Short Fuse

The 6th episode of season 1 was Short Fuse, staring Roddy McDowall as the whimsical heir to a chemical company who kills his cold, Machiavellian, uncle with an exploding cigar box. 

Even though it was filmed after the season 1 finale Blueprint for Murder, it aired the month before, on January 19th, 1972.

📺You can watch it for free here: https://www.imdb.com/tv/watch/tt0068400 

What to Watch For

A few things I found interesting or notable about this episode.

Wrong side!

During the opening credits Roger is driving his orange cart from the building where his lab is to the main office building...and he's driving on the left side of the road for some reason. 

Maybe because Roddy McDowell is English?

Junior with the camera

Roddy McDowall's character is often seen carrying a Nikon camera in this episode. It seems extraneous, except for giving an excuse for the dark room scenes, but in real life McDowall is an accomplished photographer who even has published several books of his own photos.

Speaking of pictures

David is surprisingly vain...he's got a portrait of himself on his desk.

The gruff uncle David is played by James Gregory, who is similarly gruff in his role as Coach Rizzo in season 2's The Most Crucial Game.

Mirror mirror on the car

As I've mentioned in previous episodes Columbo in Season 1 did a lot of interesting cinematography. In this episode we see another example of that, Roger watching David and Quincy depart on their ill-fated drive in the side view mirror of his car.

The metaphor of them disappearing in his "rear view mirror" isn't lost.

That's almost certainly not a real reflection, of course. A bit too clear, and the angle the camera would have to be at some of Roger's own car would be visible in the mirror too. Much like the "reflection" in Brimmer's glasses in Death Lends a Hand this is certainly an inlaid video.

Welcome back

If Aunt Dorie's house feels familiar that's because Leslie Williams lived here in Ransom for a Dead Man.

I assume it's a sound stage, and I think the Columbo folks used it pretty often.

Welcome back, Back to the Future edition

Speaking of reused locations...if you like David's office (eventually Roger's office, albeit only briefly) we'll be back. Kudos to Columbo fan Julien Derosiaux for pointing this one out but the same office is used again in the very next episode: Blueprint for Murder.

(Top: Short Fuse; Bottom: Blueprint for Murder)

Roger's Watch

For a scientist and a fellow who cares about the seconds (we see him timing the fuse in the opening scene) Roger's watch is surprisingly decorative and imprecise. You'd expect a digital, or at least a watch with a clear second-hand.

It wouldn't be easy, at a glance, to know exactly what minute it was, much less what second, on that little thing. Makes it all the more interesting that in the scene where Roger, Columbo, and Aunt Dorie are listening to the answering machine recording from Uncle David, Roger keeps checking his watch expecting to hear the bomb go off. But with no second hand...not much point in checking his watch. 

Swing and a miss by the prop and costume department.

Speaking of the costume department

Roddy's wardrobe, in particular his pants, draw a lot of attention in this episode. I think I'll just leave it at that.

Top down, again

Once again we see the iconic Peugeot with its top down. When Columbo, Logan, and Roger arrive at the tram station for their fateful ride up to see Aunt Dorie.

You'll notice this is the original Peugeot, with the side mirrors way up on the front fenders. In Season 3 we'll see the second Peugeot, where the side mirrors are back on the doors.

Meet Mike

Perhaps the most notable piece of trivia about Short Fuse is that it was the debut (as far as we know) of the great Michael William Lally. Right around the 1 hour and 7 minute mark as Columbo, Mr. Logan, and Roger board the aerial tram for the climactic gotcha scene a group of people are getting off the tram and Michael Lally is the tram operator, opening the door.

Columbo wins the prize

It was a nice touch that when Roger realizes he's been had, that he gives Columbo his National Science Fraternity medal, which obviously meant a lot to him.

Just a few more things...

• Directed by Edward Abroms, who was the editor on four episodes of Columbo, and who also directed Season 2's The Most Dangerous Match and an episode of Mrs. Columbo.
• I can't help but wonder if Roger's wooing of Miss Bishop is as much so he can set her up for the fake "affair" with David as for her own charms.
• This was an extra episode in Season 1, not originally in the schedule, which Peter Falk agreed to do in exchange for being allowed to direct Blueprint for Murder.
• Roger drives a Ferrari 365 GTB (Sometimes referred to as a Ferrari Daytona), most likely a 1971.

Learn more

Here's what Columbophile has to say about this episode: Episode review: Columbo Short Fuse | THE COLUMBOPHILE