Nothing to fancy, just pure detecting.“ Buy this episode. The Maestro does three things before he murders Jenifer that make absolutely no sense to me. He gets confused that she didn't leave her pet parrot with someone, and allowed it to die with her.

Also, we need not assume that all of Columbo’s evidence is presented in the story. The person he loved, (and he clearly did, as he killed the pianist for her, knows he’s a killer and doesn’t believe him anymore. The episode provides some hidden clues and we’ve found them. It’s sort of like going to a good party where everyone is sitting around a table talking. Étude in Black (1972) Plot Summary (5) A ruthless conductor murders the gifted pianist with whom he is having an affair. First broadcast: 1972 “A good all round Columbo. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I think he was dubbed by the cockatoo.I also note that the whole basis of the murder was: a famous, orchestral conductor having an extra-marital affair?!? I’m giddy! But you picked one up from the floor at Jennifer Welles’ house, points out Columbo. Cavett later revealed it was the worst and most frightening interview in his career. If Columbo knows otherwise he doesn’t say so, although it’s not the sort of detail that normally escapes him.The scene is enlivened further as drunk trumpeter Paul – a former lover of Jennifer’s – stumbles onto the scene, braying about how there’s no way Jennifer would take her own life. My wife and I watch “Columbo” every Sunday evening on the nostalgia cable channels. This ranks in my top five favorite episodes. Note a cameo appearance by future "Karate Kid" movie star Pat Morita.

His body, skin, and hair look haggard, with the exception of his midrange being bloated, showing signs of extreme Acites, a condition that accompany’s cirrhosis/end stage liver failure. Myrna mentions in her memoirs she & Hayes happened to be on the same plane from NYC to LA for filming, except for a dinner break they ran lines the whole way – another reason these pro’s worked collectively for over a century!

Benedict hatches a dastardly plot to rid himself of the ivory tinkling trouble-maker. Seems he could have arranged to have another car closer to the Bowl to avoid all this.These points keep Etude in Back from being the consistently excellent episode it could have been.I felt that the fact that the Maestro didn’t lose the flower with that Sprint to the garage was, but it dropped off at Jennifer’s place was pretty funny.There is also Columbo oddly referring to “Miss Welles apartment,” when it’s quite clear she’s living in a rather ritzy, detached house.This is a long episode with a very far-fetched crime, which still holds up well thanks to excellent acting and directing, and good use of some fine music.The reason why the Maestro visited Welles’ house was he noticed his carnation was gone as he was conducting.

But in the earlier scene in the restaurant, she veers from community playhouse level over-emoting to a marked stiltedness, as if she were reading her lines for the first time off of cue cards.

But for me, the critical clue isn’t the flower: it’s the “suicide” note, proven to have not been written on Welles’ typewriter. For me, her scenes singularly fail to provide the injection of humour that I suspect was the intention.As a result, it has never completely won me over. Several observations:1) Why didn’t Alex just break it off with Jennifer Welles, instead of killing her? Lieutenant Columbo, a cunning detective in a rumpled raincoat, doesn't believe the pianist took her own life and suspects that Benedict was responsible for her death.