Dagger of the Mind (1972) review | The Columbo Episode Guide (S2, E4)

Columbo heads to London for some reason.
I own nothing.
#Columbo #DaggeroftheMind #PeterFalk #RichardBasehart #HonorBlackman #BernardFox #EpisodeGuide #Review

[@stonkr]

Personally, I thought this episode was an absolute riot. A complete tongue-in-cheek hammy adventure with Wilfred the 'tax exile' being the absolute star of the show.

[@pimpernel2115]

Nice to hear from someone who gets it. This is a classic one can watch many times and enjoy.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

This time I can't agree with you. I think this is a pretty fun one. Columbo is endearing and entertaining shambling around in snooty London, and Basehart and Blackman play the histrionics with brio--they're SUPPOSED to be bad actors, on and off stage. It's also a wink to Sherlock Holmes. You really missed the point. It's second tier among the 70s episodes, but it's far from rock bottom.

[@johnmanier7968]

I agree it’s a fun episode. Not good by Columbo standards, but fun. By comparison, Last Salute to the Commodore was bad and not fun-the only 70s episode I actively dislike. Ironically, Wilfrid Hyde-White was in both.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@johnmanier7968 Yeah, it's a send up of the English and Columbo as a very American Sherlock Holmes. I recently watched the Commodore to see if it's as bad as all that--and it's worse. Even Falk sucks in it.

[@timi_ro]

This one I can seat thru, but Last Salute to the Commodore is a chore!

[@RAN480L64]

Yeah and even though it’s laid on thick the grim humour at the end is supposed to be that no one thinks they are being genuine in their breakdown because they have proven themselves of being capable of acting so hysterical on stage so it’s a boy who cried wolf situation that none of the police can be sorry for them in case they are pretending for sympathy or to try to weasel out on insanity

[@RAN480L64]

And acting fake sad at the funeral lol

[@VonWenk]

I enjoyed "Dagger of the Mind." I think it's a very funny episode, and I felt like Basehart and Blackman were two good actors who played hammy actors very well. First, there were the parallels between the Frames and MacBeth (a husband and wife killing the "prince" and Nicholas suffering a breakdown in the end); Frame hitting on Sir Roger's secretary at the memorial; Columbo's initial accusation not panning out due to the intervention of the butler; the butler insisting Nicholas enter the cottage first, followed by Nicholas' annoyed "Get in there"; and I enjoyed Columbo flipping the pearl into the umbrella (accompanied by the story of his childhood) to trick the Frames into confessing. It was a pleasant surprise since, when I first watched this episode, I was still under the impression Columbo always solved his cases by the murderers contradicting themselves in some account they'd given. Could we have consolidated Dirksen into the policeman who meets Columbo at the airport? Possibly. But this episode is nowhere near the bottom of the barrel for me among the original Columbo episodes (and "Try to Catch a Fading Star" is probably my favorite). P.S.: Aren't the British tax authorities called something other than the IRS?

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Yes, you understood it perfectly. It's a send-up of all things--stiff uplip inspectors, butlers, and, especially, hammy actors. Basehart and Blackman are VERY funny--they do a great job of bad acting, and Columbo does a great job of an American Sherlock Holmes in London. The reviewer and the others completely misunderstood it. I really enjoy it, and consider it not of the best, but definitely not among the worst. It's fun.

[@denischarette7972]

It`s called ``Inland Revenue``.

[@uditkishore1828]

@@denischarette7972 isn't it HMRC?

[@gnalkhere]

Say what you will about this episode but Columbo sightseeing in London is the cutest thing I saw in a long time. He seems so excited to be alive

[@revsla]

I really like this one. the supporting cast was excellent. Two of the greatest English actors playing a couple of really bad actors. Very well done.

[@user-jy2sz1jr9p]

Best line ever to the Macbeth soliloquy - "There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" - "It will be tomorrow if you don't get a move on!!!"

