it nice that the movie try some new thing for a change . for instance it introduce the columbo character first into the movie before the murder have even occur and he start to investigate before they have even find a body . we do not even get to see how the crime unfold fully at the beginning but there be a good reason for this a later become obvious . it also in a way be more or less a sequel to columbo represent étude in black and of one year earlier . normally a columbo movie doesn not refer back to anything that happen in previous columbo movie but this one do and with lt. columbo and his dog and dr. benson . the movie also doesn not feature a lot of interaction between lt. columbo and his suspect and a formula normally use in a columbo movie . this be an element that might disappoint some of the columbo fan . at moment like this the columbo character be normally at it best when he put pressure on his suspect or try to gain his trust by play dumber than he of course obviously truly be . the columbo character himself also look clean than normal and be it me or be his trademark raincoat in a different color and or at least in some sequence it look like it . of course different doesn not also mean good but in this particular case i do not mind some of these change and since the movie obviously still work out and can be regard a one that be on par with most of the other columbo movie and even slightly good than just the average one . it also thank to the setting and act that this movie work out . as dull a it might sound but i like chess and movie feature the game and world of chess always have a certain typical atmosphere over it and of certain high intellectuality and true gentleman but at the same time and tension and suspicion and rivalry . peter falk be in good form again a columbo and it one of his good act job a the shabby police detective . it also help the movie that it feature laurence harvey a the movie it prime suspect . he be in great form and in one of his very last screen role before his death in 1973. it a fine write and direct movie . the story isn not the most clever or ingenious one and at least not when be compare to the best and most memorable columbo movie but it a story that doesn not bore and still provide plenty of surprise and entertainment and even though this movie doesn not feature a much comical relief a be the case in some other columbo movie and which in my opinion be a positive thing . the movie feature a good build up and to a fine end . the directing be mostly formulaic and by the book but also feature some good dream like sequence and other more different element that be consistent with the 70 and less standard way of make movie . i like it a a sort of different columbo movie . positive .