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Rest in Peace Mrs Columbo is not one of my favourites of the brilliant Columbo series, but I still find it a very good episode. While it does drag in the middle, it is one of the more fascinating later Columbos, having an intriguing flashback-driven story, clever dialogue that is both amusing and tense and some great scenes especially the restaurant scene and the ending. Rest in Peace Mrs Columbo looks beautiful too, with some atmospheric scoring, slick editing and crisp direction. Peter Falk perhaps has given better performances of the series, but he is still gleefully enjoyable, and Helen Shaver is excellent in her meaty and quite unhinged role. Support roles are taken by Ian McShane and Roscoe Lee Brown and both are among the more interesting support performances of the later episodes.

In conclusion, fascinating. 8/10 Bethany Cox

To all those who disregard or disdain every one of the late Columbos, I hate quite a few of them too. In fact, this one plays with the format as well, which is what caused so many of the others to be dreadful. But surprise, surprise, it not only worked this time, it turned into one of the greatest of all episodes, top 5 in my book. For starters, we have the old Columbo, reserved and serious but with a bunch of funny character quirks. None of the speaking like a senile old man, or explaining things like one does to a 3 year old child. The great dialogue is back. The french restaurant scene pitting Columbo against the Matre D' is hilarious and priceless. So is the chili scene with the waitress Gracie. The plot is brilliantly original, realistic (yes, there are psychopaths like that in the real world too). Helen Shaver, always underrated, is superb, grabbing every minute of her unusually long screen time and killing it. Her cat and mouse with Columbo is superb. And Columbo not only gets to do his usual great stuff as a sleuth, but also has to become a prime time actor, and does it splendidly. Finally, Roscoe Lee Browne is splendid as Dr. Steadman, and the scene in which he and Columbo do a dance act to get the necessary info without violating doctor/patient confidentiality is a joy to watch. If all that wasn't enough, the final two scenes are just riveting. Oh, did I mention that I really liked this movie?

This time the movie its main target is Lt. Columbo himself. He's being given a hard time by a lady, who's husband has died in jail after he had been convicted for murder. Of course the person that got him behind bars was Columbo himself. Now how has to watch out for his life and that of his own wife now that the woman is seeking revenge.

Sounds like a real formulaic thriller plot, which it is also is really. But the difference is that this plot is different from just the usual Columbo formula, though the movie still knows to maintain all of the typical Columbo movie ingredients. The movie is also being told slightly differently and is told in a flashback mode. Normally it doesn't work out too well when a Columbo tries out a new approach with its style and story but in this particular case it simply works out well, since it's so well constructed and effective. Even if this script would had been used for any other average non-Columbo affiliated movie it would had been just as good.

Columbo has always used his wife to gain the trust from his main suspects and you could even question if there really is a Mrs. Columbo, also since she is never shown in any of the movies. Yes, I know there is a short lived "Mrs. Columbo" series which focused on the lieutenant's wife solving crimes as a reporter but I doubt that it was the original creators intention that she would ever appear in life form. In this movie his wife plays a central element for the movie its story, (also hence the movie its title) even though she again never even appears in the movie itself.

Helen Shaver plays a great part within the movie. Rarely has a Columbo movie ever concentrated so much on the movie its killer and viewpoint. So it's a real carrying role, which she handles just fine. She is a capable actress who isn't the best known but she has played in some great movie productions throughout her career, though often in much smaller roles. She's also active as a director now days and has directed many episodes of some very successful series.

The movie is interesting because it differs with its main concept so much from any other Columbo movie and it is also great since it actually works out and has a solid script, that is nicely constructed and being told within the movie.

8/10

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as Columbo's nemesis. She portrays a realtor in Beverly Hills, and there are the usual amusing scenes with Columbo visiting her at work, ogling the mansions, asking what prices they go for. This Columbo episode as well as the older one with Janet Leigh ("The Forgotten Lady") are quite interesting as you see some of the old L.A. architecture, mansions and so forth.

Roscoe Lee Brown portrays Shaver's psychiatrist. As Columbo is asking him questions as to why someone would commit murder, he says; ..."sometimes it is revenge; I have been wronged, so now am entitled to do wrong"... Describing the thought patterns of a murderer.

