story wise this isn not among the best or most cleverly write columbo movie but the movie be extremely well make and with excellent directing and truly fine act . especially the act within this movie attract the attention . director nicholas colasanto do a great job with the actor in the movie . appereantly he allow peter falk and john cassavetes lot of space to play with and also since both be be credit on here a uncredited director of this movie . must be part of his direct style to allow the actor this much room . it work out extremely well for this movie . perhaps he do this because colasanto himself also use to work a an actor . he be perhaps best know for play the role of coach in the hit series cheer and from the very start of it in 1982 until his death in 1985. so peter falk seem well than ever before in his role a lt. columbo . also veteran actor john cassavetes do a real great job a the movie it murderer and be a good match for the lieutenant . beside them and the movie also feature myrna loy . a big star from the silent movie era and also pat morita and in a small early role . but not just the act directing within the movie be real good . visually and technically it also a really great make movie and with slow long shot and without the use of any cut . also obviously the reason why this movie be long than most columbo movie . it really take it time to set up thing and tell it story . the movie also feature a couple of nice artistic and experimental kind of shot . of course all really fit for the 70 . but like i say before and story wise this just isn not among the best columbo movie . also the clue be leave out for the lieutenant be a bit too obvious this time . it make the murderer come across a a bit dumb and like he do not think his plan over good enough and while the character obviously be an intelligent man . columbo this time also try to irritate the suspect and other character a bit more than he usually try to do and in order to solve the crime . this and peter falk different act approach be a reason why his character might come across a different than he do in other columbo movie . but different do not mean bad in this case . the movie also feature a quite good musical score by richard debenedictis and who after this become sort of the steady composer for the columbo movie . a great columbo movie to watch . positive .