Columbo: Butterfly in Shades of Grey

Fielding Chase is a popular if outspoken talk radio host. His foster daughter works alongside him as his assistant, always in his shadow, which is pretty much how he likes it. However he learns that one of his staff, Gerry Winters, has been helping Victoria and encouraging her to write a novel and get it published. When Fielding finds this out he goes behind his daughter's back and convinces the publisher (an old friend) to drop the deal. Victoria is crushed but Gerry reckons he knows why the deal fell apart and convinces her to come away with him anyway. To prevent this Fielding asks Gerry to call him at a set time but actually sneaks into the house at that time. While the answer machine catches them both chatting, Fielding shoots Gerry in the back – making it appear that he was miles away at the time of the murder. However one slip of the tongue is all it takes of Columbo to suspect that it is not as clear-cut as all that.

Although it is not one of the routinely better classic episodes in the Columbo series (the newer ones tend to be more hit and miss) I decided to give it a go because generally they are OK plus this had the added interest of old ham Shatner making his second appearance in the series. The film doesn't open well though, with a seemingly poor motive from Shatner for the crime and a murder that wouldn't have taken much to have it all fall to pieces. With this as the basis for the mystery, it doesn't develop that well Falk himself is pretty good as per normal, showing himself the usual good sport with the running gags about his appearance (a nice moment on a TV set). The problem does lie with Shatner unfortunately. He is too hammy and forceful – it felt like he was pushing a one-note character too hard. The two men don't work that well together because, like other average Columbo murderers, Shatner plays it confrontation and thus loses the fun of the cat'n'mouse game that usually makes for a strong chemistry. Support is unmemorable from Hagan, Laufer and a few others – nobody bad but certainly nobody is given much to do.

Overall this is an OK Columbo film but the weaknesses in the plot setup and the lack of spark between the two actors means it never gets up a good head of steam. Fans of the series will still enjoy it because it holds pretty well to the formula but just don't expect it to be any where near the standard of the series at the height of its powers.

For Columbo fans, William Shatner plays the controlling Fielding Chase who kills a man who can separate him from his adoptive daughter played wonderfully by Molly Hagen. The key to solving the case is as fascinating as the actual murder. Columbo figures out who done it but how does he catch him. As in any Columbo feature, all the crimes are solved by one loose thread or link. It is nice to see Three's Company Richard Kline as his daughter's friend and literary agent. William Shatner plays Fielding Chase as the overly protective suffocating surrogate father to Molly Hagen's character in this film. It is a believable one and fun to watch anyway. Like I said, I will watch Columbo all the time. I am waiting for the Columbo Cable Channel.

BUTTERFLY IN SHADES OF GREY makes the return of William Shatner to the COLUMBO TV series after he first appeared in it in the 1970s. Shatner is one of my favourite cult stars - I find him an actor it's impossible to not enjoy - and he certainly lifts the material in what is otherwise a well-paced but fairly predictable Columbo storyline.

Shatner plays a brash radio talk show host with a fixation on his adopted daughter. When another man tries to break her away from him, he's driven to extreme means in order to dispose of the threat. The murder itself is quite straightforward here, relying on an unusual telephone-related alibi for the most part, and the resolution is fairly average.

What lifts it is a typically assured performance from Peter Falk as the titular detective. Falk enjoys a handful of comedic moments in this one; they're quite familiar and have played out before, but there's plenty of mileage in them nonetheless. He also shares plenty of scenes with Shatner, and both actors are really enjoying themselves. You can't help but do so as well.

PLOT: A controversial radio-show host (William Shatner) murders a former member of his staff, a gay man, who was about to whisk his beloved foster daughter off to New York City to become a novelist (Molly Hagan).

COMMENTARY: This episode is superior to Shatner's first appearance on Columbo, "Fade in to Murder" (1976); of course the story & characters are totally different, except for our beloved disheveled detective. As usual, Shatner is entertaining as he hams it up in the role of the semi-shock jock.

There's a priceless sequence where Columbo shows-up on the set of a soap opera and is mistaken for an actor playing a homeless man enlisted for the shoot. There's also a compelling on-air bit involving a senator rudely confronted with his wayward past. I must say, the radio host's mansion in the mountains of Malibu is magnificent.

GRADE: B

It's amazing how viewers can see something different. Though I agree with the other commentator about Shatner's 'stache taking on a life of its own, I disagree with the comments about the actor's acting. While the two-hour movie format is not as "tight" as the ninety-minute episodes, "Butterfly in Shades of Gray" is entertaining until the end.

Some of the highlights include the murder, the exchange between Falk's Columbo and Shatner's "Fielding Chase" in the restaurant, the argument between Shatner and his daughter, as well as the on-air revelation about a wayward senator.

Dick DeBenedictus's score enlivens the story with the appropriate blend of mystery and suspense.