Season 4, Episode 1, Columbo - An Exercise in Fatality (1974)

Season 4, Episode 1, Columbo - An Exercise in Fatality (1974)
 
 
This episode was directed by Bernard Kowalski, and written by Peter Fischer, Larry Cohen, and William Levinson. 

The three best outfits in this episode are: 
 
1) Jessica Conroy and Milo Janus' swimwear: 
 

 

She's in the cutest white cherry bikini with platform wedge heels. 
 



 Rocking it. 
 

 

Milo sports these red with navy stripe swim trunks: 
 

 
 
There's a buttoned key pocket on the side and white piping.  We have sold a few dozen of these over the years at Skippy Haha Vintage. The most common brands of these are Islander, Laguna, Morro Bay, Breakers, and Catalina. 

They are awesome outdoors


And indoors


Paired with the ankh symbol for eternal life necklace, giving Columbo unmarked pills he calls "breakfast" which Columbo swallows right down with some carrot juice. 
 
Those are two super bathing suits.


2) We only see them barely, for a moment, but two guests at Milo's "x-rated and uncut" horror movie screening party are wearing a ribbed red turtleneck dress with incredible, stunning, we need to see much more of this floor- length rainbow skirt
 

 
and an orange and yellow ombre gradient stripe tank dress
 

 
which really deserve medals.
 
 
 
3) Milo's disco diamond plaid short sleeve button down with tight pants: 
 


 
He's wearing a brown maroon diagonal plaid psychedelic polyester butterfly collar short sleeve disco button down shirt, and the ankh symbol on a gold chain. This is an incredible shot and his tight outfit projects his strength. 
 

Honorable mention for fashion goes out to Buddy Castle's black and red plaid suit:

 
 
Those are some BOLD black, red, and white plaid pants, black shirt, red tie, and a denim western blazer. Pretty fly. 
 
Honorable mention to one of the few times Columbo is seen wearing anything but his suit and rain coat. Here he is on a health kick in a crewneck raglan sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. They appear to be heavyweight cotton. 
 

 


 Also honorable mention to the fact that clothing solved this crime: 
 


 
How DID Milo know Gene was in gym clothes if he didn't change the clothes?
 
Close up on the sneakers and shoelaces: 
 

 

The funniest moments in this episode are when Ruth Stafford throws wine in Milo's face
 

 And Columbo talking about Mrs. Columbo's workout routine: 



Also hilarious is Columbo waiting for the results for his coded request from the Tri-Con computer system: 



 
 
 It takes a long time in its dot matrix printing and he is bemusedly impatient
 




Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow, tons of vintage clothes in this one.
September 28, 2023 at 5:53 AM
CC&L said…
Yes! Second in poll options only to "Requiem for a Falling Star" S2E5 with Edith Head and Anne Baxter!
September 28, 2023 at 2:54 PM
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