PLOT: Dale Kingston is an art critic who murders his uncle. He sets it up to make it look like robbery as his accomplice girlfriend takes several paintings. His accomplice keeps the body warm while he goes to an art gallery. He says his watch is broken and asks what the time is, thus establishing his alibi. He also claims to have lost something in his car and someone helps him look for it, thus establishing the paintings aren't in it. When Columbo shows up on the scene he is puzzled as to why only a few of the paintings were taken and why some of the most valuable were left behind. Columbo begins to suspect Dale Kingston, particularly with the over-obvious alibis he has. However, when the hearing of his uncle's will is read, Kingston hears that he will inherit nothing. Columbo is shocked. Dale's dotty Aunt Edna will inherit. Then Dale begins to try and make Columbo think Edna is guilty by planting the gun in her garden. Columbo is unconvinced that Edna is the murderer, as he doesn't believe she is capable of it. Kingston tells Edna that they should search her house for her protection, so that Columbo would know once and for all she was innocent. She agrees and the house is searched. Kingston has planted the stolen paintings in her closet. Columbo then instructs the police to dust the paintings for fingerprints. Kingston says Columbo is mad, as his fingerprints are all over all of his uncle's paintings. Then Columbo informs him he isn't trying to find Kingston's fingerprints, he is trying to find his own. Columbo then recalls the occasion when he visited Kingston's house. Kingston had some paintings in his hand in a case and Columbo said he'd be keen to see them. Kingston made an excuse not to show him but he actually touched them, though they weren't visible. Kingston says it is entrapment and that Columbo had touched the paintings just now. Then Columbo takes his hands out of his pockets to reveal he is wearing gloves.
VERDICT:
This is not a classic episode. Kingston sets up an over obvious alibi, leading Columbo to suspect him from early on. Then he tries to plant the murder on Aunt Edna, because the only way he would inherit the paintings was is if she was jailed for murder. This in itself is silly, as Aunt Edna wouldn't be able to find her way to the shops without a police escort!
Written by Mark Wilson
(C) Copyright Wilson/Young Enterprises 2006.
CAST:
Dale Kingston..........Ross Martin
Edna Matthews...........Kim Hunter
Frank Simpson...........Don Ameche
Tracy O'Connor.....Rosanna Huffman
Sam Franklin...........Vic Tayback
Matilda...............Joan Shawlee
Captain Tyler......Barney Phillips
Landlady...............Mary Wickes
