Our Columbo rewatch continues with…
“Negative Reaction”
This episode aired October 15, 1974
Danny Kaye was considered for the role of Paul Galesko but Peter Falk shot down the idea. Peter Sellers was offered the role but he demanded $360,000 which was eighteen times more than the show had ever paid for a guest star. Other actors who were approached but priced themselves out of the running included Omar Sharif (asked for $100,000) and Glenn Ford (who asked for $50,000). Not sure how much they ended up paying Dick Van Dyke, but I thought he was excellent in the role.
Eagle-eyed viewers may have recognized Antoinette Bower, who played the harpyish Frances Galsesko, from her portrayal of Eve Nora in the Twilight Zone episode “Probe 7, Over and Out”.
JoAnna Cameron, who played assistant Lorna McGrath, would later star as Isis in the Saturday morning series “The Secrets of Isis” and attempt to get her raven co-star fired because he was a pain in the ass to work with. She was considered for the part of Jenny in Love Story (1970), a role that launched Ali McGraw’s career.
Peter Falk and Dick Van Dyke hit if off during the filming of this episode and became good friends. In 2013, Van Dyke unveiled Falk’s posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…
The only thing worse than your wife interrupting you while you’re trying to write a script is your wife interrupting you when you’re trying to assemble a ransom note.
Noon is apparently happy hour at the Galesko residence.
That is some hairdo on Mrs. Galesko.
She is demanding to the end: “Untie me. Untie me!”
The leggy Lorna!
“Just go out and get yourself a passport.”
“Will this afternoon be quick enough?
If this was set in Canada it would be more like “They said they’ll send it when it’s ready. We should be good to go by this same time next year!”
Uh oh. Setting up this poor, hapless ex-con.
“Tomorrow morning I’d like to look at that abandoned junkyard.” Hmmmm. “Just for fun, see if you can fit into that trash compactor.”
“By the way, someone broke into my motel and took the camera you told me to buy.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
This poor patsy.
He’s intentionally suspicious with the housekeeper, and then allows her to overhear his phone conversation.
Wait, is this the second time he’s breaking into that motel room?
“Gee, looks like somebody took your wife.” Shucks, looks like your prints or on the ransom note.
Poor Al.
Isn’t he dangerously close to hitting an artery with that self-inflicted gunshot?
Boy, that’s some classic drunk acting.
“Go back. Go back. Out of business.” The cop warns Columbo as he drives past the “We Buy Junk Cars” sign. And of course Columbo’s car won’t start. Nice day for a walk!
Columbo is not buying the evidence at scene: “Because if he left that camera and that newspaper and that glue laying around like that he’s stupid.”
Dust on the mantel but not on the clock. Suspcious!
This scene with the nun mistaking him for homeless is probably my favorite scene in all of Columbo.
“I’ve had this coat for seven years.”
“Oh, you poor man.”
““I’m from the police force, ma’am. My name is lieutenant Columbo.”
“All are welcome here, lieutenant.”
“Oh, I see. You’re working undercover.”
“And don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul about your disguise. Oh, it’s good. It’s really very good.”
Love Vito Scotti as the erudite drunk.
“After a touch of the grape to induce slumber…”
Love this bit of Columbo searching for an ashtray, briefly considers the dish, no doubt reminded of Mrs. Peck chewing him out for doing the same thing in “Double Shock”, elects to use his pocket instead.
Aha! The timing of the gunshots were off.
The powder burns on Galesko’s leg are a dead giveaway.
Poor Dog. The love of his life, the cocker spaniel next door, has moved.
“I don’t suppose you have a picture of a cocker spaniel around, do you?”
“Something he could look at. Kinda like a pinup?”
“Nah that’s a terrible idea. The dog is dumb but he wouldn’t fall for that. I mean the dog would know it wasn’t her. Forget I mentioned it.”
And this is probably my favorite run of dialogue in a Columbo episode. According to writer Peter S. Fischer: “I wrote that line thinking “He’s never going to do this.” He did it exactly as I wrote it.”
Columbo visits the camera shop and learns Deschler traveled by cab. He also learns about reverse negatives!
Columbo unsubtly snapping photos at the funeral. “Okay, now a fun one!”
Columbo suspects Deschler had an accomplice.
Ah, ye olde “I wasn’t thinking straight” to explain why he didn’t write down the details of the ransom demand.
