Peter Falk was wont to remark in this Columbo story about the security at Vera Miles's cosmetic business. You would think that the Defense Department was developing a new missile guidance system. But Miles and her close competitor Vincent Price eye each other suspiciously and both are rightly concerned with the competitor stealing trade secrets.
When one of her own chemists, a young Martin Sheen, tries to hold up Miles for some new development she kills him in a rage. That was understandable. Later on Miles kills Sian Barbara Allen in a more thoughtfully and premeditated murder for which by the way no one even suspects is a murder. Allen however was doubling as Price's secretary and her spy so not too much mourning is called for.
I have to say that Lt. Columbo got very lucky here. Contact with the murder weapon is the key here as both Columbo and Miles develop something in common.
Price got a wonderful role as a cosmetics mogul, a role he could really chew the scenery with. Miles is more controlled, but as we see quite deadly when she gets obstructed.
More luck than deduction brings our culprit to justice.
When one of her own chemists, a young Martin Sheen, tries to hold up Miles for some new development she kills him in a rage. That was understandable. Later on Miles kills Sian Barbara Allen in a more thoughtfully and premeditated murder for which by the way no one even suspects is a murder. Allen however was doubling as Price's secretary and her spy so not too much mourning is called for.
I have to say that Lt. Columbo got very lucky here. Contact with the murder weapon is the key here as both Columbo and Miles develop something in common.
Price got a wonderful role as a cosmetics mogul, a role he could really chew the scenery with. Miles is more controlled, but as we see quite deadly when she gets obstructed.
More luck than deduction brings our culprit to justice.