You Tried to Contrive a Perfect Alibi, Sir | Columbo

Time for a big reveal! Lt. Columbo puts all clues together and explains to the murderer how he did it!
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Season 4 Episode 1 'An Exercise in Fatality': A health club owner murders one of his franchisees. Lt. Columbo is on the case.
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[@BTX61]

What’s great about this moment is that Colombo actively hates Janus... one of the few times he lets his true feelings be known. He enjoys nailing him.

[@jonclark1113]

Yeah agree. In hospital waiting room it got really personal which you never see. Great watch

[@frankcolumbo9615]

The other Murderer Columbo hated was Dr Mayfield aka Leonard Nemoy.

[@TheKingOfRuckus]

@@frankcolumbo9615 His last name is actually spelled "Nimoy". Not trying to be rude, just thought I'd tell you :).

[@austinteutsch]

@@TheKingOfRuckus Great job, Mr. KZbin police. Ha! Not trying to be rude, just thought I'd tell you.

[@misternewoutlook5437]

Yeah, there's quite a few like that. I think Donald Pleasance was the one murderer Columbo liked most (arguably Ruth Gordon) and regretted having to arrest.

[@isaacschmitt4803]

I love how Columbo portrays himself as a nice, bumbling idiot until he has the bad guy by the curlies. Then and only then he reveals just how dangerous he is.

[@halthammerzeit]

"Do you think Columbo's parents were related?"

[@oddbutfair]

@@halthammerzeit well let’s look at the evidence. They both have the same last name. They both are the same species. And one more thing, they call one another family.

[@jamesalley4061]

Robert Conrad rip

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

@@oddbutfair by God, it's bulletproof.

[@bubbasouth69]

Just one more thing…

[@MrSamuelArthurRobertAllen]

"It could only be you, by your own admission it had to be you". Classic Columbo

[@kathconserv]

What if Stafford told Janus he has just changed into his GYM CLOTHES while on “the phone” with him.

[@_bryanfarrar]

@@kathconserv Columbo's proven using circumstantial evidence (cut tape, the bulb on the phone) that the phone call and everything that was said during it was made up. In other words his alibi is false. The beauty of this sequence is how the weight of all the evidence leads you to only one conclusion.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

@@kathconserv Colombo had to prove Stafford didn't change his own cloths he was already dead .... only Janus could of changed his shoes because he knew he was in his gym cloths before the body was discovered ......his statement and the shoe demonstration go hand in hand ....

[@IRGhost0]

@@stellertonybeller1972 but what if Janus said that during the phone call, the guy told him he put on his gym clothes and was going to work out?

[@stellertonybeller1972]

@@IRGhost0 Columbo also proved the phone call was faked

[@davidowen4816]

"Oh, that's my lunch, that don't mean anything" Classic.

[@RTG1031]

Yeah. Taking it with you when you are going to arrest a suspect 😁

[@davidowen4816]

@@RTG1031 Yeah, right in with the dead mans training shoes. Yum yum.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

Agree completely. Those little bits of business like that are the things that Falk did that made Columbo so endearing. Such an incredible actor.

[@davidowen4816]

@@SECRETARIATguy224 Greetings Comrade, glad you also like the nuances and subtleties of this terrific actor. When I heard him say "That's my lunch, that don't mean anything" I smiled and thought oh yes it does Mr. Colombo.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@davidowen4816 Yes! What's even more subtle there is that Falk chooses to have Columbo say, "That's my lunch, that don't mean NOTHIN'" instead of anything. Shows that Columbo isn't concerned about using proper English. . . he's got bigger fish to fry.

[@paulronco9709]

Never ever get tierd of watching these, the ones from the 70s are real classics.

[@amandajstar]

Yes, agree. I ADORE the late 60s and 70s ones, but the 90s Revival shows are almost like self-parody.

[@paulronco9709]

@@amandajstar true they weren't to bad, ,however cant compare to the originals.

