Mean-looking Rip Torn is never better on screen than when handed a deliciously evil villain to play. In this recent Columbo TV movie he visibly relishes his role as swinish, too-clever-by-half society jeweller Leon Lamarr, who, facing bankruptcy, sees murder as the solution to his problems. As played by Torn, the character is the type that provokes, and deserves, pantomime villain hisses every time he appears in a scene. Peter Falk, of course, could play the seemingly gauche and definitely crumpled detective Lt Columbo in his sleep.


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