Lady in Waiting (1971) review | The Columbo Episode Guide (S1, E5)

tfw no Beth Chadwick gf.
I own nothing.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

This episode was directed by Norman Lloyd, who died on 5/11/2021 at the age of 106. Lloyd worked with Welles, Hitchcock and Chaplin, was also a director and producer who was still making movies (Trainwreck, 2015) at the age of 100.

[@gosnooky]

Lived from WW1 to the pandemic - what a life.

[@geupelboi]

I think "Lady in Waiting" is underrated and it is in my top five favorite episodes. And that's mostly due to Susan Clark's portrayal. I like how you said Beth is one of the show's most complex villains. I totally agree. I find Beth to be sympathetic because she is totally repressed at the beginning of the episode and you can see how much she wants to start living her life. But her brother's domineering nature and casual indifference to his sister's unhappiness conspire to keep her down. And then when she changes, it feels very realistic to me because I think this is exactly how a person might mismanage all this new found power/control. I have to admit that I always laugh when I see her in that pink and mauve corduroy getup barking at everybody at the table. The conductor's cap is too much. "Lady" also has one of my favorite scores from a Columbo episode.

[@rxtsec1]

The scene when the mother orders Columbo to bring the stuff in was one of the funniest moments of the series

[@ivanppillay914]

Another Columbo masterclass! Falk and Clark are brilliant. Falk always brings out the best in his guest and suporting stars.

[@Gera1713]

The shot that is really atmospheric for me is when he is driving on the way to the beauty salon. The sunny LA boulevard, the haunting background music etc

[@shahransherry]

Back in the 70's when i was a child i never liked this Columbo tv series but when i first watched this episode just a month ago at the age of 53 i realized this show is really one kind of different than any other tv police story that i watched fully from start to finish and began to watch the following episodes .

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

I had to watch this one a second and third time to really appreciate this one. That boardroom mtg where she takes over was hilarious.🤣😂

[@pjom4191]

im here looking for that scene. i remember it being brilliant

[@bb55555555]

Dude. Marcia Wallace did a heck of a lot more than the Simpsons

[@aprilcraddock169]

Bob Newhart show.

[@Dinosaurprince]

She was on Alf and Darkwing Duck too.

[@rxtsec1]

Columbo not having police around was something I didn't notice. Thanks

[@CorndogMaker]

Colombo's not notoriously cheap he's notoriously poor. His adversaries are notoriously rich. Class war is a recurring theme.

[@GlennDavey]

This is important.

[@torridd]

@@GlennDavey I do think he's cheap.

[@griantesla7644]

Murderer: Is that machine I saw back there yours? Columbo: Ah, yes, it needs another coat of paint doesn't it? This exchange happens like 3 times in season one

[@lovepurple83]

Yes, that cab fare is today's money is like over $80. So the woman should have reimbursed him right away. It's embarrassing to have to ask for money more than once-and the mother was definitely in the wrong.

[@rxtsec1]

Leslie Nielsen was my favorite part of this episode & I loved that he was the key to her getting caught

[@thenicklas615]

Columbo really gets under the mousey Beth Chadwick's skin in this episode. "If you think you got a case why don't you go to the district attorney?'" Leslie Neilsen is a treat to see here. I thought Susan Clark's new look was hot !

[@TheWasif]

Awww, I just watched this, about a week after Norman Lloyd passed at 106. RIP.

[@THX-kw2jh]

One of my Favorite Columbo Episodes. Susan Clark looks Gorgeous. Like that aerial start of the episode.

[@FashionistaDude]

Love the mid-atlantic and Canadian accents in this episode.

[@michaeljames4904]

Can you believe this flame-haired stunner was snagged by the American Football player who was that troglodyte Mungo in _Blazing Saddles?_ (and what a very happy marriage they reportedly had)

[@jasonplatt2228]

And they starred in the sitcom Webster together. Her husbands name was Alex Karras.

[@michaeljames4904]

@@jasonplatt2228 Ah, in Britain, we never got that show!

[@jefflockaby702]

Check her out in Coogans Bluff & Colossus the Forbin Project...or even Porkys

[@HnefataflModern]

There is a hole in the plot, though, and it revolves around the problem that the filmmakers not showing blood on the body or scene when killed (maybe for TV censors?). She shoots her brother dead in her bedroom at her bedroom entrance and then moves the dead body to just inside the bedroom patio door, and it fools everyone. That makes no sense. There would have been blood spatter where he was shot at the entrance and a trail of blood would have been evident from the entrance to the patio door.

[@trygve45]

Norman Lloyd passed away may 11, 106 years old.

[@rxtsec1]

Great observation of how all 3 main characters outside of Columbo change

[@kradanbandicootovich6444]

I can buy that his love for her kinda made him go blind on some of the details. I mean, it's not easy to admit that woman you love might be a murderer

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

Susan Clark was an astonishing actress. I had no idea how good she was.

[@WatchitforDays]

I like your editing of these reviews and you shared great information.

