"Columbo" Double Exposure (1973)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Stephen J. Cannell (written by)
Richard Levinson (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Columbo" (1971)

Original Air Date:

16 December 1973 (Season 3, Episode 4)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A self-styled "motivation research specialist" uses subliminal cues to commit a murder. Lt. Columbo is on the case.

Plot Keywords:

Alibi | Murder | Police Detective | Crime Investigation | Investigation

Cast

Peter Falk	...	Columbo
Robert Culp	...	Dr. Bart Keppel
Robert Middleton	...	Vic Norris
Chuck McCann	...	Roger White
Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Norris
Arlene Martel	...	Tanya (as Arlene Martell)
Danny Goldman	...	Press photographer
John Milford	...	1st Detective
George Wyner	...	Film Editor
Richard Stahl	...	Ballistics man
Francis De Sales	...	Patterson (as Francis DeSales)
Alma Beltran	...	Housekeeper
Dennis Robertson	...	Detective Marley
Harry Hickox	...	2nd Detective
Ann Driscoll	...	Mrs. Halstead

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied)

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The stage and theatre where Dr. Kepple shows his movie with subliminal cuts in "Double Exposure", with its gold curtain and distinctive stairs at stage right, is the same place where Dr. Mason delivers his motivational speech in "Columbo: How to Dial a Murder (#7.4)" (1978).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Columbo had those photos of himself shot to splice them into the 35mm movie print, to lure out the murderer. The photos taken are 35mm slides (he shows them framed) and Columbo only stated that he had them processed and spliced into the film. Problem: Those slides would have to be converted into 35mm cine film frames. 35mm cine film runs vertical as opposed to the horizontal stills camera film. So the slides had to be rotated 90 degrees, reduced in size, the edges chopped to fit into the standard 35mm full frame "academy" aspect ratio (the movie shown was not wide-screen but rather "academy", similar to standard 16mm or Super8mm. In the 1970s, test screenings used a mechanically linked soundtrack (either 35mm or 17.5mm with 35mm sprocket holes, as opposed to the final optical (or magnetical) soundtrack-on-film, so the soundtrack and in-sync wouldn't be affected by the splice as long as no frames are missing. This all takes place in LA where all kinds of specialized labs are, but still, this is a very complex procedure involving highly specialized optical step printer facilities. Can't find those in a matter of hours, not even in LA.

Quotes:

Lt. Columbo: I had an uncle who made a killing in real estate up in San Dimas. Know what he did before he started sellin' dirt? Drove a school bus. Now he owns a ranch, a couple of Cadillacs, sends out embossed Christmas cards.

Movie Connections:

References High Plains Drifter (1973)

Culp carries this one

I recommend for any Columbo fan or a novice to watch any episode which stars the late great Jack Cassidy or Robert Culp, and see how they portray arrogant murderers and how they attempt to bully Columbo with their charm and elegance. This episode has an interesting hook as Bart Kepple is a mastermind at subliminal messages, for which he wrote several books about; he uses this technique to commit murder, although I doubt any genius would murder someone while others are watching a film just a few feet away, but I digress. Culp has the ability to take over any episode he's in(like Cassidy), as his personality is engaging or his temper is usually over-the-top with the detective, who takes the abuse for a while. This particular episode has interesting characters, subliminal tricks, plus a supermarket and golf course! All kidding aside, I would say this is one of the better directed episodes of the entire series, and has what I consider one the better conclusions as well, which I won't spoil, but it is satisfying.

As I normally write with any solid review, I post what had a negative vibe to this reviewer. My only problem is how arrogant murderers act in front of Columbo, including Culp. If I committed murder, I would damn well act innocent and not bully any detective questioning me; Culp, Cassidy, and other killers act this way and it's unrealistic.