[@amandajstar]

@@paulronco9709 Some must have been better than others. But after trying the one about the magician and guillotine, and the one with the Dobermanns, hubby and I looked at each other and said 'let's not bother with the rest!'.

[@paulronco9709]

@@amandajstar I can understand that.

[@keithjones6023]

I watch Columbo regularly, and it is still as enjoyable. I watched Identity Crisis last night, in on scene Columbo sat down at a picnic table where there's a woman with two young daughters about 4 and 6, Columbo says to the little girls that they are very pretty, mother just smiled. These days he'd get a slap and told to f off you perv! 😄

[@EmmettXIV]

8:37 "You tried to contrive a perfect alibi, sir... and it's your perfect alibi that's going to hang you" What a line

[@brianw6118]

Yes an excellent line! Gold!

[@robertwheatley2471]

Have seen 'Exercise in Fatality' at least a half dozen times and it never gets old. In my Top 10 Columbo episodes from 1970-78, nothing after '78. The later ones were good but clearly were not *as* good. '70's Columbo was pure gold..

[@mrp3263]

1971-1975. The best

[@zyrrhos]

@@mrp3263 1972-1974. The sweet spot.

[@KalOrtPor]

I think "Columbo Goes to College" came closest to the originals

[@HerrEllsworth]

I think there is a flaw in Columbo's "shoe laces" conclusion. He said he ties his shoes like "right-handed people" with the first loop over the big toe. However, the victim was left-handed so maybe the big loop would still have been over the little toe.

[@MrDavey2010]

Perfect show!

[@audreyii5087]

"And I'll tell ya how you did it, if you're ontersted" is such a raw af line. The next time I play DnD, I'm gonna play an INT based Rogue and try to do Columbo stuff during the non-combat parts of the campaign. What an amazing character, written well in a time when it wasn't necessary to do so, and I greatly respect that.

[@TheAverageGuyTAG]

My friend played Columbo for a two-part session of Delta Green. He did the whole "Just one more thing" schtick during the climax, and it was awesome.

[@Groudon466]

I tried that in the most recent campaign I was in. It quickly became apparent that the campaign would be too combat heavy for much of that, unfortunately. Around the end, the DM tried to give me a big case to solve, but it ended up being the case that there were far too many people involved. As soon as even one of the conspirators jumped into action, two dozen others around the military camp immediately assassinated the people in front of them. Frankly, it was just too hard for me to correctly identify two dozen other people out of a hundred without letting on that I was on to any of them- there wasn’t enough time in the day to Insight check all of them, and it would only take one missed check for there to be a problem. It ended up being rather disappointing, unfortunately.

[@felixLucretius]

If you wanna see something like that in a DnD context, I highly recommend Dimension 20’s Mice and Murder. One of the player characters is a Holmes-like INT inquisitive rogue like you’re thinking of

[@stevendouglas3781]

Sounds fun

[@audiosurfarchive]

Cringe

[@rajhussain9108]

Absolute TV gold... the best TV detective of all times..... Oh, just one more thing!

[@irinore]

I love how a part of his line is clearly overdubbed when he talks about clipping out a piece of the audio roll

[@jawstrock2215]

ya, he probably said the wrong name :D

[@SciTrekMan]

The also dubbed the line “two months ago”

[@2Scribble]

2:03 - the funny part about the villain in this story is that he's SO arrogant - he's SO sure he's untouchable - that he didn't bother trying to destroy or just copy these tapes. He full on cut them out and just left that stuff where it was - because there's NO WAY anyone would ever question his story

[@SRDhain]

Masterful writing, acting, direction and editing here. And it's Peter Falk's exhalation at the end as he shakes his head to deliver the denouement, that seals it 👌

[@alexzanaldi6572]

a memorable episode from columbo. RIP Peter Falk and RIP Robert Conrad. i cannot believe that these people are gone................

[@KaranSharma-lm6eh]

people get old and eventually die.

[@jardinehouse88]

absolutely brilliant...one of my favorite episode...throughout the show, Conrad was toying with Columbo and at the end, Columbo nailed to the wall with his own alibi. Current shows can't even match the shows from that era

[@thephantom4661]

This is the first Columbo I ever watched and been hooked ever since. The laces was just pure genius.

