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In this episode Peter Faulk is in great form, as always. And the villain of the week, Oskar Werner, turns a decent performance as well. But for me the real icing on the cake was the performance of Gena Rowlands, who in her role plays the 'innocent audience' (the audience that did not see the opening of the show), as she observes Columbo slowly peel back Werner's alibi and reveal the real perpetrator of her mothers death.

Notice how low key this beautiful, powerful, award winning actress (and wife of John Cassavetes) plays her part. Even with a relatively few number of lines to recite, Gena does not over compensate with on screen affectations in order to get the camera's attention. She is totally understated, and carries out the role almost solely with facial expressions, and of course the well timed flow of tears at the climax of the episode when her character is faced with the undeniable truth she has lost a husband as well as a mother. What a Greek tragedy!

Yes, Gena was the glue sealing the credibility of the story and allowing us, the real audience, to suspend our disbelief and take a nice ride on the murder train. Thank you Gena!