I will not give away the ending. Suffice it to say, you will enjoy this episode. 9/10

This episode is one of the best 'new' Columbo-episodes. With perfect flashbacks the viewer sees how a insane woman is manipulating Columbo and trying to kill Mrs. Columbo and Columbo himself. The whole episode has an very sad atmosphere (especially the scenes of the funeral) but has also an happy end :) The Columbofans also learns a lot about the habits of Mrs. Columbo and that is also a nice thing. One of the best 1989's Columbo's. You must see it !!!

REST IN PEACE, MRS. COLUMBO is an atypical episode in the COLUMBO series and a not entirely successful one. Like UNDERCOVER and NO TIME TO DIE, it seeks to break the established format of the show - the format that made it so successful in the first place. The idea's a novel one, I'll give them that, but the execution here is only so-so.

What I did like was the idea of having the guest villain nursing a personal grievance against our detective hero. Helen Shaver isn't one of the series greats, but she does strive to embody her conniving character with depth and realism, so you have to give her that. The episode is also notable for featuring a couple of top character actors in support, namely Ian McShane and Roscoe Lee Browne. It's a pity they're both so underutilised.

What I did love was the way that the villain in this story makes it personal, but that's only in the last half an hour or so and the pacing is a little off before then. The middle section does feel dragged out. However, the Columbo's-family-in-peril stuff is great, and the last ten minutes in particular really picks things up for some exhilarating viewing. The bad thing about this is the structure, particularly the opening sequence with that confusing funeral which is returned to throughout the episode. It means that the story has to be segmented and told in flashback, which is just ridiculous (and why McShane would be at the funeral is anybody's guess). A more linear narrative and this might have been one of the most memorable episodes of the entire series.

This Columbo story departs from the usual format in that Columbo is always the outsider digging for facts to solve a murder. The perpetrators are always apart and are never a threat to Columbo personally.

But Helen Shaver is a different kettle of fish. She shoots Edward Winter who ratted out her late husband and Columbo is also in her sights as he was the investigating officer. Her husband convicted of fraud died in prison and Shaver spent some time in a mental health facility.

So while in a remarkable coincidence is the investigating detective on Winter's homicide she's getting close to him with murder on her mind. And if not him her target could be Mrs. Columbo.

So Peter Falk is playing quite a cat and mouse game with Shaver and both are seeing themselves as the cat.

A real good scene is Falk with psychiatrist Roscoe Lee Browne who treated Shaver. With doctor/patient privilege applying and Browne trying to enjoy his gourmet meal he does convey to Columbo the danger he and the wife could be in.

Shaver is one dangerous woman not to be missed.

I'm a massive Columbo fan, but the later episodes were somewhat hit and miss. This was one of the better ones, if not the best. It gets personal for Columbo when Mrs Dimitri - still grieving for her dead husband who Columbo arrested and put behind bars years ago - seeks revenge. I think from the title we know who she sets out to kill. But will Columbo see through her plan? Of course he will. Will we get to see Mrs Columbo? Of course not! Hugely enjoyable 7 out of ten

The raving reviews for this episode make me feel as though I didn't watch the same episode. I'll give it 6/10 for Peter Falk's sake and the brilliant scene at the posh restaurant where Columbo orders a sandwich. Other than that (& and after watching episodes of this series multiple times for over 35 years now) I think this is the worst episode ever. So much song and dance has to come from the final act that the build up to it is one long yawn. The Helen Shaver role is ridiculous in the obscene. The one and only episode that almost made me fall asleep 4 times. This material needed a much better crook. I need a strong dose of Robert Culp episodes now.

"Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" is a strange episode, as the format and style of the show is quite different from earlier shows. First, it's non-linear in format...bouncing back and forth in time. Second, you can hear the inner workings of some characters' minds as they attend a funeral...quite unique.

Vivian (Helen Shaver) is a screwball who harbors a grudge against Columbo. Apparently, some time ago, her husband committed a murder and Columbo was the man who brought the man to justice. After going to jail, Pete had a heart attack and Vivian puts all the blame on Columbo for her husband's death. To further emphasize that Vivian is mentally imbalanced, you hear a message on her voice mail from her psychiatrist* at the beginning of the show..