[@NARUTOS.CLANSS]

Same, this was also the first episode I ever watched and this ending scene got me hooked

[@JacobGunner]

This was my dad's favorite episode, and it all came down to this confrontation. I didn't care for this show as a kid but it really grew on me over the years and this definitely was a great episode.

[@noeldown1952]

I like how pretty much none of Columbo's reveals have any chance of standing in court. It's the ridiculousness and the escapism of the whole thing that kind of makes it magical.

[@johnsmith23ist]

What do you mean… he has evidence

[@OmegaRC59]

I think his goal more than standing in court is just getting them arrested in suspicion of the crime, which would open the police up to more intrusive investigation

[@AzguardMike]

the evidence is circumstancial. The shoes were tied by someone. And Janus said that the victim told him on the phone he was off to the gym. VERY circumstancial.

[@greenmonsterprod]

@@AzguardMike But phone records will show that the call was faked. Columbo already proved Janus' earlier alibi (getting his car fixed) was a lie. He has the edited reel of tape. A look at Janus' books will show that he was ripping off his customers. Columbo has enough for an arrest, and the evidence collected for the trial will send Janus away forever.

[@StreetFighter2010]

It was the same with Matlock. He gets enough evidence to arrest the suspect and dig deeper. They will eventually nail him.

[@kathconserv]

“It can only be you; by your own admission!”

[@derickennedy6278]

“You tried to contrive a perfect alibi, sir, and it’s your perfect alibi that’s gonna hang you.” That was the clinch for Colombo!

[@benkeel2966]

These writers were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant

[@zhongwa]

Saw this when it first aired and I was a little kid. From that night to the present day, every time I tie my shoes, I remind myself you can always tell the first loop, because it's the top loop.

[@tnargskoorb1]

Ha ha me too. Exactly. It’s the one scene I remembered from all the shows.

[@jamesolojo787]

Janus is worried about his expensive desk when he is going to spend 25 years in the slammer🤔

[@yurets1234]

Murder in the first degree. They can give life imprisonment.

[@johnboothe6398]

Where he will be reunited with Artemus Gordon.

[@Heart2HeartBooks]

Where in California they actually have a prison industry that in fact...............Makes desks!

[@sce2aux464]

@@Heart2HeartBooks - I just love that.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

The writers on this show were amazing too.

[@SKF358]

I find this one of the most complicated Columbo solutions. I need to view it even again, after so many times, to understand it solidly.

[@truefilm6991]

Yep, took me a moment too. The inverted shoelaces reveal that someone else put on the sneakers. So there couldn't have been a phone conversation with the victim still alive, stating he was in his gym outfit, about to work out. There was no way the murderer had this information (victim in his gym clothes at a certain time). This together with the elaborately staged phone call, edited audio tape and removed phone light bulb, is very heavy evidence.

[@villiamo3861]

@@truefilm6991 Excellent - it's that point about us all now being forced by the shoelace facts to agree that there couldn't have been that gym-clothes conversation that is so easy to overlook when you're doubting how damning the final reveal is... ie those who say the suspect could still argue 'he was getting ready for the bar bells and told me he was in gym clothes' seen to be missing the fact that the culprit himself had by now stated that Columbo had proved somebody else dressed the victim. Thanks.

[@AnthonyP118]

This is an episode i watched but had forgotten the solution to the case. Thanks for uploading it's been bugging me ever since the first upload from the episode.

[@Comkill117]

“You tried to contrive a perfect alibi, and it’s that alibi that’s going to hang you.” is such a brutal line.

[@billvetter5328]

the crumpled-up brown bag with his lunch and sneaker is a great little nuance of this scene.

[@francisbacon7738]

I love the way he keeps calling the murderer sir after he has proved his case.

[@edwardbliss8931]

He lulls you into thinking he's a bumbling fool when in fact he has an IQ of 200

[@michaellorusso4912]

+Edward Bliss: Has this been confirmed ?

