A Friend in Deed

A FRIEND IN DEED is one of the contenders for 'best episode of Columbo ever'. It has a tight and ever-evolving plot involving multiple murders, alibis, and complexity, and to add to the fun the villain is superior and proves more than a match for our wily detective. As if recognising the quality he's working with, Falk ups his game too, delivering a portrayal of Columbo at his dogged best.

The film's star is Richard Kiley, never well known in the UK but a TV personality in America. His villain is a frightening one with sociopathic tendencies and his placing at the top of the police command chain makes Columbo's life very difficult. Despite the lengthy running time, A FRIEND IN DEED is constantly engaging, with comedy that really works and some great clues building to a satisfying climax. Fans will be in their element with this one.

Plotwise and the way the story is build up from its beginning till end, every Columbo movie is basically the same. It's the reason why most of the Columbo movies are of the same high quality. There however are a few Columbo movies that stand out. Often a Columbo movie can distinct itself from the others and the usual quality, through its directing style, plot or acting. This is a Columbo movie that knows to distinct itself through its plot.

Storywise this is simply one fine movie. It on top of that is also quite original for a Columbo movie, thanks to some nice little touches that makes the story and its storytelling different from the usual Columbo formula. For instance we don't get to see the first murder being committed at all and there is not one murderer but two, of which one is the deputy police commissioner and Columbo's boss. In the long run the story isn't at all about the first murder in fact. The story on top of that has some small side-plots, which isn't something common for a Columbo movie, also due to its normal short running times. It's a story that develops nicely and has plenty of twists and surprises in it. It's the kind of script that would had also worked out for a good cop thriller movie.

But it's still a typical Columbo movie alright with most of its usual ingredients. The character of Columbo himself can be seen as a real police investigator this time, interrogating and looking for clues, while in most other Columbo movies he doesn't really feel and act like a police-man but more like a noisy, smart, observing private detective, like for instance Agatha Christie's Poirot or Miss Marple.

Perhaps it's true that the movie focuses more on the perpetrators than on the Columbo character, even more than usual but I see this as a part of the reason why this movie is different and more original from other Columbo movies, rather than as something that is bad about the movie.

The movie also really benefits from Richard Kiley, who plays a fine role, as Columbo's main suspect. His character carries the movie for quite a large part.

A movie that doesn't follow all of the usual Columbo movie rules but works out fine anyhow thanks to its well written script, that helps to make the movie one of the more original Columbo movies out there.

8/10

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PLOT: A commissioner at the LAPD (Richard Kiley) provides an alibi for his neighbor (Michael McGuire) after he kills his wife in a fight, but the commissioner expects the same in return.

COMMENTARY: This is sort of an obscure Columbo flick, but it shouldn't be. Kiley is charismatic as the devilish villain and the plot makes interesting changes to the formula. The fact that the murderer is Columbo's boss is a nice twist. The beautifully exotic Arlene Martel shows up for a cameo. The film runs 1 hour, 38 minutes.

GRADE: A-

I love Columbo, I consider it one of the finest series of its kind. There are several gems amongst this series, and A Friend in Deed is one of them. Beautifully filmed and scored with striking locations, A Friend In Deed also benefits from some of the cleverest, wittiest and stylish writing of the series, and one of the series' most consistently absorbing stories. The scenes between Falk and Kiley are brilliantly played and genuinely tense at times. Peter Falk embodies Columbo as ever before, while Richard Kiley is a more than worthy foil, often coming across as intimidating, which I loved. The support cast are good enough with what they have, but it is the leads especially that make this episode work. Overall, a wonderful episode and one of my favourites. 10/10 Bethany Cox

My #2 all time Columbo favorite. Great premise with Columbo investigating murder of two cops wives in a twist along the line of Strangers On A Train. The scene with Columbo discussing lack of finger prints on first deceased wife's phone with collaborating chief Kiley is a masterpiece. Set up conclusion is also one of the best.