"If I hadn't grabbed that camera ...." A wealth of emotions play across his face at that moment including astonishment, begrudging respect, and wounded pride.
Makes you wonder though: what would Columbo have done if he hadn't grabbed the camera and incriminated himself? Arrested him anyway?
Gotta luv you some DVD... In, like, everything he's done he's fantastic
shareAnd, of course Columbo would have discovered something else incriminating!
shareI'm sure Columbo would have kept coming back. As Van Dyke's character so aptly described Columbo: "You're like a little shaggy-haired terrier that has a grip on my trousers and won't let go." LOL
Falk was a formidable thespian and if you didn't pair him up with someone capable as well the episode imploded.
Couldn't agree more! You've seen Wings of Desire, right?
shareNot yet. Will have to add it to my list.
Incidentally, it would have been cool if Falk played a baddie on Van Dyke's "Diagnosis Murder." Did he? I'm not too familiar with late-era Dyke (or Falk for that matter -- excluding "Princess Bride" that is).
If you love Peter, it's a wonderful surprise. His role isn't huge but fantastic. But, of course everything Falk does is a wonderful surprise! I mean, The In-laws!
I hadn't thought about him having done a DM, that would have been fun... There were A LOT of guest stars on that show, but it doesn't look like he was one.
"Incidentally, it would have been cool if Falk played a baddie on Van Dyke's "Diagnosis Murder." Did he? I'm not too familiar with late-era Dyke (or Falk for that matter -- excluding "Princess Bride" that is)."
Try the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. There is an episode called, Bonfire.
It starts just about like a Columbo episode. Peter Falk is the bad one in that and he is great!
I don't know, I find that scene kind of annoying (although I have to admit I feel that way about every "gotcha" scene even though I love the show).
I find it difficult to believe he would make such a mistake, especially after being badgered by Columbo. And he could've easily explained it away by saying he just grabbed a random camera or that he recognized what kind of camera it must've been.
I think his nerves were possibly fraying with the way Columbo was leaning on him. That may explain why he grabbed the camera.
shareI guess that's the explanation for all the killers getting caught and it makes Columbo pretty lucky. It's just strange that coldblooded killers who are able conceive such complicated plans would make silly mistakes like that.
shareI don't particularly like it when it requires a set piece bit of deception to let the killer incriminate themselves like that, in front of witnesses.
But this one is ok in the sense that it appears that Columbo is trying to frame DVD with the flipped photo and the killer can't but incriminate themselves or let the "injustice" stand.
Columbo can be a piece of shit in how he gets the bad guys. What exactly was he going to do if Van Dye hadn't reached for the camera? Arrested him anyway? I really didn't like Columbo at the end of "Negative Reaction." His quarry was unscrupulous but in this story so was he.
I would loved to have seen a sequel to this one where Van Dyke's character got off scot-free. He deserved to after Columbo's deplorable tactics.
Murderers deserve nothing.
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