Suitable for Framing Is Suitable for Columbo Fans

I've been enjoying several Columbo mysteries lately, courtesy of a friend who bought me a DVD collection. Last night, I watched Suitable for Framing. As is often the case, this title has a double meaning; the frumpy detective's prime suspect is an art critic whose job requires him to determine which paintings are "suitable for framing," but the word "frame" also comes into play as he tries to pin his uncle's murder on his uncle's ex-wife.

The critic in question is Dale Kingston (Ross Martin), who stands to inherit quite a tidy sum. Not that it really seems he needs the extra cash; the man lives extravagantly off of a combination of his uncle's generosity and his own high-paying work. As is generally the case, Columbo targets him right away, pestering him with seemingly irrelevant questions and seeming to constantly lose track of what he is doing. Dale isn't as easily taken in by this act as some are; he grows irritable with Columbo pretty early on, especially when he lets Dale know in a round-about way that he intends to search his home.

Columbo is perfectly entertaining here, using all his old tricks in order to gradually build up enough evidence to support his growing theory. I found Dale rather lacking as a main character, though. There was nothing particularly distinctive in his look or manner aside from an unpalatable mixture of arrogance and aggression, and he didn't rivet me to the screen. His accomplice, an art student named Tracy O'Connor (Rosanna Huffman), is similarly nondescript and doesn't really come into the story much, and her whole role is reminiscent of the pretty young accomplice in the pilot Columbo film. The whole art angle adds interest; it seems Columbo's suspects are often experts in some particular area, so the audience gets a nice peek into that world.

The most interesting characters' appearances are limited to one scene each. Vic Tayback pops up as Sam Franklin, a gruff painter who Columbo interviews, and Mary Wickes is entertaining as Tracy's chatterbox landlady, who seems poised to out-annoy the detective. I wish she'd gotten more screen time because she and Falk play beautifully off each other. Also noteworthy is Kim Hunter as Aunt Edna, a kindly, philanthropic woman who Dale frames rather sloppily, and Don Ameche as the attorney who reveals that the murder victim left his extensive art collection to her.

Suitable for Framing is an enjoyable mystery; it just lacks a bit of the punch of some other Columbo outings. Definitely worth watching as part of a set, but if you're looking for episodes to purchase individually, this wouldn't be at the top of my list.