[@WatchitforDays]

You had me laughing out loud in this review; I loved all the noises and quotes you inserted from our incredible Shakespeare performers. Such good editing! And fantastic summary and organization. Well done, Adam 😊 Even though this is a goofy episode that is loaded with problems, my least favorite episode is absolutely the one you mentioned as it's competitor.

[@dennissmith6255]

I actually like this episode.

[@paulcooper8818]

Have to admit, watching "Dagger of the Mind" the first time I shared your opinion, yet rewatching much later I very much enjoyed it. Once I knew it wasn't a regular Columbo I just sort of relaxed and the over-the-top-ness ACTING became really funny. Also since the original killing was purely accidental it's not like they are "in control masterminds" fencing with Columbo's intellect.

[@matthewgabbard6415]

How dare you sir!! Haha, I always liked this one. To each his own, I suppose

[@sadderthanyou7793]

"It is a tale told by an idiot!" LMAO

[@annfellows9403]

I loved this one. It only bothered me that they killed the butler in cold blood. It was out of character for them. The first killing was an accident.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

An IMPOSSIBLE accident, unless the chick was able to hurl that cream pot at burly Sir Roger with the force of the Gosse Bertha!

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

@@javiergilvidal1558 Not really. The blow from pot knocked him out and being a tall man he hit his head hard on the hard floor thus causing a brain hemorrhage. Entirely plausible.

[@cleona130]

The murder of Wilfred Hyde White, the butler, was a bad choice of an ending to a clever story and out of character. Lazy writer out of ideas. Still, I loved this episode. 😂

[@kevinericsongs]

fun fact-this episode was actually dubbed and released as a feature film in theatres in italy!

[@blastum]

Basehart plays it like William Shatner plays every role he's ever done.

[@randyventresca4152]

But both Shatner Columbo appearances are far better. lol

[@plasticweapon]

no he doesn't, don't ever say that again.

[@ellahorses5436]

I was in pieces listening to that, so funny, so completely deadpan. And thank you for watching it so I don’t now have to ever watch it !! A brilliant video

[@kellwillsen]

Awful actors doing Shakespeare badly and living their entire lives in full-on ham mode -- these are a staple of British comedy, and it was a delight to see them set against Columbo's pragmatism. The butler wanting to stay on as a butler makes perfect sense to me -- it's like a university professor getting sinecure. Security and comfort for life. The "gotcha" is weak, and the two separate policemen characters is odd, but I think that a lot of the things you disliked about this episode were simply lost in translation. The British actors involved all knew exactly how the humour was meant to land, and they nailed it.

[@ericjdeaton]

I,for one,love this episode. I wasn't aware,according to the narrator,that the IRS operates in Great Britain...

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I actually took a dagger and thrust it into my skull whilst watching this episode. It helped with the pain from the migraine.

[@libertalien7013]

I agree 100% with you. I think the show producers wanted to pay a tribute to the UK audience with that episode, and forgot the plot line would not make much sense to the Columbo's audience outside Britain. On the other hand , the episode "A Matter of Honor", to pay homage to the Latin American audience of the show, ended up being a master piece episode.

[@davesdoozies9806]

I liked this episode. You made it clear you didn't. Great job 🤥

[@bornyesterday21]

lol .. I liked this episode.

[@michelemarcolin2548]

Oh, c'mon, it ain't that bad. Just unusual. The really worst one is the episode of the kidnapping of the bride...

[@timi_ro]

Shit, now that's a bad episode, I think the worse, it doesn't evan feel like a Columbo episode!

[@rezallini]

" we finally see Columbos coat put to good use ". Best line ever

[@asteverino8569]

Loved your critique. Often there is padding going on with this long format but this one has padding extraordinaire. Some of Basehart’s (sp), acting was Shatneresque.

[@pimpernel2115]

By far the best Columbo episode. The poster regrettably misunderstands this one. It's clever and funny too. Honor Blackman and Richard Basehart are perfect opposite each other as mediocre Shakespearean thespians, who carry their self appraisal into everyday life. The London Airport scene is hilarious with the young Scotland Yard bungling detective. Watched this episode several times. So sorry the original reviewer does not understand Brits and the way things are done there. It's a gem of an episode.

