Columbo. Last night I wanted to see the episode that Collin Wilcox was in, so I found it and watched it - An Exercise In Fatality. Starring Robert Conrad. A very good episode. Just now I saw one of the best I've seen (so far), one with real human empathy - Forgetten Lady, with Janet Leigh as this fading, aged, once-popular actress who murders her husband as he objects to financing her career (this is not a spoiler, as anybody who watches Columbo knows the show works in reverse order - we see the murder [or how it's going to be done], then wait for him to catch the person guilty) This one has a bit of a surprise ending. A very touching, moving one. Magnificently done.
Sometimes it's great to check out the highest rated episodes of a series. That's what I do with the Columbo box; I got it years ago then put it aside by my own mistake, because I saw some episodes where he was a star within the show, and it killed it for me, thinking "ehh, it was no good after season one it looks like." Boy was I wrong. I now saw an incredible one, called A Friend In Deed. It guest-starred Richard Kiley, Micheal McGurie (Sumner Sloan on Cheers), and also had Val Avery. This had one thing that seemed to be influenced by in a way of a certain classic Hitchcock film; I don't want to say which. But then there was a further, shocking twist. No, this was an incredibly highly inventive episode, and really quite suspenseful. Just wonderful. And I have to say, this photo here online, from a scene early on, with actress Rosemary Murphy, I'd swear her hair and glasses could have been the influence for Dustin Hoffman's look in the great movie "Tootsie." Anyway just trivia or trivial maybe but I wanted to point it out. Really great episode.
Sense8 on Netflix this evening...still on Season 1. Before that, The OA, Season two - which I am enjoying, although I perfectly expect it to let me down like it tended to let most down with Season 1. I'm waiting for Britt Marling and Lake Bell to collaborate on something - two talented writers with similar obstacles in front of them getting anything done in Hollywood, I assume.
Back when Callan was originally aired on UK TV, it was my favourite programme. Last week I finally got round to buying the DVD of the third and fourth (final) series - 'The Colour Years' - and am still pinching myself at the high quality of the stories and characters almost 50 years later. They DON'T make programmes this good nowadays.
The sets and style are similar to a US soap opera but the acting is top notch. Edward Woodward is so good. That scene where Callan is drunk and Lonely holds onto him while Callan is venting. Lonely has a real tear running down his cheek. Great drama. I want to get the Monochrome years box set but it is UK region only.
I tried this on one of my previous computers and it worked. However, the catch is that if you change the region too many times it will lock into that region and you won't be able to change it.
The Widow (2019). An eight episode mystery series set in the Congo. Starring Kate Beckinsale as a woman searching for her missing husband. Also stars Charles Dance. I'm two episodes in and enjoying it so far.
I'm not sure. I'd rather just get a region free blu ray player and be done with it. There are several shows/movies that aren't available in the US region format that I want. It's ridiculous I can't get a US blu ray of Le Cercle Rouge.
The Prisoner episodes "The General", 'Many Happy Returns" and "Dance Of The Dead". Really loving this show.
Rectify (on Netflix)... recommended. Previously: Peaky Blinders... very highly recommended You put me in the mood for some vitals...maybe a bowl of possum stew.
