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.

From the Beginning, Columbo Has Been a Brilliant Detective

A few months ago, my friend bought me the first season of Columbo for my birthday. When I saw him again recently, he asked if I'd watched it yet, and I had to admit that I hadn't; I'd been waiting for the right moment. That moment arrived this week when I decided to assemble one of the LOST: Mystery of the Island puzzles that's been lying in wait for me since Christmas. What better accompaniment could there be to such a brain-taxing activity than a few hours of genius observations by the lovable sleuth Columbo?

I've been a Peter Falk fan for as long as I can remember, and I've enjoyed many of his outings as Columbo, but I'd never before seen the movie that started it all. Prescription: Murder clocks in at around an hour and a half, and I was surprised that it took half an hour for Columbo to show up, but that makes his eventual appearance all the more satisfying.

There's more need for set-up in this case because of the elaborate nature of the crime and attendant deception. The murderer, Dr. Ray Flemming (Gene Barry), is a prominent psychiatrist who has grown tired of his wife Carol (Nina Foch). We know she's not long for this world when he ducks out of their anniversary party to hook up with a glamorous young patient named Joan Hudson (Katherine Justice), with whom he is plotting Carol's disposal. Though the murder itself is very simple, all the surrounding details are complicated and involve Joan impersonating Carol as they board a flight to Acapulco, then initiating a fight with Dr. Flemming and storming off while the doctor remains to enjoy his vacation so that he can return a week later, shocked by the news that a burglar broke into his house and killed his wife while he was away.

It's all very clever, and a lesser detective might have been fooled by the simple solution. But Columbo is a stickler for details, and Falk is both endearing and exasperating as the schlub who tails Dr. Flemming relentlessly, always seeking just one more insignificant detail. His apologetic manner and apparent absent-mindedness put him off his guard at first; by the time Dr. Flemming realizes how much Columbo suspects, the case is almost in the can.

I don't recall ever seeing Columbo lose his temper before, so I was surprised at how aggressively he confronted Joan toward the end of the film. I wasn't crazy about that scene, but given the circumstances it does seem to have been the right call. One can't help but feel sorry for the fledgling actress who isn't aware that her dear boyfriend is also acting, though I would be inclined to distrust the affections of anyone willing to murder his wife to get her off his hands. Justice strikes just the right tone of vulnerability, while Barry comes across as coolly arrogant. We don't see Foch for long, but we get just enough of her to see that she wasn't even an unreasonable woman. Establishing her as a sympathetic character hardens us further against her cold-hearted husband.

Because he is a psychiatrist, Dr. Flemming is perfectly equipped to describe Columbo's character traits, just in case we missed them. The lieutenant acts like he doesn't know what he's doing, forever losing his pen, claiming that his ideas are far-fetched, leaving questions dangling as he flits off to random subjects, sharing homey anecdotes that make him easy to relate to. Maybe some of this is real, but some of it is certainly an act, meant to throw people off. It's Columbo's signature style, and we see it again and again throughout all his cases. Whether you're a longtime fan or have never had the pleasure of meeting the character, take a dose of Prescription: Murder and see Columbo's brilliance at work.

Columbo Investigates a Writing Partnership Gone Sour

I've always found writing to be a solitary activity and thought it would be very difficult for two authors to write a book together; after watching Murder By the Book, I'm more disinclined than ever to engage in collaboration. In this Steven Spielberg-directed Columbo mystery - the first official episode of the series, following two pilot movies - Jim Ferris (Martin Milner) is the prolific, talented half of a successful Agatha Christie-style novel-writing team. When we meet him, the nerdy-looking author with thick glasses is pounding away at his keyboard, working on his first solo project, but his efforts are impeded by the arrival of a gun-toting Ken Franklin (Jack Cassidy), his bitter ex-business partner. Boy, it doesn't take long to get to the murder in this episode!

Actually, it takes a bit longer than that; as Jim points out, the gun is empty. Ken is just goofing around. He couldn't really be that upset about the dissolution of their partnership, could he? After all, Ken is an accomplished writer too, is he not? He should have no trouble maintaining his lavish homes on his own. Right? Not quite.

Ken thinks he has all his bases covered when he convinces Jim to call his wife, pretending to be at the office when in fact he is at Ken's cabin for what Jim thinks will be a night of reconciliation and male bonding. Joanna (Rosemary Forsyth) hears the gun go off, and when she calls the police, they find Jim's office in shambles. He seems to have been the victim of a kidnapping. Before Ken has time to get back into town and play the concerned friend, Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk) shows up to comfort Joanna with an expertly made omelet and coax a few details out of her to aid in his investigation. By the time Ken arrives, Columbo already knows who to suspect.

Because of Joanna, Columbo spends considerable time in this episode interacting with someone other than the perp, so it's interesting to see the slight change in his behavior depending on who he is engaging in conversation. While he still adopts a very folksy, unassuming demeanor with the bereaved wife, he doesn't try quite so hard to come off as a doofus. His starring performances are reserved for Ken, and while he's as brilliant as always at ferreting out the crucial details, it helps that Ken makes a glaring snafu along the way.

Falk is fantastic as always, while Cassidy is suave and Milner endearingly geeky. For me, though, the standout among this episode's supporting actors is Barbara Colby as Lilly La Sanka, a homely, widowed shop owner whose lack of resources and crush on Ken lead her to make a very foolish decision. Incidentally, early in the film, Ken gives Lilly an autographed copy of one of his joint novels; the title is Prescription: Murder, the name of Columbo's pilot movie.

Not only is Murder By the Book a crackin' good mystery, it offers some interesting insights into the world of publishing and the potential pitfalls of writing partnerships. Of course, one would certainly hope that rare is the writer who would turn to murder if his steady stream of income was threatened... In any case, Murder By the Book is well worth a look!

Comedy at its Best

Back in the days when Fred was adorable,
"Columbo" stepped in to play his Grand-dad
And tell him the tale of a deed so deplorable
That it held the attention of the fickle young lad.

With pirates and giants and six-fingered menaces,
A charming love story that made the boy gag,
A rotten kidnapper and his clueless apprentices,
This was one book that wasn't a drag!

I can't tell you how many times I have watched "The Princess Bride," and I love it every time, even more so now that I can recite the script word for word. There are more catch phrases in this film than you can shake a stick at, and the hilarity rarely stops long enough for you to catch your breath. From Fezzik, the rhyming gentle giant, and Inigo, the swordfighting Spaniard, to Buttercup, the young princess, and Wesley, the boy who loves her, this is a cast of characters not soon to be forgotten.

And superbly acted as well. This was Robin Wright's first film -- she went on to star in "Forrest Gump" and "Message in a Bottle". Cary Elwes' role as The Man In Black is typical of his work in other films with exotic settings, such as "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "Jungle Book". Behind all the slapstick in this tale is a touching love story and a nice reminder that books can be just as exciting as video games or television.

Mostly, though, this movie is great to watch for the never-ending laughs it provides. Pre-teen boys will groan along with the sick boy in bed as he asks if this is "a kissing book". The words "as you wish" will never have the same meaning. And where else could you find out that iocane powder comes from Australia? Always a classic, "The Princess Bride" is sure to have you in stitches each time you watch it. Great comedy like this never goes out of style.