[@DadgeCity]

Speaking as a Brit, I'd say the reviewer does understand us and I agree with him. His rant is wonderfully written and produced, unlike the episode!

[@EmilyHartley25989]

I literally recommended Dial M For Murder to a Columbo fan yesterday for the same reasons and then heard you say the same thing here!

[@jacobinman7054]

I started my first watch through of the series a few weeks ago, and I’ve been LOVING it, but I couldn’t finish this episode.

[@mikebrowne477]

The Scooby Doo line made me laugh pretty hard.

[@terrybebbington3032]

You mention that Dagger was only one of 3 episodes that took Columbo out of LA, obviously referencing this one, plus Troubled Waters (on board a ship) & Matter of Honour (Mexico).But what about Rest in Piece, Mrs Columbo, where he flies to San Francisco to meet up with a psychologist & Double Shock where he visits a Las Vegas casino.

[@TueGejl]

Absolutly love your review's and I agree 100% :-)

[@JeghedderThomas]

I rather liked the hammy couple, they're so deliciously over the top - I had no problem with it at all.

[@thehorrorist3471]

Great review! I'm very disappointed you didn't acknowledge the star of the episode, Sharon Johansen as Miss Dudley. Holy moley

[@randyventresca4152]

Only Last Salute to the Commodore could be worse than this episode in the original series run. That episode was just contrived and boring and dragged on for an eternity. Robert Vaughan had one of the best Columbo episodes (Troubled Waters). Last Salute was forgettable. At least Dagger of the Mind had some entertaining moments if not just plain over-the-top silly.

[@lukacunningham342]

Last Salute also had Hyde Wight in the episode

[@EmilyHartley25989]

This episode is actually rated higher than Dead Weight on IMDb, which I find astonishing.

[@jadeblatz]

I enjoy Dagger Of The Mind and it is a favourite episode of mine and I like the ending maybe it's not the best episode but far from the worst. I will agree with you though that there is a lot of padding in this episode and it could have been trimmed to 70 minutes. I know people don't really like this episode though but maybe it could have been better if it was a shorter episode and they trimmed away a lot of the fat.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

I like it too. It supposed to be funny. Columbo is funny awed by London, and it's funny him interfacing with the stiff upper lip English (a big wink as the very American Sherlock Holmes). And the two hack actors constantly hamming up, even between themselves, is funny too. I really enjoy it. It's fun. I think the haters totally miss the point of this one.

[@ozsfi]

@@nicholasschroeder3678 Watching the review this time I surprised myself laughing aloud when Lillian threw herself on the coffin.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@ozsfi I was an English major and read lots of Shakespeare, all of Doyle and Christie; so, I immediately got it. I think what's so great about B n B' characters here is that they're ALWAYS acting, always playing a role. In a sense they're nasty little children--complete narcissists. And theater people are like that, and London loves it's theater. Even the ending of the tossed marble fits: Columbo uses their tricks of illusion to get them. Of course it's ridiculously improbable, but again that's not the point. The more I think about the episode, the more I want to watch it again.

[@atimholt]

Great use of the “it is a tale told by an idiot!” clip, lol.

[@martoto77]

I’m really enjoying your episode guide. I admit to a little bit of guilty pleasure watching DotM. It’s much better if it’s on telly with adverts to break up the hysterics and make Blackman and Baseheart more tolerable. It’s an odd episode though. Has the feeling of a special Christmas episode of some hit sitcom.

[@torridd]

It's not a bad episode.

[@5610winston]

I like this episode a lot. The final scene is a fugue for voices with Basehart providing an ostinato of The Scottish King's final speech over which the other characters debate, plead, and cajole. As for Basehart's and Blackman's performances, you have to be an actor of the brightest magnitude to be able to stay in character and play such terrible actors.

[@eugenemurray2940]

It's a farce! 🤣 Irony upon Irony... Just an excuse for Peter Falk to visit London.. Gud 4 him! And as for it being mainly filmed in LA... The Whitewall Tires on The Jag!