Columbo compliments the discarded photo found in the fireplace and Galesko breaks down exactly why it isn’t a great photo. He may as well have said: “It didn’t meet my rigorous standards so I couldn’t use it.”
“He must have been a perfectionist like you,”says Columbo. Yes, exactly like him.
Love this beat of Columbo trying to hire Galesko to take photos at his brother-in-law’s party.
“Oh, there’s one other things, sir. A bit of a problem.” The maid cleaned the room so it’s pretty obvious the incriminating evidence was planted in the motel room.
Aha! He worked as San Quentin for 7 years – where he no doubt met Alvin Deschler.
“You’re like a little shaggy-haired terrier who’s got a grip on my trousers and just won’t let go.” Perfect.
Love this sequence with Larry Storch as Mr. Weekly, the driving instructor. He gets picked up at the scene of an accident and then white knuckles throughout the ride as Columbo questions him.
“And you’re willing to sign an affidavit to that effect?”
“Certainly. Unless of course it means you have to drive me to police headquarters.”
Aha! If Deschler had made that ransom note collage, he would have left clippings behind.
Columbo presents Galesko with a reverse print, clearly goading him.
Oh no! He destroyed the first print! Or did he?
“The negative will serve the same purpose.”
“Were you a witness to what he just did?” Yes. Galesko is cooked.
“You just incriminated yourself, sir. You’ve identified the camera.”
Wow. This was a near perfect episode, and the fact that it was one of the longer entries makes it all the more remarkable. Yes, one could argue that certain scenes felt somewhat extraneous to the plot, but I thought they all went to character – specifically our lovable Columbo in his scenes with the nun, the drunk, and the driving instructor. Great lines and exchanges sprinkled throughout and some great investigative work by our rumpled hero who puts together the pieces in expert fashion on his way to setting up one of the show’s top-tier Gotcha moments. Dick Van Dyke was terrific as Galesko and all of the supporting players were in top form as well. Absolutely loved this one from start to finish.
My revised episode rankings: 1. Negative Reaction, 2. Any Old Port in a Storm, 3. Double Exposure, 4. A Friend In Deed, 5. Double Shock, 6. A Stitch in Crime, 7. Death Lends a Hand, 8. Suitable for Framing, 9. Publish or Perish, 10. Dagger of the Mind, 11. Requiem for a Falling Star, 12. Prescription: Murder, 13. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 14. Swan Song, 15. Lady in Waiting, 16. An Exercise in Fatality, 17. Etude in Black, 18. The Most Crucial Game, 19. Blueprint for Murder, 20. Lovely But Lethal, 21. The Most Dangerous Match, 22. The Greenhouse Jungle 23. Dead Weight, 24. Short Fuse, 25. Candidate for Crime, 26. Mind Over Mayhem.
Finally, it’s time to consider the evidence Columbo has gathered and decide whether it will be enough to secure a GUILTY verdict or will Paul Galesko be looking at an ACQUITTAL. In this case, I think the evidence is pretty damning. Galesko will be returning to his old stomping grounds of San Quentin. GUILTY!
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I’d have to put this episode up top, as well. It was great seeing Dick Van Dyke as a bad guy. He did a great job!
A few points:
The wife was a sloppy drunk.
The old house didn’t seem that bad.
My hubby saw Vito and said “That waiter gig must not have worked out.”. Has Vito been in every episode?
Hub’s also commented that it was lucky the femoral artery didn’t get damaged. Van Dyke’s character would have bleed out. That seemed a risky spot to aim for.
The whole muzzle powder seemed like one obvious flaw in the guy’s plan.
I felt bad for Columbo’s dog, too.
I’ve read that when authorities see a magazine cut out note, they lean towards fake (an inside job). I’m not sure if that’s true or maybe, it was just overdone in media during that period.
I’d vote guilty but a good lawyer might get reasonable doubt.
Good luck with your mom!
That’s interesting. Wonder why they lean towards an inside job?
It’s something I read a few years ago but I can’t find confirmation now. However, in my searches, I found an interesting fact. No need to buy magazines/newspapers and spend time cutting/pasting. They have a magazine cutout font, so you can print your ransom note with a retro flare. It’s a great time to be alive!
