Our Columbo rewatch continues with…
“Death Lends a Hand”
This episode first aired October 6, 1971.
Even though this was the first episode produced following the two pilots, it was the second episode to air as “Murder By the Book” was deemed superior. I disagree.
This episode earned show creators Richard Levinson and William Link an Emmy for Outstanding Writing. It also won for Film Editing.
“Death Lends a Hand” marks the first time we hear the Columbo theme, first introduced in the scene that sees Columbo driving.
This episode features one of the few instances where Columbo actually removes his trademark raincoat.
Brimmer’s office is a re-use of the office used by Lee Grant’s character in “Ransom for a Dead Man”. The walls, windows, and even the view out the window are identical. And, in both episodes, Columbo inquires if the lighter on the desk works.
My thoughts in chronological viewing order…
Robert Culp absolutely kills it in this episode, delivering a standout performance as the slick Investigator Brimmer. This would mark his first of three murderous guest appearances on the show.
I initially mistook Ray Milland for Carl Reiner in his introductory scene. Separated at birth!
Lenore Kennicutt falls into the Lily La Sanka school of “too stupid to live” murder victims. Maybe she should have saved the “I’m going to ruin your life” threats for a phone call instead of a clandestine face-to-face meeting.
My favorite sequence in this episode is the whole post-murder clean-up that plays in the reflection of Brimmer’s blue-tinted sunglasses. Brilliant.
This is the first time we see Columbo’s 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet in action. It was one of only 500 produced. Apparently, Peter Falk wanted a car more in keeping with Columbo’s character that would be in marked contrast to the flashy cars featured in most detective shows of the time. He personally chose it from among the vehicles parked at the Universal Studios lot. In an interview, Falk said he liked the idea of Columbo driving a car “nobody else would want”.
Falk argued with Levinson and Link over the scene in which Columbo is pulled over for having a broken tail light. They went back and forth over lunch, with Falk claiming his character wouldn’t be so sloppy and then, when they returned to the studio, they noticed that Falk’s own car had a broken tail light. So Falk relented.
When the officer points out that Columbo’s license expires next, I thought “Hmmm, maybe the Columbo persona is NOT all an act for the benefit of the potential suspects”. This is a great scene that does a wonderful job of introducing our rumpled detective but also serves to set up that later visit to the DMV that gives him the clue to the contact lenses. That’s smart writing.
At first I wondered why the hell Brimmer would contact the victim’s husband and offer to help in the investigation of his wife’s murder – but, upon further reflection, I can see how it would allow him to keep closer tabs on the official police investigation. Still, a risky move – but Brimmer seems like a risk-taker.
In retrospect, the only moment that didn’t ring true to me in this episode was the palmistry beat. Columbo doesn’t seem like a guy who would be into palmistry and the fact that he later reveals he used the palm-reading to confirm the rings on Brimmer’s left hand would suggest he suspected the detective at this point. But why? It seems a huge leap.
Columbo at his unorthodox best throughout this episode, from his warrantless perusal of the golf instructor’s appointment book to likely stuffing a potato into a car’s exhaust to disable it.
What’s with Columbo’s green cigar?
A weird conversation here on the proper way to strike a woman. Also, by this point, it’s clear Columbo suspects Brimmer…but, again, on what basis? The ring, the fact Brimmer isn’t right-handed and…the salt on Brimmer’s car?
As the episode ends, it’s clear that Brimmer is unnerved. I thought “Bet you regret offering your services now!”
I like this nice little moment that demonstrates Columbo’s cleverness, dismissing the golf instructor as a suspect because he doesn’t wear a ring – and he knows he doesn’t wear a ring because there is no tan line on his finger.
I quite liked the sequence where Brimmer offers Columbo a job with him. It’s all very obvious what he’s doing. By the way, a salary of 30k/year back then would be a little over 200k/year today.
Columbo presents his working theory that someone may have been spying on the cheating Mrs. Kennicutt and attempted to blackmail her. At this point, it would be a simple matter of Columbo asking Arthur if he hired Brimmer to spy on his wife. Who knows? Maybe he did in a later offscreen moment.
I laughed at Columbo quizzing the loose-lipped underling.
Who is the weirdo playing with the kid at the park. Oh, it’s Columbo!
I’m sure I missed something, but what was the purpose of this scene and how did this woman’s husband fit into anything? I remain confused.
At the point where Columbo says “I wish the murderer knew” directly to Brimmer, he is telegraphing so hard that, were I Brimmer, I would seriously consider offing him at this point.
Best line of the episode is Columbo assuring Brimmer he will keep him updated on any major break in the case: “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be the first to know.” Lol
The set-up leading to the gotcha is pretty damn brilliant.
Many fans feel otherwise, but I think “Death Lends a Hand” is superior to “Murder by the Book” with its out-of-left-field ending. This script is tight, well-constructed, and pays off in dramatically satisfying fashion. And Culp is stellar as our guest villain. Thus, my rankings to date: #1. Death Lends a Hand, #2. Prescription: Murder, #3. Murder by the Book and #4. Ransom for a Dead Man (although increasingly, I’m feeling the last two could be tied).
Finally, it’s time to ask: Does Columbo have enough evidence to get a conviction here? Or is the evidence circumstantial and we are looking at an acquittal? Well, I think Columbo has constructed a pretty solid case against Brimmer – who no doubt realized as much and confessed to the murder in front of about a dozen people. So, yes, in this case I believe Columbo gets a CONVICTION
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