[@master-kq3nw]

This good episode but better then last salute

[@nanajanamike]

As a fan since the beginning,I can say that this was not the worst episode,but it's in the top 3.Or should I say...the bottom 3!

[@SL-vi4tk]

Through his travels, Malcom Merriweather knows us Americans all too well...

[@michaeljames4904]

How can an episode contain some of one’s very favourite actors, Honor Blackman, Wilfrid Hyde-White and the like, and end up a person’s least favourite of all? Apart from the hilarious scene in the Gentleman’s Club - always a delight to see Columbo’s famous squeamishness as the best murder policeman in LA - it’s absolutely atrocious. It’s crushing too as a Brit because you get all excited that the Lieutenant is going to do the business on your home turf, and it’s all pretty much just pants.

[@douglasmcginity3327]

A brilliant episode. Not sure how people don't like it. The writers are masters and the actors and acting were exquisite. Just a masterful episode.

[@richardclegg5853]

Well, at least I know it wasn't just me, literally unwatchable. Some Colombo hilights that pop up on KZbin I've literally watched over and over dozens of times, when ANY scene from this episode pops up, I can't dump it fast enuff... think its the only one I feel even close this negatively about

[@xstarsystemsx]

I fully confused Richard Basehart with Robert Preston.

[@pauldavies5611]

Completely agree. My apologies for an earlier comment.

[@andrewjones-productions]

It's a pity the write and Schlock Horror didn't do their research properly. If someone is a 'Sir' they would not be referred to as their lordship. A 'sir' is a rank below a baronet (lord) and one rank above the lowest rank of 'The Honourable'. A son of a baronet would be referred to as a Sir until such time that the eldest inherits his father's title. No such honours are afforded to life peers or people knighted in the King's Honour list and their titles are non-hereditary and expire with the last breath of the person honoured in this way. In the UK we do not have an 'IRS'. It is called 'His Majesty's Revenue and Customs' although would have been commonly known as 'The Inland Revenue' during the time period of this episode. Another example of someone who doesn't do his research.

[@michelesummers2437]

I found this episode humorous and campy. I liked the pearl gotcha.....not one of my faves tho.

[@richlinlaw]

best line: He had a dirty mind.

[@cathybrown8334]

This and the Mexican episode is horrible. But I loved seeing the inspector who was Malcom Merryweather on the Andy Griffith show and the butler who was in My Fair Lady.

[@matthintz9468]

God, I hated this episode. I never heard of it before I saw it, and I wish I had never seen it. I think I caught the last 15 minutes of it a long time ago, but saw the whole thing only about two years ago, and... it's just something I can't unsee. I mean, my god, don't Columbo and the actors cross paths when they're leaving the mansion, like, 3 times, and not once does anyone question why they're there? I will say that the part where they hang the butler was pretty intense for this show, and doesn't fit the feel of this episode at all. Probably the only entertaining part of the whole thing!!!

[@abloke8834]

I totally agree. This was bloody awful.

[@60march]

The Commodore was i think a weird 70's nod to the psychedelic times and was of course dreadful This i think had to be almost a spoof piss take so OTT that no one could take it seriously but one way or another quite entertaining in my opinion.

[@scootergreen3]

I didn't like it much but I thought it was funny. Some good scenes with Columbo and others. I liked most of the cast and I liked the smug and arrogant butler.

[@randyventresca4152]

This was a strange episode and dragged on way too long. Has some moments. But definitely near the bottom.

[@sidecar7714]

You failed to mention the playboy playmate appearing in this episode.

[@nightowl5475]

I saw this episode last night, what gets me is, what Columbo did at the end of the show was illegal. He planted one of the lady’s pearls in her umbrella as it was stored in the umbrella rack upside down. He did this to make her talk, but planting evidence is illegal as hell. Besides that, I did find the plot very convoluted. In one scene, the butler tries to blackmail both of the two Shakespeare actors, as if the plot needed more side-stories! This episode is cringe worthy!

