Columbo: It's All in the Game

Omg. Finally a guest star worthy of playing a Columbo villain. Fay Dunaway brings an intensity to her role usually reserved for only the very best villains on vintage Columbo. Here the villain is very likable. Fay Dunaway brings class and her great acting chops to the role. Fabulous edge of your seat drama. The story wastes no time getting right to it which is sometimes a problem with the later columbo movies. Too much filler. Here not a minute is wasted !! Fabulous chemistry between Fay and Peter Falk. Columbo really feels for her and knows he has to do what he must, but reluctantly. Superb.

Best moment : Fay buys a tie for Columbo and plants one on him. A kiss that is.

Faye Dunaway guest stars as Lauren Staton, a beautiful, well-to-do woman who, along with a younger woman named Lisa Martin(played by Claudia Christian) kill a two-timing man named Nick Franco(played by Armando Pucci) who had been seeing them both. They make it look like a burglary gone wrong, but Lt. Columbo(Peter Falk) finds oddities in the case that bother him, which leads to the surprising development of Lauren openly flirting with Columbo in order to distract him from the case! Will the good Lt. fall from grace and betray his beloved Mrs. Columbo, or is it indeed all in the game? Dunaway is magnificent here, and entirely believable. Viewer may be made a bit uncomfortable by the apparent (protracted) seduction, but this well showcases Columbo's canny mind, which leads to a memorable ending.

I have always been a great fan of Columbo, especially of the pre-1989 episodes. Of the latter day episodes(1989 all the way up to 2003) It's All in the Game is one of the best, Ashes to Ashes and A Bird in the Hand I love just as much, and Agenda for Murder and Death Hits the Jackpot are equally worthy. It looks great, with beautiful locations and fashions and stylish photography. The music is moody and fitting, the writing is classy and sophisticated and while I initially found the story on the convoluted side I can now think of few latter-day Columbo episodes that had a story as clever and compelling as this one. But it is not a Columbo without Columbo himself, the guest villain and the rapport between them, and not only due the rapport scenes sizzle with tension and class but Peter Falk and Faye Dunnaway are both brilliant. All in all, one of the finest of the later episodes and worthy of the pre-1989 episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

It's All in the Game is one of the more fascinating of the latter-day Columbo movies for three reasons: 1. Peter Falk wrote this episode. 2. Faye Dunaway plays a character who flirts with the Leutenant in order to distract him from his suspicions. 3. Columbo almost seems to fall for her. As another poster mentioned, I did see some kind of lesbian subtext in an early scene between Dunaway's character and that of Claudia Christian's in the latter's apartment before the big reveal at the end. Also appearing were Bill Macy as the building super and Shelley Morrison, years before playing Karen's maid in Will and Grace, as the murdered victim's maid who is amusing showing Falk how she cleans the refrigerator. So the Leutenant likes peanut butter and raisins. O-k-a-y! Highly amusing and suspenseful and Ms. Dunaway deserved her Emmy. Definitely recommended for Columbo fans.

Dunaway is astonishing in this, luminous, you cant take your eyes of her. The production values are tremendous, ,cinematography and editing are excellent, but it's the pacing that really makes this episode and the series as a whole work so well. There is the patient unhurried unveiling of evidence and plot , but this episode is different to the others because its the relationship between the two leads that keeps you involves as much as the story. and Falk as always is super. This really stands the test of time, superior television with a unique feel and tone, very different to everything we have now, do yourself a favour and take this in.