In order to get back at Columbo, Vivian concocts a complicated plot requiring her to kill a co-worker. At the same time, she creates a seemingly air-tight alibi for her actions at that time. Where exactly all this is going and why she felt a need to kill this innocent guy, you'll just have to see when you watch the show.

One thing my wife and I both noticed in the film is that there was a lot of filler and the thing could have been an hour...like the earlier "Columbo" episodes. The worst filler was the scene that made my skin crawl--when Vivian was dancing and writhing about as she projected a slide of her dead husband on the wall! Embarrassing and it went on way too long. We get it...she loved him! It also was VERY obvious that the lady wanted to meet Mrs. Columbo...and she mentioned this too often to Columbo and acted like she wanted to be friends with them...even after Columbo told her he knew who her husband had been. Strange, that's for sure and lacking subtlety.

So is it any good? Yes....just not compared to other episodes of "Columbo". The writing could have been better and subtlety was lacking. Perhaps I disliked it more because the mental illness issue could have been handled better. But I certainly did NOT think the show merited all the 9s and 10s it received in other reviews. In particular, the funeral scene was shot poorly..making such high scores . In early flashbacks, it's pouring rain on everyone...absolutely pouring. Yet, later they show the end of the service and although it's a bit wet and had apparently rained, the sky is blue and it's very sunny. Surely the funeral didn't last several hours and the sunny sky made no sense! Nor did they have giant blow dryers there to dry off all the folks there. Sloppy....though I really, really liked how Columbo traps the woman at the end...that was pretty cool.

*Obviously the person who wrote this show never consulted with a psychiatrist or psychologist. Had they done so, they NEVER would have had the phone message you hear on the show. The therapist (Roscoe Lee Browne) tells Vivian that she can call him at his office....or HOME. No therapist would ever give out their private home number to a patient and therapists actually do a lot to conceal their home address and phone number. As an ex-therapist, I can attest to this and I never, ever was inclined to give this information to any client. The only way he MIGHT give her the number is if they are having an affair....and there's no indication of this in the show.

I absolutely love the beginning. It's so brilliant and gripping from every other start to the movies.

PLOT: A successful realtor (Helen Shaver) seeks vengeance on the two men who put her beloved husband behind bars, where he eventually died. After taking care of one man, she focuses on Columbo's wife and the detective himself.

COMMENTARY: Shaver is fairly charismatic as the almost-40 murderess with a mad gleam in her eye. The funeral for Mrs. Columbo is sort of a fresh angle, albeit highly unbelievable. I say "sort of" because the disheveled detective has been known to stage scenes since the beginning, a la "Prescription: Murder" (1968) and "Negative Reaction" (1974).

If nothing else, it was nice to finally see a picture of the oft-mentioned "Missus." While this installment is a little overrated in some circles, it's certainly okay and has a couple of highlights, e.g. the chili scene with waitress Gracie and the French restaurant sequence which pits Columbo against a Maître D'.

GRADE: B-

Watch this one in black and white some time ... lovely.

When Vivien asked Charlie if she could turn off the TV, he would never have let her. He was a compulsive gambler and was watching a game he had a bet on. No Way! Also, the first goof on this says Columbo told Adrian, on another episide that he had kids means nothing! Has anyone ever heard of lying?????

Helen Shaver is terrific, as is the story, direction, writing, etc etc. It is nto the standard format but it definitely works. About the only problems with it are minor:

All of the "twists" are extremely easy to predict. That isn't even something I usually bother trying to do, but, in this, they were obvious.

Some of the goofs were hilarious.

She is in bed @ 2 am. She gets up and walks across the room. Surprise! Bright daylight through the window. She drives and ends up at home at no later than 3 am. She goes inside. Surprise! Bright daylight through the window.

She brags about her "English" lemon marmalade. They show the jar on the table. Surprise! It is Polaner.

Helen Shaver stars as Vivian Dimitri, a widow who lost her husband due to a heart attack in prison for murder because of his embezzling funds from his clients. Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) was the investigating detective on that (non-televised) case ten years earlier that arrested him, so Vivian enacts a two-part scheme of revenge that first sees her kill the man(played by Edward Winter) she knows informed on her husband, then making sure that Columbo is the one assigned to the case so she can kill Mrs. Columbo, then Columbo himself... Interesting variation on the formula with Shaver quite good, though the narrative structure makes the eventual outcome quite predictable.