[@torridd]

Is it illegal? He just waited for a reaction. It's no different from what you see on TV when detectives are grilling a suspect and saying he did it.

[@nightowl5475]

@@torridd intrapment. A first year law student can get that guy off. You start having law enforcement using intrapment then you got a slippery slope. If the public doesn't demand justice from law enforcement, then they can start beating confessions out of suspects. We demand the best of other professions yet we give law enforcement a free ride to entrap suspects? It's ok with the public until you get arrested and your innocent. You just happen to fit the description of the suspect. When it happens to you then its a problem. It should be a problem if it happens to anyone. You start giving cops a green light on that, it won't be long they start planting evidence and breaking into your home without a legal warrent.

[@paulcooper8818]

@@nightowl5475 I don't think it rises to the level of entrapment. While it is a lie. lying is considered OK for American police. In many other countries, police are not allowed to lie about evidence during interrogations.

[@zedwpd]

B-52 landing gear

[@bennym5244]

This is a great episode. You are just a bit miserable I think.

[@DadgeCity]

Whether you agree with him or not, it's a bravura rant!

[@pinball1970]

Never seen this. Probably a good idea.

[@ianfeuerhake1859]

Agree, but in all fairness I don’t like any American show where they go to England and act like Americans. “Ooo, London Bridge. Ooo, Big Ben. You call them chips, but we call them French fries. Do you know the queen?” Ugh

[@jsfbr]

Popeye (the sailor man, not the Hackman) replaced Columbo in the Commodore's death episode.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

That one isn't really a murder but an accidental killing and if they had gone to the police to begin with they would probably have been charged with manslaughter at the worst but probably something lesser like accidental death.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

My trouble with this is that a face cream pot, frontally hurled at a strong stout man by a woman could NEVER kill him. That is really jumping the shark to me!

[@keithjones6023]

This is the only Columbo episode I haven't seen, l don't think I've missed much! 😏

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Nah, watch it. It's fun. The actors are SUPPOSED to be bad. It's a send up of all that's English--the stiff inspector, the butler, the theater--and Columbo is at his comic best as a very American Sherlock Holmes. I think the haters just don't get it

[@robinstevens7651]

@@nicholasschroeder3678 a bit like John Wayne's Brannigan

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

Maybe not the best Columbo, but certainly not terrible.

[@cleona130]

Rotten reviewer ! This was Columbo's best and cleverly written the funniest brilliantly played episode.

[@DadgeCity]

Shows how much tastes can differ. I agree with the reviewer.

[@stephenbarden6121]

I love Columbo too, and as a UK citizen it's really cool that they set an episode in England, but it's not a very good episode, in my opinion. Honor Blackman was a sort of national treasure, and I've always enjoyed watching Richard Basement on film and tv, especially in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. I get that it's supposed to be a sort of romp, but it would have worked far better if Honor Blackman's character had been far more evil and duplicitous, gradually turning and twisting Richard Basehart's weaker character from a decent guy into a ruthless, pitiless killer. Macbeth, in other words. The actors were more than capable of this; it's a pity those responsible for the screenplay bungled it so badly. However, Dagger is still better than many of the 90s Columbos.

[@davidg-ig8vj]

I adore Columbo. But the show has some of the lamest death scenes ever committed to film. Like this one. Do you know how hard you'd need to hurl a jar of cold cream at someone in order to kill them? Well, neither do I, but I think that only a professional baseball pitcher could manage it.

[@richlinlaw]

I once bought a dvd set bootlegged of all columbos. i threw this episode out in the trash due to HONOR BLACKMAN's over the top overacting/badacting. It later came with the non bootleg set I got. I now LIKE IT. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@davidalexander3320]

Nothing in the original run is as bad as Last Salute to the Commodore. Nothing

[@dumggarbd3820]

hay quá chừng luôn

[@brianfuller757]

Personally I don't this was a terrible episode. It is mediocre however. I just re-watched this and I understand the critics' points. But the episode wasn't too long. I do agree that the work of both Richard Basehart and Honor Blackman was not their best.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

Wasn´t it? As for me, the jury's still out. They are good actors who have to play the role of bad actors, who would never make it in the theatre world without the female character´s wooing the impresario to fork out the cash. And I´d say that pretending to be bad while actually being quite good deserves some credit!