[@geraltofrivia9424]

If not more

[@jeanrobertwongtitshing8227]

sometimes I wonder how Colombo was able to face the criminals and challenged them without carrying any guns on him.

[@ovnigaz]

It was a different time

[@generaldistain420]

Some of the perpetrators had weapons actually , it was just intelligence

[@captmurdock]

@@generaldistain420 One time, the murderer (Susan Clark) actually leveled a gun on Columbo, late at night at her home. He basically shakes his head and says, "Nah, you're too classy a lady for that. Besides, the policeman outside that door might shoot ya." She surrenders, gives him the gun, and agrees to meet her lawyer down at the police station. Columbo goes out the door -- there's no cop there. 😁

[@etinarcadiaego3296]

Another one tries to poison him.

[@mazeppa1231]

@@etinarcadiaego3296 I remember that. One even tried to get his dogs to kill him. The thing with Columbo however, is that he doesn't just face these criminals, but he comes there prepared.

[@mathewcipriano4794]

Wow the suspense in that scene was incredible! They really don't make them like they used to!

[@davidmarshall5596]

There will never be a better detective than columbo simply because Peter falk was ' perfect ' playing the character that simply was excellent bar non ..

[@keithjones6023]

Could agree more! 👍

[@ivanppillay914]

Absolutely, David! They can go on, through eternity, re-making Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Pierrot and all the others. But please, don't touch COLUMBO. Never! That would simply be sacrilegious: a violation of that which is pure and sacred. Do not interfere with pure art. That would be mutiliation. 'Twould be akin to somebody trying to re-paint the Mona Lisa.

[@jmaxxtv9912]

This, RIGHT HERE, is why you should never buy shoes with Velcro straps...Nobody would be able to solve your murder! Ahhh, I love this episode...

[@david10101961]

Good point Jeff! One of my favorite episodes also. Some trivia....... 1. A clue that even the writers themselves somehow overlooked: if you watch carefully when the murder is committed, Gene's fingerprints exist on one end of the barbell only. Therefore when the police find the barbell, they should immediately realize that it couldn't have been an accident; the barbell must have been placed there, proof of murder. 2. Some fun by the writers, pre-empting that the ending would involve shoelaces: Columbo breaks a shoelace earlier while outside Milo's house; and also the auditor's name is Lace-y.

[@karenevans9912]

This is the best show ever why can't we see it on regular tv every night at 8pm i love Colombo

[@keithjones6023]

I watch Columbo all the time (just ask my wife) 😏

[@willhay6148]

Mark Ruffalo reminds me of Peter Falk. They should write more episodes and give him the part of Columbo. He's a good actor.

[@ivanppillay914]

@@willhay6148 : Never! That would be sacrilegious: a violation of that which is pure and sacred. Do not interfere with pure art. That would be mutiliation. 'Twould be akin to somebody trying to re-paint the Mona Lisa.

[@willhay6148]

@@ivanppillay914 I love Falk too but life moves on. New scripts could be written...it could be set in the 70s etc... you saying you wouldn't watch it?

[@ivanppillay914]

@@willhay6148 : Dear Will Yes, new scripts could always be churned out ten-a-penny. But who, who would play the role like Peter Falk? Nobody! Not in a million years, not through eternity and beyond ... I understand the talk about "change" and "life moving on" and all that kinda thing. But, in truth, some things, like rare and priceless works of art, never change! And Peter Falk, as "Columbo". is a rare and priceless work of art! He has immortalized "Columbo". Let him be, forever! Let all those creative and highly acclaimed geniuses of modernity conjure up something new; something innovative, something that will fire and capture the collective imagination of this new generation. Let's stop this talk of re-making "Columbo". Let's show respect for an event - nay, a monumental institution - that took place only once in the history of detective fiction in television. Please. Think about the burden that the new, Lieutenant Columbo would have to bear: the never-ending comparisions, the razor-sharp barbs from the critics, the sheer embarrassment of a "dwarf" attempting to fit into a "giant's robes". Have some pity on that poor, prospective actor attempting to imitate the one and only Peter Falk. Finally: I would NEVER watch a re-make if that spine-chilling proposition ever became a reality. They'd have to murder me to make me watch. Peace!

