Lady in Waiting

On December 15th, 1971 the 5th Columbo episode of Season 1 premiered: Lady in Waiting.

This episode stars Susan Clark as the mousy, resentful, Beth Chadwick and Richard Anderson as her domineering older brother Bryce. The Chadwicks are, like most Columbo murderers, quite wealthy and they own a family advertising business.

📺You can watch this episode for free here: https://www.imdb.com/tv/watch/tt0068399 (May not be available in all regions)

What to watch for

A few things I found interesting about this episode.

See the USA in your Chevrolet?

The episode begins with a strange Fantasia-like montage of stars or lights rolling past the screen with odd meandering music. Then we see Beth sneak into her brother's bedroom and steal the house key from his keychain while he sleeps nearby.

They're a rich family but I notice he has a GM car key on his ring; a Cadillac we learn later.

Toast, eggs, and insults

Bryce and Beth have an argument over breakfast. He's not a terribly nice person but the argument is just establishing the plot - that he's domineering (and so was father) and she's going to kill him to get out from under his control. 

Beth asserting her independence is more or less the theme of the episode.

She's already stolen his key and the murder plot is already well thought-out.

Dirty work in clean clothes

Beth goes up a ladder to remove the dirty light bulb in a crisp white blouse and skirt. Every time I open an outside light fixture, I get pelted with dirt, dead bugs, and cobwebs. Not sure I'd want to do it in my nice clothes. 

Not to mention climbing a ladder in a skirt. 

Dreams

If the dream sequence seems long, that's because it is. Almost 4 minutes long. I suppose it's necessary to establish how she expected it to happen, but it still feels long. 

Oops

When Bryce walks up to the front door, it doesn't look that dark.

 

Even when he's standing at the door, he's casting a strong shadow; seems like plenty of light to see.

This might not be a film goof so much as a flaw in her plan - removing the bulb didn't make it that dark and he could still easily find the spare key.

Clean Kill

Like most Columbo killings this one is amazingly clean. No blood or visible wound despite him being shot twice with a .38. Fortunate for Beth too, otherwise it would have been obvious where he was shot and left a messy trail as she dragged him to the french doors.

The Cabbie made an impression

Does the cab driver who delivers Mrs. Chadwick, her dog, and her luggage to the house look familiar?

He should, he's Columbo occasional Fred Draper. He plays Dr. "Murch" Murcheson in Lovely but Lethal, he's the forgetful actor who thinks it would be a "treasure to pill" Ward Fowler in Fade in to Murder, and he's Swanny "T'isnt" Swanson in Last Salute to the Commodore.

He seems to overplay it a bit.

Astrology is all just a bunch of Taurus

Comedienne Marcia Wallace has a filler scene as a kooky lady at the coroner's inquest. Not really sure what the point of the brief appearance was, other than comic relief. It's very early in her career, Columbo is just her 4th TV credit.

Shortly after Columbo she became a regular on the Bob Newhart show, appearing in 140 episodes.

Top Down

Columbo buys Peter Hamilton the world's worst-looking hamburger for lunch at the drive-in. What's notable about it is that it's the first time we see The Car with the top down. It was probably easier to film/light the scene that way.

Remember this because in Season 10's Murder of a Rock Star Columbo tells the ticket camera guy that he'd never put the top down before. (He puts it down in Last Salute to the Commodore and Short Fuse too.)

Barbara Rhodes

When Columbo goes to the salon to question Beth, he's greeted by the receptionist who is not impressed with the smell of his cigar. She's actress Barbara Rhodes.

If you like her, be patient, you'll see more of her (literally) in Identity Crisis.

You'll never take me...

This is one of the few episodes where the killer at the end tries (or considers) killing Columbo. When Columbo springs his "gotcha" Beth pulls a gun on him. Fortunately, he talks her out of it.

Columbo has close calls in How to Dial a Murder, Murder Under Glass, Columbo Goes to the Guillotine, and Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo as well.

Just a few more things

• In real life Richard Anderson, who plays the victim Bryce, was 17 years older than Susan Clarke. So she was his much-younger sister.
• One of two Columbos that Leslie Nielsen appears in. He returns in Season 5 as "Geronimo" the murder victim in Identity Crisis.
• Beth wears her engagement ring on her right hand. Struck me as odd initially, but apparently many cultures do that.
• Jessie Royce Landis plays Mrs. Chadwick, the stern mother. This was her last acting credit before she passed away, just 2-1/2 months after this episode aired.