Just One More Thing: Negative Reaction

Notes and screenshots for Negative Reaction: Originally broadcast on October 6, 1974, starring Dick Van Dyke as a photographer who wants to Kill His Wyfe, Don Gordon as his pathetic patsy, Antoniette Bower as the wife who's kind of asking for it, plus guest appearances from character actors Joyce van Patten, Larry Storch and the celebrated Vito Scotti and, of course, Peter Falk as Columbo.

"A photographer murders his wife and blames her death on a bungled kidnapping. But Lt. Columbo has an even sharper eye than the Pulitzer Prize winner."

-IMDB Summary

"Avuncular Dick Van Dyke is not so avuncular in “Negative Reaction,” playing a photographer who fakes his nagging wife’s kidnapping, murders her, then kills the ex-con who he’d framed for the snatch. Luckily, Columbo is focused on the task, brushing away a film of uncertainty, ever ready to develop a solution to the case through the lens of crimefighting (What??- ed.). Photo-taking person Kevin O’Mara (klophoto.com) joins Jon and RJ for this snapshot of- oh god, I’m sorry about the photographic stuff. It’s been a long day. Please just listen. Photography."

-RJ's episode summary

Listen to the original podcast episode here:

Episode 10: That Coat, That Coat, That Coat with our guest Kevin O'Mara.

Negative Reaction

Season 4, Episode #2

Director:  Alf Kjellin

Writer: Peter S. Fischer

One of the first episodes of Columbo which I ever saw, this one, still unprepared for an evil Dick Van Dyke. As we mentioned in the podcast, there's certain elements of Henry Ford in Once Upon A Time In The West in the playing against type. Fair to say, though, that Van Dyke doesn't play evil or murderous so much as he plays peevish and entitled, something like Rob Petrie pushed to extremes. Like Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie in Falling Down, I suppose I mean.

This is one of the few Columbos where the filler served a larger mythological purpose in the series, I reckon; scenes with Larry Storch as the abused and uptight license tester Mr.Weekly or in the soup kitchen with Joyce Van Patten and Vito Scotti possibly less so, except that they directly address the car, the coat and Columbo's tousled appearance (this is a touchstone the series relies on for padding in this period of this series, which I think serves the same purpose as always having David Banner turn into the Hulk twice an episode, so the audience doesn't forget his gimmick).

Moreso, though, we get the exceptionally rare scenes within the police station, involving Columbo's superiors, peers and subordinates. What's interesting about those, to me, is that the station always seems to reflect Columbo more than the other cops - it's organized, desks are in rows, evidence is grouped on shelves, everything's labeled and documented, but it's also filthy, shabby, relentlessly lit by harsh fluorescent light. It's almost like Columbo is sort of the representative spirit of this larger organism, equally shabby and rough-hewn and unerringly functional.

Next episode: By Dawn's Early Night