[@S070-g8q]

He is so unassuming and easygoing. He seems to be fixated on insignificant things, and is sniggered at and doubted. Until he proves the guilt. It's part of his game, to put the perps off their guard. Brilliant!

[@michaelbarlow6610]

You have to admire and applaud the late, great actor Peter Falk's ability to explain a lot of intricate details/clues - without making any verbal mistakes which would require refilming the concluding scenes in the episodes of the TV series "Columbo" - that prove conclusively that the prime suspect in a case committed the criminal act!

[@art.demirjian9721]

Very-very interesting conclusion. I just find it very educational - ⭐One single insignificant very small detail plays the vital roll to solve the investigation⭐

[@SBaby]

4:50 - This is one of my most remembered scenes from all of Columbo, when he starts talking about the big toe and little toe.

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

What an awesome scene, had me hook line and sinker, great stuff!

[@patricktuorto]

"That's just my lunch that doesn't mean nothin" Classic Columbo!

[@cw1294]

RC had beautiful blue eyes, my forever Wild Wild West crush

[@mumblesbadly7708]

The way Columbo corners the murderer in this episode is, IMO, unmatched in the history of Columbo episodes.

[@mitchanhiranuma9030]

My favorite and a masterpiece episode!

[@grmpf]

6:11 This should replace the Nickelback meme.

[@RFC-3514]

I actually tie my shoelaces the other way around, because the resulting bow falls nicely to the sides (whereas if you tie it the way Columbo did, it tends to end up vertical, or slanted).

[@kenwittlief255]

if the laces point at your toes and leg, you tied a granny-knot bow - and it wont hold

[@RFC-3514]

It holds fine, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people using it. It's the same knot, just mirrored (which is why Columbo concludes it was done by someone else - which is statistically a reasonable assumption, but by no means 100% guaranteed).

[@taidghusflynnius]

​@@RFC-3514Thing is, the victims other shoes were found and they were tied the right way

[@r0bw00d]

I use a Berlutti knot. It's meant for dress shoes, but it's a strong double knot that lies flat against the shoe and never loosens or comes undone.

[@Cha-y412]

This is one of the best written episodes.

[@lisabradford8180]

one of my favorite episodes💖👍

[@fasteddie9867]

ditto. Season 4 was the best IMHO. Conrad made a great murderer.

[@KSMvidcast]

Me as a kid watching these episodes while staying home from school while sick: "Fun!" Me 30 years later watching as an adult: "Genius." Love this show.

[@josephscott1292]

Ok one thing I love about this is how most detectives follow absurd chains of logic that frankly no human could even grasp at, and whilst Columbo is certainly much smarter than me, his deduction process feels like something an actual human being could do. He actually feels realistic.

[@kenowens9021]

Peter Falk went on the Tonight Show and told everyone that the writers' solution was ingenious and yet simple.

[@Wh173c0c0]

I think that this was the first whole episode of Columbo that I actually saw. I caught the tail end of another (the one with the cigar box bomb, I think?) and wanted to see what this show was all about. Another one was playing afterwards and I decided to give it a try. What a great choice that was. I found a lost gem that everyone should try to watch once. Between the writing, the actors (Peter freaking Falk!), and the structure of the show, everything feels so good. So many police shows try to be fast-paced and exciting. Columbo isn't scared of taking ten minutes on a single scene, just to establish one or two facts. It makes everything feel much more realistic and gets you immersed in the moment. Hats off to everyone who made this great show for us all to enjoy for years to come, and props to everyone here who has found it.

[@hauntedbytheliving1175]

Real ending: “...I already told you, on the phone he said he had was just about to lift barbells, so I had assumed he’d changed clothes”

[@ahapka]

It's those types of things a defense attorney would use in court. Great solution, but a good defense attorney could put enough doubt into a jury that a jury won't want to find him guilty. And since the guilty person doesn't have to testify, the attorney could make that argument.

