Discuss Columbo
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S5E6 "Last Salute to the Commodore"
posted by Deuteronomy of GathSTAFFMOD on February 28, 2017 at 6:48 PM
I'm currently watching my way through this programme, enjoying it thoroughly so far. I came to this episode last night.
Apart from being the only episode in which the killer isn't revealed until the end, the whole tone of this episode struck me as pretty odd and incongruous with what I've seen so far.
E.g. from the moment Columbo appears, his behaviour and interactions with others are off. He seemed drunk or stoned or something 
wandering around smiling to himself, rubbing and touching people excessively, he sits down virtually on top of a character at one point, etc.
Many scenes felt un-rehearsed or ad-libbed and unnecessarily drawn-out.
What was going on here - was it something to do with Patrick McGoohan's direction, were they trying something different?
Reply by Notamymerrick
on March 1, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Apparently there was a lot of drinking on set.
Reply by Strange Bedfellows
on August 12, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Patrick McGoohan was a super egotist who had to do things his way - he thought he could act - I didn't agree (barking with laughter doesn't actually mean bark like a dog) he thought he could direct - "The Prisoner" proved him wrong on that assumption. It seems to me that when Peter Falk became an executive producer his acting was dreadful and his ego became monstrous. I watched these shows many years ago and the early ones were ok - the writing was good and the guest stars acted well - but the later ones - oh dear - the writing was ridiculous and Falk treated his audience like retarded children. I can't watch him now - I just want to chuck something at the screen. A Shame.
Reply by Michelle_Dessler
on August 13, 2018 at 10:24 AM
This episode was definitely my least favourite. Very different to the rest of the series which I also so thought was odd. I didn't realise Patrick McGoohan directed this or other episodes. No wonder he appeared in Colombo 4 times. He always plays characters that are egotistical (Escape From Alcatraz, Braveheart, Time To Kill), so I'm not surprised he was like this in real life. He had that manner about him.
I think Mark Ruffalo would make a great Colombo if they did a new series.
Loved Peter Falk. Just one more thing....