[@briangonigal3974]

We start out with a lot of sympathy towards meek Beth seemingly unfairly controlled and kept down by her domineering brother (and before that her father), not being allowed to live her own life. But as she undergoes her transformation not just into a typically arrogant Columbo adversary, but in particular as we see her do things like assume control over the family company and start ordering massive changes in its operations that we're given no reason to think she has any competence to oversee, it suddenly starts to look like maybe there was a reason why her family kept such a leash on her even if they were perhaps pulling it a bit too tight, that maybe her judgement & assessment of her own abilities were always somewhat irrational at the very least. This is supported by the bizarre "fantasy" sequence in which we see her carefully planned-out version of the murder flawlessly run its course as she sits in bed eating bon-bons. The way it's shown kinda suggests it might be a somewhat unstable mind imagining this "perfect" crime, particularly as we soon see it is far from a flawless plan. This could even help at least somewhat justify the supposedly unsatisfying "gotcha" ending: If Leslie Nielson actually had genuinely cared for the more humble Beth at the start and never imagined that she could have possibly shot her brother on purpose, then I could see how he could kind of paper over the troublesome memory of having heard the shots first, at least partially convince himself that he must have been mistaken as he avoids thinking about it in general. But then, he's quite taken aback when she starts acting so different. In particular, she announces both his promotion and their engagement at the company board meeting without having even asked him beforehand how he felt about either, only to then minutes later say "Maybe you're not the man for me after all" when he points out that they had never actually discussed getting married up to that point. This is downright irrational behavior, and it has to have him questioning "just who is this person, have I been completely wrong about her all this time?" From that, the inescapable next question to pop up in his brain has to be "Could she have actually killed her brother deliberately?", at which point that nagging little detail of whether he had actually heard the shots or the alarm first would inevitably start burrowing to the surface of his conscience eventually, most likely even without Columbo's prodding.

[@GlennDavey]

As a kid who grew up with the 90's run of Columbo, the early episodes (especially available on HD with the film grain visible) are startling high quality television. The dialogue, Falk's work, the great character actors. I had no idea. As a kid I assumed it was worse for some reason. We had an idea that the 70's was goofy or camp. And there's some of that here, naturally, but Falk and the good writing elevates it all. (I also think like many good things , it couldn't exist without The Twilight Zone's existence, which brought a level of intelligence to television)

[@arthurjeremypearson]

HEY! I didn't notice that Columbo was alone in the final shot! Cool detail! Thanks!

[@tazchanday2422]

Catching the commissioner was a good one

[@IFStravinsky]

I always thought the case should have been wrapped up in a couple of minutes. Beth shoots her brother several times, then drags his body across room. Surely that would have left a trail of blood. But there's never any question of blood evidence in Columbo (and, as Leslie Nielsen would say, don't call me Shirley).

[@RADIUMGLASS]

The judge portrayed by John Lormer, was the same actor who played Nathan Graham in Creepshow the old man who screams "I want my cake". Lormer had a run in with the law around 1928.

[@schlockhorror5533]

Now that's very interesting and something I didn't know, even though Creepshow is one of my favourite movies!

[@rickrick5041]

Little known fact is that the Columbus part was first offered to Bing Crosby and his partner Bob Hope

[@torridd]

I don't think it was offered to Hope.

[@rxtsec1]

Watching real life cases the police making the mistake you think shouldn't happen happens all the time. In fact many cold cases get solved that way. One of my favorite movies Mystic River did the same thing on the 911 call & trust me those litte things overlooked happen a lot which is why I can buy the ending of Columbo & the police department overlooking the testimony.

[@torridd]

Yes I think the shots and the alarm were very close together and no one would have thought anything of it. Nielsen was intent on protecting his bride to be with the shots and probably never thought about the alarm.

[@thecatvirusgotme889]

The psychology of her malevolent change is fantastic. Why would Leslie Nielsen be interested in her former mousy self? One suspects her brother was right and he is not as pure as the episode portrays.

[@GlennDavey]

Because Leslie was kind-hearted and "mousy" himself. He turned against her when she changed. There's no hint of malevolence or impurity on Nielsen's part. The brother was a jerk.

[@PCat2385]

A dog named Enrico with an actor who will go on to impersonate a character named Enrico Pallazzo 😁

[@Mainframev1976]

I always just assumed the Cops were outside inside the house. Not at the window where he was standing.

[@michael-101]

Thank you for this great analysis.

[@cowboytroy3033]

It was a fantastic episode the music outstanding

[@michaelhutin5451]

A brand new sports car! That's a Ferrari Daytona no less.

[@Simon-og1fk]

Beth’s mother was so funny in the episode 😂😂

[@DasKame]

It's always so weird to See Nielsen in a serious Role after the Naked Gun Movies XD

[@davidlester6622]

thanks for these . love your take on my favourite show

[@raminybhatti5740]

Possibly one of the most dislikeable murderers in the entire series. As soon as she undergoes her makeover (😂) she's unbearable. Beautiful lady, though.