[@hauntedbytheliving1175]

@@ahapka I totally agree… my point was merely that it would never even have to get THAT far. In the situation provided in the show I demonstrated a simple exculpatory explanation the villain could have used. I love the show but this “gotcha moment” is pretty weak because he could have simply replied that he merely assumed the victim had changed into his gym clothes. 👍🏻

[@donniehollingsworth1611]

Yep most of Columbo’s finales are sensationalized for that tv effect gotcha moment and then the murderer is so awed or wrought with guilt or overwhelmed with the proof they cooperate and give themselves up when in reality they would laugh their way to court, lawyer up and the proof would be shot full of holes snd doubt by a half witted attorney much less.a fully competent one

[@donniehollingsworth1611]

The sworn testimony that Columbo read back though and asked Janus to verify at the end was true was that he said he had changed his clothes already and was about to work out

[@arthaiser]

@@donniehollingsworth1611 i mean.. is not only the clothes thing, there is also the tape thing, the shoes thing... all of them add up to something in mu opinion

[@kenw.1112]

Peter Falk was so dam good! .LOVE COLUMBO , EVERY EPISODE. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER DETECTIVE SHOW LIKE THIS EVER. IT IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT! R.I.P. PETER FALK .

[@michaeltoebe1851]

Thoroughness, sustained curiosity, attention to detail, patience and a great at putting together the puzzle.

[@se7entv261]

Robert Conrad ans Peter Falk are awesome

[@terencemckenna6468]

Robert Conrad’s last name is Falk too. I wonder if he’s related to Peter Falk.

[@garryberman894]

I've been a Columbo fanatic since it originally aired in the '70s. But I also highly recommend the British show "Death in Paradise" which has a seemingly unsolvable murder every episode, with a very relatable and endearing lead detective character (there have been several throughout the series' run) and his small police department, and who suddenly gets his moment of inspiration for solving the murder in the last 10 minutes, then gathers the suspects before revealing how the real murderer did it. You'll NEVER figure it out until he lays out the scenario - and, it's filmed in Guadalupe in the Caribbean, so the scenery is always gorgeous.

[@AEaston]

“This is a warrant. This gives me the right.” Excellent

[@shellsbignumber2]

Another classic got you moment from Columbo.

[@LudaMas-b6k]

Colombo will live for ever. Wonderful Peter Falk made his mark in the history of cinematography

[@DemonicAkumi]

Today I learn that I've unconsciously been making the loop on my show on the left side 1st because I'm left handed. I never noticed until replaying how I tie my shoes in my head while watching this clip.

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

Absolutely zero chance circumstantial evidence like this convicts anyone with a half-decent lawyer.

[@Terryh681]

The sad truth is that many have been convicted and put to death on less convincing circumstantial evidence--but as you say, with not so decent lawyers, juries and judgges.

[@peyuko5960]

4:32 I thought he was about to say "That's impossible Mr. Janus, because I was working out my calves at that very same club"

[@christoperbazen5912]

To great actors they don't come like that anymore.

[@christoperbazen5912]

Two of the best😉

[@tomandkaren157]

Ok Colombo, I know you are gonna get me now! There’s only 5 minutes left in the show. Go ahead take me away.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

Beautiful! Yes!

[@JIMuser-vh3Zxx]

An absolute fantastic genius series with great personality of Peter Faulk

[@kevindorland738]

Gifted writers. Great acting.

[@MrDannyArroyo]

Columbo breaking down how the murderer committed murder mixed in with chilling music... perfection.

[@garystrittmater8258]

I remember watching this episode when it wasn't a rerun, especially the ending!

[@darranreilly972]

I think I've watched every Columb.. Through my old mam... One off the best I got ya... R. I P.. Peter Falk

[@Florkl]

"What gives you the right? "This gives me the right." Columbo had his gloves off here, and was enjoying every second.

