Columbo

[Bernardo]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130563/

UNDERCOVER

Watched this on afternoon TV on one of the many recent wet afternoons and this Columbo 1994 TV Movie is worth a mention as it breaks the series formula, as:
a. You are not told who the murderer is from the start.
b. As far as this Brit can tell, the usual celebrity has not been cast as the murderer.
c. Columbo has a string of support police officers assisting him (not the usual raincoated lone ranger)
d. How often do you see Columbo at his police HQ? You do in this one
e. No trademarked shabby raincoat and ancient Peugeot until a good way through the story.

Maybe there are others in the 13 series that move out of the set style I have never seen another but it made my wet afternoon all the better for the change.

[Moor Larkin]

Just one moor thing...

"Columbo" fans may have noticed that the episodes "Undercover" ("Jigsaw") and "No Time To Die" ("So Long As You Both Shall Live") have plots and styles distinctly different from other "Columbo" stories.
http://www.columbo-site.freeuk.com/mcbain.htm

[agutterfan]

Also see Last Salute to the Commodore (S5.02) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074329/, brilliantly directed by Patrick McGoohan (who doesn't appear himself alas) where the murderer is revealed at the end.

[will.15]

There are a few others from the first series that deviate slightly from the formula. Martin Landau playing twins, we see the murder, but which brother did it? The Anne Baxter one where there is a big surprise revelation at the end, we know who did it, but, it turns out, not why. And The Ray Milland killer episode where Columbia is assigned a partner, an ambitious newcomer who underestimates Columbo and makes an ass out of himself trying to upstage him. He appears one more time assisting, but now he knows his place and is content to not get in Columbo's way.

[Bernardo]

There are a few others from the first series that deviate slightly from the formula. Martin Landau playing twins, we see the murder, but which brother did it? The Anne Baxter one where there is a big surprise revelation at the end, we know who did it, but, it turns out, not why. And The Ray Milland killer episode where Columbia is assigned a partner, an ambitious newcomer who underestimates Columbo and makes an ass out of himself trying to upstage him. He appears one more time assisting, but now he knows his place and is content to not get in Columbo's way.

Yes I remember that one. The 'upstart' even appears in a shabby raincoat at the end and Columbo chuckles as he waves him away. Or something like that.

[Riceman]

Any Old Port In A Storm?