[@assiaelmabrouki5552]

I totally agree 😂 Gosh I hated her attitude (especially during that interaction with her mother during the meeting) ! She was unbearable and I couldn't wait for Columbo to corner her for good. Her personality was just the worst

[@richardthorne2804]

You nailed this review too.

[@schlockhorror5533]

Thank you for your kind comments my man.

[@cornflakesmitmilch8691]

On of the most underrated episodes! I only saw the episode yesterday after years (I'm currently watching a lot of Columbo again). feels very round and coherent. i think a lot of people don't like the episode because it's actually completely unnecessary because columbo just needs one proof anyway, and he could have gotten that proof more or less much earlier from leslie nielson's character. And the proof in itself was clear from the start that it had to be mentioned that first the shots were fired and then the alarm system rang. But that doesn't bother me at all as long as everything stays coherent. However, the fact that the jury overlooked the fact that the shots were fired first and then the alarm system rang is also very sloppily written, and I completely agree with you on this point. In the end, though, it doesn't bother me that much.

[@darinsingleton3553]

As well as being directed by Lloyd, the teleplay was apparently by Steven Bochco, who would go onto create such shows as Hill St. Blues & NYPD Blue.

[@amandajstar]

Great! Loved this. Thanks also for the bit about the (now) incredibly old director, as well!

[@GlennDavey]

He died :(

[@amandajstar]

@@GlennDavey Ah. Well, it happens.

[@rxtsec1]

Personally one of the best written episodes of the series & the subtle clues given that you have to pay attention to.

[@davidalexander3320]

Still cant get over that she was the mom on Webster

[@ivanppillay914]

THOSE "GAPING HOLES" I often read comments about the so-called "gaping holes" in the plot lines of Columbo episodes. With respect to these leagle-eyed critics, this is my response: I care not about these multiple and "gaping plot holes", cited with such regularity. I care not, not one single iota. As relevant as these loose ends may be, the truth of the matter is that they are a distraction from the pure aesthetic quality of the work. Fine art, in all its dimensions, requires moments of SUSPENDED DISBELIEF in order to be truly appreciated. And "Columbo", in all its glory, represents supeme fine art in the genre of television detective fiction. For me it's the sheer delight, among other elements, of watching Columbo in action: his peerless genius, his eccentric and idiosyncratic mannersms (more often than not a clever ruse in the art of distraction), his subtle sense of humour, his unmistakable humility and modesty (delicately balanced with his razor-sharp acumen and powers of observation), his calculated cat-and-mouse routine before delivering the kiler blow and so much more, infinitely ...

[@jayteegamble]

My favorite episode!

[@waynedurning8717]

Not the best episode but Susan Clark's character is the best of any guest star. Partly due to great writing and the arc of the character but mostly due to a phenomenal performance that just has so many compelling moments it's like a showcase for her talent and charisma. She's amazing to watch.

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks for this review. I don’t usually watch review shows. Anyway I thought this was a weak episode too, when I first saw it. But later embraced it. That ending was weak as a cooked spaghetti noodle, but still ...

[@kc0lif]

Leslie Neilson appeared twice. Marcia Wallace is cute.

[@MrHefe21]

Rather adventurous in Terms of Story Structure. From Fratricide to Jury trial within a Week and the Inspector only starts the police Investigation after the Trial. Quite apart from the Fact that Leslie Nielsen plays a Softie, it is absolutely puzzling why the Brother would have taken Offense at his Connection with his sister.

[@Alkis05]

I'm just starting watching this series for the first time. I'm loving it. The acting is really something else. I like this style of knowing exactly what happened and see how columbo solves the puzzle. Reminds me of shows like breaking bad and dexter. Anyway, do you really think he has a good case against her in this episode? In the end, the testimony of her fiance is all he has. It his word against her. All things considered seems like a very weak circumstantial case. EDIT: Well, I made the comment before watching the video to the end. I see you agree with me.

[@andrewyoung2796]

I didn't realize that there's no police

[@royfr8136]

6:40 Really? Very few of Columbos' findings will ever hold up in court.

[@johnking1026]

where are you finding full episodes?! I don't see full episodes anywhere

[@matthewestrada407]

Tubi or peacock

[@Gera1713]

I don't think copyright allows full episodes . You have to pay

[@matthewestrada407]

@@Gera1713 peacock is free and they also have the Rockford Files that's the only reason I have it ,I'm a huge Columbo fan and hated only being able to see Columbo on sundays.

[@jennifermoriarty2188]

Tubi

[@dihydrotestosterone]

No mention of Oscar Goldman played by Richard Anderson ?

[@michelleclarke1022]

Murder by the book love it

[@ianmangham4570]

3:14 Penelope Pitstop

[@tH4ttUs]

The film for all independent women!

[@michelleclarke1022]

Love love

[@davidg-ig8vj]

Christ, she didn't even aim and yet she killed him with one shot...

[@torridd]

Didn't she fire three bullets? One was bound to kill him.

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

I counted 3.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci.

[@mrtheo7680]

👍

[@virnamisra1657]

Me