[@MonkTVOfficial]

I am satisfied to watch his face! Bravo Columbo!

[@pilbomags488]

Columbo's shoes are awesome. I want a pair.

[@dannydinosaur73]

Those really are Peter Falk's shoes. He used his own wardrobe when he filmed Columbo. 😂

[@KhorenMusic77]

Columbo is just too good. It was interesting to watch 20 years ago and it’s still interesting to watch now

[@EmmettXIV]

0:48 to this day, if you get a call and it says, "Hello, can you hear me?" do not say, Yes

[@CMEAGAIN]

I loved acting in this episode, on of my all time favorites

[@Balagoola]

Of course, I had to do the shoe experiment after watching this. The first loop is most certainly on top.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

I must say that is the nicest pre-fab offices I've ever seen of the era, even the artwork on the walls which isn't normally of my taste is nice & colorful & I wouldn't mind having it. Grass wallpaper was popular then too. It could have had green or orange background but there it's just brown. Of course, Robert Conrad was quite a fine specimen of manhood himself. Now I'll go back & rewatch the amazing Columbo take him apart. 😁

[@art.demirjian9721]

🌟🌟Mental Sensation🌟🌟 Allows me to watch the final clip of Colombo again and again and again - without getting my complete satisfaction. That is what indicates the value of an act of a movie.

[@thenicklas615]

One of the best endings to a Columbo episode.

[@kenowens9021]

After shooting the final scene, Falk went on the Tonight Show and was so excited about the final clue with the shoelaces. He actually gave away the final ending of the show that night.

[@johnfinnegan8474]

This is classic. Columbo is pulling the same ruse on him as he pulled on his Secretary back at the party in his house, to maker her think Gene Stafford was still alive when she answered the phone and heard his voice at the other end. In the end the perfect alibi he tried to contrive was going to nail him, because he swore in his statement Stafford was in his gym clothes, when the last time anybody else saw him he was in his business clothes. Only the murderer could know that.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

Hey, Lt. Duffy! Great to hear from ya. You still like Artie Jessup as the Bel-Air Burglar?

[@kamma44]

But wasn't the alibi that Stadford spoke to Janus on the phone that night and told him he was going to work out?! Therefore Janus could have inferred that Stadford would change into his gym clothes without having to actually see him?!

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@kamma44 No. Janus specifically said in his sworn statement that Stafford had told him in the [fake] phone call that he had already changed into his gym clothes. Columbo specifically read it, and twice asked Janus to confirm if he was sure that Stafford had specifically said in the phone call that he'd already changed into his gym clothes. Both times he said yes, the second time emphatically ["Yes DAMMIT that's what I said!] Well, that is impossible since it was proven sometime AFTER Stafford was last seen alive at 7:30pm in a locked building, in which he was alone, but BEFORE the body was discovered, somebody else put Stafford's gym shoes on. That in and of itself doesn't incriminate Janus. However, when that fact is COMBINED with Janus insisting in his sworn statement [and Columbo gave ample opportunity to modify that; if he wanted to change it to say that Stafford never actually said he'd changed into his gym clothes and he only assumed he did, that's when he should've done it] that when he talked to Stafford, Gene actually said to Milo that he'd already changed into his gym clothes, that means that Janus changed the shoes and therefore had to have changed the clothes.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

one thing that tipped him off was that the Secretary doesn't go to Janus's house so he had to invite her to the movie party to use the office tapes of Stafford saying her name .......second thing was her statement that Mr Stafford didn't act surprised when she answered the phone at Janus's house ....

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@stellertonybeller1972 Absolutely, and Jessica actually mentions to Columbo that the night Gene died it was the first time she'd ever been there.

[@chrisdell5679]

Imagine Perry Mason cross examining Columbo.

[@wrestlingconnoisseur]

I think that phone demonstration would have been more effective in a court of law than to reinforce Columbo's apparently monstrous ego.

[@markvery65]

Looooove that scene! 👟 One of my favorites! 😃

[@Mr._POV_]

Anything you say can be used against you in the Court of law.

