was involved in both murders, and says "you've just lost your badge my friend!". The ensuing scenes are an absolute classic and thoroughly uphold the decisive quality that prevailed throughout the story. Watch it!

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12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the gems of season 3, 19 April 2006
10/10
Author: old_tv_guy from United States

Thanks to Universal for releasing the DVD sets. I became a Columbo fan in the 1980's when CBS was running heavily-cut versions after midnight. Edited Columbos are pretty good-- uncut, the good Columbos are the best TV detective programs of all time.

And Richard Kiley is the best Columbo villain of the third season. Donald Pleasence and Jackie Cooper also turned in emmy-quality performances that year, but Kiley brings a presence to the role that, physically, is intimidating. I don't think the Lt faced anyone quite this scary until they cast Rip Torn in the revival series in the '90's. He was the perfect choice for deputy police commissioner, in the way it makes you realize how a someone who seems to be so "in charge" can be evil penetrating the highest levels of order, and how he can pervert attempts to uncover it. The Lt's perplexity at Halperin's unwillingness to cooperate is one of the good bits on this. Big red flag, and you can see the Lt realizing it, in a turning point for the story.

This episode also has one of the best depictions of Columbo at work. As he wanders about the murder scene, it's like the camera's not even there--here's the bare intellect putting it together, and repeated viewings, when you know what he's thinking, are fun to watch.

Also, good job by Val Avery-- he was in a few other episodes, but Artie Jessup, a greasy little cat burglar just trying to make it on the outside, is his most memorable. Check out the way he tries to intimidate that fence, who isn't buying. Futility or what?

And catch Columbo's reaction when the husband hands him the major break, about the nightgown-- the case is cracked and he doesn't let on at all. Again, repeat viewing just makes it better.

Also I would be remiss not to mention the brief appearance by Arlene Martel as the jewelry saleslady. If I brought my crappy little watchband in, and she smiled at me like that while she turned me down, I'd consider myself blessed. By the way, Columbo picked up a bunch of people who had worked on Perry Mason-- Jackson Gillis was script editor on both shows, and some of the actors, such as Ms Martel, and the lovely and talented Jeanette Nolan, turned in memorable roles on both programs.

Finally, this episode covers the range of life in LA, from cozy clubs of the privileged to the seedy dives of the desperate. In fact, Columbo cracks it by having Halperin, a habitue of the former, be dragged into the latter.

One last comment-- I don't think Columbo did that well in seasons 2 and 3-- the episode with Julie Newmar and Martin Landau, for example, was in season 2-- the most depressing Columbo murder ever. And the cosmetics murder episode? If I had a chance to work with Vincent Price, I'd have made him the murderer if I'd had to rewrite the script from scratch. What. A. Waste. And that robot alibi in the one with Jose Ferrer-- even in 1972, they would have connected the computer with a cable, you wouldn't have had a ham-handed robot trying to type like a person. But they had Robbie the Robot available, so they had to write him and this Cute Kid into it. Completely unnecessary.

Peter Fischer (the author of this episode) came on board in season 4 as story editor, and frankly the improvement is noticeable. So, as a Columbo fan, looking at season 3-- I'm just glad they got Mr Kiley for this one, that Columbo had to fight someone within the department, and that his solution relies on the character's shortcomings like it does. Best of season 3.

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Columbo at his very, very best, 27 March 2006
10/10
Author: Enoch Sneed from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I thought I knew all the classic Columbo films of the 1970's. I was surprised and happy when I bought Season 3 on DVD to find this title which I didn't recognise and don't remember seeing on TV.

Even better, this is a great episode, probably one of the finest in showing us how Columbo's mind works: picking up on the anomalies in an apparently obvious situation, the 'loose ends' that nag at him until he finds the truth. In this case it is what is *absent* from the crime scene that tells him this is not simply a robbery that went too far.

Columbo's greatness as a character lies not just in his detective skills, but the desire for truth and justice which is rooted in his basic humanity. Here he is up against very powerful forces that could cost him his career and he still won't give up on his ideas about the case.