Another episode that I just love! I’ve watched it so many times I hardly need a rewatch, but I will later today, after every interruption is asleep. 😉
And wow – your rave review might have me changing the order of my rankings. While my #1 (not yet watched) is #1 for the gotcha moment, it does have its flaws. If we get to that one I might have to make a switch-a-roo again, not sure. But there are a few episodes that rank as my favorites to re-watch, nap to, or just enjoy having on in the background. Those few – even if they aren’t my top favorites, are this one, Exercise in Fatality, Make me a Perfect Murder, Double Exposure, By the Dawn’s Early Light, and Now You See Him. My top two are not in that list as I save them for when I want to treat myself. 🙂 But now I’m seeing that this one makes both lists (favorites based on overall quality, and ‘guilty pleasure’ favorites). It may have to take first place. 🙂
I just love everything about this one! While I do feel sorry for the duped ex-con, I have no remorse over the death of the Nagging Wife. Lordy, I don’t know how he endured as long as he did!
I also LOVE the nun/soup kitchen scene! Yes, it may be the best overall scene in all of Columbo, although the salon scene in Old-Fashioned Murder is pretty good, too (and another episode with Joyce Van Patten, too. Same writer or director, perhaps? I haven’t checked).
Shooting one’s self in the leg is VERY risky, but anything is possible in Hollywood! Aim for the meaty side part, not for the center or knee. Of course, bullets back then were more predictable, less fragmentation and bouncing around inside. OR so I’ve been told.
And the gotcha moment in this one is pure gold!
I will try to add more later – gotta make din-din for the fam!
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Getting shot in the “soft fleshy part of the leg” I think was a recurring gag on some show. The Man from UNCLE?
Looking forward to watching some of your favorites! We may have to roll into seasons 5 and 6 after we’re done with 4. But let’s put it to a vote!
This episode has the highest IMDB rating for this season so I thought I’d check it out.
I don’t think I’ve seen Dick Van Dyke in anything other than Mary Poppins. He was great! What a luxurious beard!
Dick’s wife was the worst! I might have been driven to murder if I was married to her! However, even though divorce might be expensive you don’t go to jail for it!
“We need to leave soon if we’re going to have time for lunch.” slurps down martini
The scene at the soup kitchen was hilarious but, ultimately, pointless so I must deduct points for that. Likewise the scene with the driving instructor, very funny but they’d already had a scene at the DMV so why pad it out with a second scene? Just pick one!
I really liked the murder setup. Poor Al. I found it hard to believe he was so gullible. But it was a great idea to frame an ex-con and the trail of evidence pointing to Al was really clever.
Nobody ever asked where Al got the money to buy the ranch! Columbo is worried about him paying for taxis but he doesn’t care about Al’s property portfolio? Plus, if he owned this ranch why wasn’t he living there instead of at a lousy motel? Unless he didn’t have possession yet?
I did wonder how Galesko would know someone like Al so I was glad it was explained, and even became a clue.
The self inflicted shot was so risky. I don’t know much about guns and bullet wounds but at that range I would have expected extreme muscular damage (he wouldn’t be walking for a while) and possibly a tennis ball sized exit wound.
I’m reminded of a line from Colin Farrell’s character in “Minority Report” about an “orgy of evidence”. This was definitely what was going on in Al’s motel room. No wonder Columbo was suspicious.
I didn’t like the gotcha scene as much as the rest of you. What was Columbo’s plan if Galesko didn’t go for the camera?
Argument for the Defence: Your Honour, members of the jury, Lt. Columbo had previously shown the kidnapping photos to my client, Mr Galesko, who, as a professional photographer, could identify the type of instamatic camera the photos came from. They use a unique style of film stock that only works in one particular type of camera. Upon seeing that type of camera in the evidence room he correctly surmised that it was likely the camera used by the murderer. When presented with an erroneously reversed print of the original photo, and being familiar with many photographic technologies, he helpfully suggested checking the negative that might have been left in the murderer’s camera . . . the only camera on the shelf that would work with the film stock used for the original kidnapping photos. The defence rests.
I reckon Dick is being ACQUITTED for this one.
But was it a specific kind of film?
Good question re: Al’s purchase of the ranch. That should have set off the biggest alarm bells.
It wasn’t your standard 35mm negative that you had to develop in a dark room. The photo is developed inside the camera and then peeled off the “negative” which is left in the camera. I don’t know if different models of Polaroid camera needed different types of film, I’m assuming there must be some variation as models change.
But I just looked back at that scene and there were 12 different Polaroid style cameras on that shelf, including some that look very similar to the incriminating camera. So it’s plausible that Columbo only used cameras that used the same type of film. So I rescind my defence argument.
He’s probably going to jail.