[@kevinwearing7720]

Grew up family nights watching this show. Best tv detective in my humble opinion. Peter Falk at his finest

[@goback3spaces]

That's my lunch. Doesn't mean anything.

[@TheStuport]

Speaking of "fixing tapes"....check out the voice over of Peter Falk @ 1:03 when Peter voices over the original with "Mrs. Stafford two months ago"....

[@raymondbd21]

Funny how KZbin has been recommending me one clip per day. It feels like I watched the whole episode over the last week.

[@JOHNN01.82]

The shoe lace being tied backwards wouldn't hold up in court

[@lightblueandyellow3566]

Today, but today there would be other evidences such as dna, mobile phone location etc

[@Insipid42]

I think it's a very solid case. It's not just the shoes, although it would hold up in court once the wife testified he was right handed. However there's more there's the spliced tape, there's the removed bulb, there's his lies about visiting the dealer. There's his hinky bookkeeping and the wife testifying about how he was on to him. There's even the taped phone conversations of the hostility Milo had towards him. For some reason people seem to think that "in real life" Columbo would never convict anyone and that a decent lawyer would tear him apart. People with good lawyers do go to jail, they do get convicted. Granted, there are some episodes where the evidence is sketchy at best. No port in a storm is one. If the killer didn't confess, I would say he'd probably get off. Although his murder of his brother is by far the most sadistic the man did seem somewhat consumed with guilt. The confession was played almost like relief by the great Donald Pleasence. However this one, I think is a very solid case.

[@edpoe4591]

all the bad guys in denial ." I didn't do it " Columbo was like " oh yeah you did " 💯

[@wigg1yscott554]

1:00 I wonder what happened here? Damaged audio needed re-dubbing? You can clearly hear a different instance of Peter Falks voice here. "Mrs Stafford 2 months ago".

[@ROLLER__MOBSTER]

Everyone gangster until Colombo says "Oh, and one more thing."

[@justoldog]

Considering how quickly our society is getting stupider and stupider, this sort of thing will soon be a thing of the past. Idiocracy, here we come.

[@kevinhealey6540]

I wrote to him back in the 70s when his show was on the top and I asked for his autograph. I got back a glossed photo of him as Columbo with his autograph.

[@GlennDavey]

3:32 When they swallow, they know they've been caught

[@briandzwoniarek8952]

thing about columbo is.. if the perps just lawyered up and stayed silent, no one would ever get caught.

[@smalltown4855]

he's only gone and done it again. magic

[@Lennie-d3i]

Outside of Perry Mason and Andy Griffith show. Columbo is my favorite program. 😃

[@proberts34]

I've always been a huge fan of the 1970's Columbo series since I was a kid. They weren't whodunnit stories, but howdunnit stories and, for some reason, that always appealed to me. Also, I always liked Peter Falk's portrayal of Lt. Columbo. Now, FWIW. . . there's a flaw in Columbo's logic in this case. Let's assume we're working with the left shoe in the following discussion, as Columbo did in his presentation. The initial loop being over the big toe for right-handed people isn't necessarily true. The location of the initial loop is more a product of how someone learned to tie shoes, rather than which hand is their dominant one. I tie my shoes exactly as Columbo did in his demonstration (loop in the left hand and then swoop around with the right shoelace), but I'm left-handed. . . and my initial loop also ends up over my big toe. On a related note, I can't use left-handed scissors. They're weird. 😉 Anyhow, any reasonably good attorney could dispute Columbo's assertion and get an acquittal about right-handed knot tying, like Johnny Cochran did with the OJ glove ("If it doesn't fit, you must acquit"). Thus Robert Conrad is found not guilty and gets away with murder!

[@LaBarata12]

To be fair, he did compare the other pair of Mr. Stafford’s shoes to prove that they were opposite to the gym shoes and confirm his hypothesis

[@proberts34]

@@LaBarata12 True, and I agree. A couple weeks ago when I watched the episode for the first time in years, I agree that Columbo does point that out, thus negating my assertion. 😃