'A Friend In Deed' breaks with the classic Columbo formula (villain carries out 'perfect' crime and is relentlessly hunted down by Lt. C) in that the plot begins by chance then develops a life of its own. This makes for a more realistic story, tighter dramatic situations and more suspense for the viewer.

You have to wonder why this particular villain thought he could get away with it, however. Surely he must have known Columbo - by reputation at least.

This is an excellent Columbo, a classic detective movie in its own right, and very well worth watching.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A top episode of a top series, 11 November 2006
10/10
Author: caa821 from Tulsa OK

This series - particularly the earlier episodes - is certainly one of the best ever. I missed this particular one when originally aired, but saw it several years later, and then again recently. (Like Andy Griffith's "Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock," this is a program for which one is grateful for the reruns available on cable today.)

This particular program, though, is the one I'd probably label my all-time favorite - among many, including those with the ubiquitous Columbo "killers," Jack Cassidy, George Hamilton, etc.

One of the greatest mistakes in the entire history of film was the casting of Peter O'Toole in the lead for "Man of La Mancha," rather than Richard Kiley, whose Broadway performance in this role was among the most acclaimed, ever. Kiley was an immensely- and diversely-talented actor, who should be more prominently recognized and remembered among his peers than he is.

His portrayal as the egotistic, manipulative, greedy deputy police commissioner, and the villain of this episode, is outstanding. The "shtick" of this series, of course, included the usually smooth, urbane, well-dressed, cosmopolitan qualities of the villains - contrasted markedly with Columbo's being the opposite in all of these.

This aspect is certainly apparent here - and the only somewhat puzzling part of the story is the seeming absence of Kiley's knowledge of Columbo's abilities beneath his sloppy exterior - and he would have certainly seen the records of the department certifying the lieutenant's significant abilities.

The main paradox in the history of "Columbo" was the ease with which he seemed to be able always to remain "under the radar," both within the department (even with those with whom he was most closely associated) and on the outside - despite having had to possess a better record for detection and solution of serious crimes than Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Sam Spade - combined.

There is no way a review of a "Columbo" episode could be a spoiler. We know from the outset that Kiley is the villain here - however, Columbo's inevitable foiling his devious, wily superior, is perhaps the most clever in the history of this long series.

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
A Twist in Old Formula, 19 May 2006
7/10
Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States

Richard Kiley plays a Los Angeles commander who lives well with his wealthy wife in an unidentified part of Los Angeles. His friend and neighbor admit to killing his wife. Kiley's character helps his friend out of his crime in exchange for him killing his wife. It's kind of like Patricia Highsmith's book, "Strangers on the Train." Of course, Kiley's character has been planning it better and with more thought than his friend. Anyway, jewelry is stolen and it the crime is set to look like a robbery gone awry. Anyway, I love the scene with Columbo and a paroled experienced Jewel thief exchanging barbs. He looks at him after Columbo hands him a cheap piece of jewelry and laughs and says that he would get laughed at in prison for being caught with something so obvious. Anyway, I love how Columbo catches Kiley in the end.

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7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
#2 all time Columbo, 26 January 1999
9/10
Author: louis schiappa (louiss61@hotmail.com)

My #2 all time Columbo favorite. Great premise with Columbo investigating murder of two cops wives in a twist along the line of Strangers On A Train. The scene with Columbo discussing lack of finger prints on first deceased wife's phone with collaborating chief Kiley is a masterpiece. Set up conclusion is also one of the best.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
It's Columbo Vs The Chief Of Police !, 28 October 2006
6/10
Author: ShootingShark from Dundee, Scotland

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

A scheming police commissioner covers up for a friend who kills his wife during a fight then blackmails him as an alibi to his own wife's murder. To expose the truth, Columbo must risk his badge and confront two killers in cahoots.

