In London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.In London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.In London, a respected Shakespearean acting duo cover up the unintended killing of their producer.
Hedley Mattingly
- Customs Man
- (as Hedley Mattingley)
Gerald Peters
- Inspector Smythe
- (as Gerald S. Peters)
Ian Abercrombie
- Sidney (Party Guest)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAll scenes involving Wilfrid Hyde-White were shot in California, as he was then a British tax exile, who owed thousands of pounds to the Inland Revenue in Britain.
- GoofsSir Roger Haversham's house is supposed to be in England, but everyone drives their car on the right-hand side of the drive.
- Quotes
[Durk takes Columbo to his men's club for tea and a bite to eat. A server appears with a cart of food]
Columbo: When you said tea, I was afraid we were going to get nothing but those tiny sandwiches. This is terrific.
George, Steward at Supt. Durk's Club: Why do you think we keep the ladies out, sir?
[Columbo is nonplussed]
- Crazy creditsJohn Fraser, who is Scottish, and Richard Pearson, who is Welsh, are credited as "From London - Special Guest Stars".
- SoundtracksThe British Grenadiers
(uncredited)
Traditional
[British march from 1600s]
Featured review
Likeable, but fragmented and uncertainly paced Columbo adventure set in London
Early on in the Columbo series, the producers obviously felt confident enough to take the "man in the mac" out of his familiar American environment and place him in London, to solve a murder - nevertheless, the results are decidedly mixed.
The episode boasts a wonderfully hammy performance from Richard Basehart, as one of the murderers (ably assisted by British actress Honor Blackman)and there are some very humourous scenes as we see Columbo cause mayhem at Heathrow airport and also as he scours London to take snapshots with his brother-in-law's camera.
Notwithstanding these strengths, the adventure is rather thinly plotted and uncertainly paced (the finale really comes without any significant build-up); and the murder set-up itself does not render the ingenious array of clues typical of many of the best Columbo adventures (all we really have here is a turned-over book, an unbroken set of reading glasses, rain spots on a car and an umbrella!).
Additionally, the episode does have a fragmented feel to it owing to the fact that not all of it was filmed in London (the scenes in the London pub are somewhat exaggerated and many of the character actors have awfully manufactured Cockney accents).
This is an average Columbo adventure, but still better than many of the detective shows of its kind.
The episode boasts a wonderfully hammy performance from Richard Basehart, as one of the murderers (ably assisted by British actress Honor Blackman)and there are some very humourous scenes as we see Columbo cause mayhem at Heathrow airport and also as he scours London to take snapshots with his brother-in-law's camera.
Notwithstanding these strengths, the adventure is rather thinly plotted and uncertainly paced (the finale really comes without any significant build-up); and the murder set-up itself does not render the ingenious array of clues typical of many of the best Columbo adventures (all we really have here is a turned-over book, an unbroken set of reading glasses, rain spots on a car and an umbrella!).
Additionally, the episode does have a fragmented feel to it owing to the fact that not all of it was filmed in London (the scenes in the London pub are somewhat exaggerated and many of the character actors have awfully manufactured Cockney accents).
This is an average Columbo adventure, but still better than many of the detective shows of its kind.
helpful•208
- The Welsh Raging Bull
- Apr 13, 2004
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- Also known as
- Alter schützt vor Torheit nicht
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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