[@r0bw00d]

Hang on! England's IRS is called the IRS?

[@55kemi]

No its HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs.

[@roccotracanna163]

I thought it was good.

[@rawn4203]

Yeah its bad, but so is The Greenhouse Jungle.

[@befourz]

I don't like this episode either, but for different reasons. It's ruining the character of Columbo, who doesn't do anything without reason. All of his rustic and ridiculous behavior before the episode was dictated by playing with a suspect.

[@KLIPONSEX]

Yes, it was really bad, but man, they tried experiment with the "foreigner" thing in this episode, they can do the whole series "Columbo in England" after that to expand the audiense. For us need to understand its just stunt from producers. Nowadays of cource you can easily do this shit with graphics or big budget, but at that time it was something new and experimental. And this episode wasnt killed by this, it was ruined by choose of script and all that theatrical stuff. It just dont feel serious and pleasurely detective at all. Bad was written all over it because of script of this episode, it needs to be more intellectual, detective and serious. But to be honest, actors realy dont did enough of their job, yeah, bad episode, painful to watch.

[@jodie4609]

I stopped watching @0:12 Was there a point ?

[@jimmarhoffer7416]

Their bad acting was the point Terrible review this is a good episode

[@javiergilvidal1558]

Exactly. Not an easy task for a good actor to portray a bad actor!

[@davidg-ig8vj]

The overacting of the villains is an understandable, even entertaining, occupational hazard. What I can't accept is the manner of the death. A jar of cold cream? Thrown by a non-athletic middle aged woman? A professional baseball pitcher, maybe...

[@torridd]

I'll give you that one although I liked the episode.

[@richardclegg5853]

Thought it was just me, painful to watch...

[@jeffcoat1959]

Murder in Malibu would pretty much be the worst episode ever, I assume?

[@virnamisra1657]

You ought to be snacking on thick Black Currant Jam Sandwiches Hot Bacon Strips and A Mug o Hot Cocoa whilst in the mood of England. It isn't for the Swish Swash U 🔥 S 🔥 A 🔥. termites. Please be kind

[@williambrown3458]

I bet the Brits love this 98 minute episode because they love to talk. What a Brit says in 3 sentences an American says in 3 words.

[@DadgeCity]

In fact, Americans tend to like this episode (some even love it), while most of us Brits find it risible.

[@FashionistaDude]

The lesbian Bond girl trying to do Shakespeare? Lol.

[@rxtsec1]

Horrible episode especially how he solves the crime

[@jodie4609]

Click bait

[@robbryant52]

This is what americans thought london was like ...this is without any doubt the worst episode ever ...its absolute shite

[@douglasmcginity3327]

People who hate ‘Dagger of the Mind’ are missing two things. Taste and sophistication. Buddy, we get it. You didn’t like the episode. You didn’t need to mention it 750 times through your laughable ‘review’ which only proved what a royal crown doofus you are. The acting was exquisite the writing was masterful. The reviewer is just clueless.

[@schlockhorror5533]

I didn't need to mention my opinion of the episode during my review in which I give my opinion? You didn't like my review, why mention it 750 times in your comment? Remove yourself from the gene pool.

[@robinstevens7651]

Yeah right...go away now

[@DadgeCity]

The episode is missing taste and sophistication. Which is why it appeals to Americans.

[@douglasmcginity3327]

@@DadgeCity Americans don’t care what people from countries who haven’t landed on the moon think.

[@otley2006]

I have to say this episode is an absolute bag of phoo, .only took me 19:06 minutes to realise that this one was a real stinker so I stopped

[@otley2006]

then again...might as well watch it.....I can then rubber stamp this one and never have to go thru this again

[@gt197]

One of the worst..

[@larrysmith6797]

Your tax exile can't go to England because he owes the IRS? No, he stays in the USA because he owes back taxes back home in Blighty.