One of the best Columbo TV-movies, well directed by Falk's acting buddy Gazzara and with an absolutely top-notch script by longtime series writer Peter S. Fischer. The story is slightly derivative of Strangers On A Train, but it twists and turns beautifully, pits our hero against one of his most deadly foes (and an intimidatingly powerful performance by Kiley), is shot through with great ideas (the nightdress under the pillow, no prints on the phone, the tell-tale soap in the autopsy, the fake address on the file) and is suspenseful and witty throughout. Aside from Falk and Kiley's enjoyable duelling, this one also has a very strong support cast, with McGuire as the nervous accomplice, Avery as the down-at-heel cat burglar, Murphy as the philanthropist wife and Finnegan as the robbery detective all memorable and well above standard for TV acting. Classic murder mystery fare.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the more original Columbo movies., 18 July 2008
8/10
Author: Boba_Fett1138 from Groningen, The Netherlands

Plotwise and the way the story is build up from its beginning till end, every Columbo movie is basically the same. It's the reason why most of the Columbo movies are of the same high quality. There however are a few Columbo movies that stand out. Often a Columbo movie can distinct itself from the others and the usual quality, through its directing style, plot or acting. This is a Columbo movie that knows to distinct itself through its plot.

Storywise this is simply one fine movie. It on top of that is also quite original for a Columbo movie, thanks to some nice little touches that makes the story and its storytelling different from the usual Columbo formula. For instance we don't get to see the first murder being committed at all and there is not one murderer but two, of which one is the deputy police commissioner and Columbo's boss. In the long run the story isn't at all about the first murder in fact. The story on top of that has some small side-plots, which isn't something common for a Columbo movie, also due to its normal short running times. It's a story that develops nicely and has plenty of twists and surprises in it. It's the kind of script that would had also worked out for a good cop thriller movie.

But it's still a typical Columbo movie alright with most of its usual ingredients. The character of Columbo himself can be seen as a real police investigator this time, interrogating and looking for clues, while in most other Columbo movies he doesn't really feel and act like a police-man but more like a noisy, smart, observing private detective, like for instance Agatha Christie's Poirot or Miss Marple.

Perhaps it's true that the movie focuses more on the perpetrators than on the Columbo character, even more than usual but I see this as a part of the reason why this movie is different and more original from other Columbo movies, rather than as something that is bad about the movie.

The movie also really benefits from Richard Kiley, who plays a fine role, as Columbo's main suspect. His character carries the movie for quite a large part.

A movie that doesn't follow all of the usual Columbo movie rules but works out fine anyhow thanks to its well written script, that helps to make the movie one of the more original Columbo movies out there.

8/10

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the best plots ever, 27 July 2007
10/10
Author: alifib from Italy

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

What I particularly like of this episode is Columbo's calmness and self-confidence while unveiling his own boss' faults. "Commissioner ... I think you killed your wife" - Magnificent! And how he takes advantage of the Commissioner's "advice" to drop his theory and to check out burglars, in order to go on investigating - he's apparently obeying but he's secretly preparing his trap instead. Even if the Commissioner knows Columbo very well, he seems to underestimate him, or better, to overestimate himself! After all, there must be a reason why he's the Commissioner and Columbo is just a lieutenant! The Commissioner is sure he can commit the perfect crime. He's sort of challenging Columbo. I wonder why the lieutenant didn't become Commissioner at his place after solving this case. 10/10

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the best Columbos ever. What twist this one has is that the killer is none other than the police commissioner himself. Columbo's boss! How can he catch his own boss?, 5 October 2006
Author: gleetroy from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Richard Kiley is the second best Columbo murderer of all time. Too bad he was only in one episode (Jack Cassidy was #1 on my list). The writing of this one is tight and the characters are sharply drawn and performed. Old Peter Falk-John Cassavete-Ben Gazzara (who also directed this episode) friend Val Avery is superb in the small role of Artie Jessup. His interplay with Columbo about the fake jewels is priceless. The familiarity between the two actors is marvelous.

Peter Falk was once again in top form. His scenes with Richard Kiley play like a Broadway show. The final scene where Kiley is caught is priceless. "These are my socks, my underwear, my niece, my nephew, my brother-in-law..."

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