Identity Crisis
- Episode aired Nov 2, 1975
- TV-PG
- 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
A top CIA operative commits murder, as only a brilliant agent can, never guessing he'll have to contend with a man like Lt. Columbo.A top CIA operative commits murder, as only a brilliant agent can, never guessing he'll have to contend with a man like Lt. Columbo.A top CIA operative commits murder, as only a brilliant agent can, never guessing he'll have to contend with a man like Lt. Columbo.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Patrick McGoohan, also guest starring as an intelligence agent, inserted many references to his cult TV series, The Prisoner (1967), including saying "Be seeing you!" and, in one scene, wearing an outfit almost identical to that which had been his standard costume in the earlier program.
- GoofsWhen Columbo checks with the photo booth regarding identifying photos, he is shown color Polaroid prints from a pack-film camera and is told they have the negatives as well. The only Polaroid packs which produce a printable negative are in B&W (and the negatives he is shown are indeed B&W). Also, when they see Brenner's face more clearly in the second (color) photo, this isn't possible because a Polaroid can't take two pictures in such rapid succession.
- Quotes
Lt. Columbo: What do you have to do to win one of them things?
Shooting gallery attendant: Knock down the ducks ten out of ten.
Lt. Columbo: Yeah, my wife would go for that.
Shooting gallery attendant: Oh, no, sir, Lieutenant. Hey... hey, you're a pro.
Lt. Columbo: Aw, forget about it. If I'm standing on the dock, I couldn't hit the water.
- ConnectionsReferences Secret Agent X-9 (1945)
- SoundtracksUn bel di vedremo
(uncredited)
from Madama Butterfly
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Heard over the End Credits
Featured review
"Identity Crisis" (1975)
PLOT: A VIP CIA operative and double agent (Patrick McGoohan) finds it necessary to murder a colleague (Leslie Nielsen) and make it look like a random night mugging at a pier. Otis Young, David White and Vito Scotti appear in peripheral roles.
COMMENTARY: This was McGoohan's second of four appearances on Columbo as the antagonist. It was also the first of five episodes he directed. He and Falk were friends in real life and thus McGoohan's presence usually ensures a quality segment.
This is a longer Columbo outing at 1 hour, 37 minutes. It has the usual dialogue-driven cat-and-mouse and features the disheveled sleuth's penchant for details in his detective work, like meticulously going through random photos at an amusement park. Speaking of which, I like the location shooting at the park and pier, as well as the Middle Eastern-styled nightclub. As is typical, the murderer is arrogant and underestimates Columbo. On the downside, his motive is decidedly ambiguous.
The film scores pretty well on the female front with statuesque redhead Barbara Rhoades as a photographer at the amusement park and Angela May as the antagonist's secretary in a brief role, not to mention the winsome blonde girl at the carnival, played by Alicia Chambers.
GRADE: B
COMMENTARY: This was McGoohan's second of four appearances on Columbo as the antagonist. It was also the first of five episodes he directed. He and Falk were friends in real life and thus McGoohan's presence usually ensures a quality segment.
This is a longer Columbo outing at 1 hour, 37 minutes. It has the usual dialogue-driven cat-and-mouse and features the disheveled sleuth's penchant for details in his detective work, like meticulously going through random photos at an amusement park. Speaking of which, I like the location shooting at the park and pier, as well as the Middle Eastern-styled nightclub. As is typical, the murderer is arrogant and underestimates Columbo. On the downside, his motive is decidedly ambiguous.
The film scores pretty well on the female front with statuesque redhead Barbara Rhoades as a photographer at the amusement park and Angela May as the antagonist's secretary in a brief role, not to mention the winsome blonde girl at the carnival, played by Alicia Chambers.
GRADE: B
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- Wuchakk
- Sep 5, 2019
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