Columbo

Still beautiful but aging Grace Wheeler Willis (Janet Leigh), forced into retirement from a successful career, makes up her mind to return to the stage in a Broadway musical. Her wealthy retired physician-husband, Henry (Sam Jaffe), however, refuses to finance the project. Because she has already convinced her former dance partner, Ned Diamond (John Payne), to be the producer and has her heart set on performing again, Grace fakes Henry's suicide.

Hector Elizondo and Sal Mineo guest-star as Hassan Salah and Rahmin Habib, respectively. The cold-blooded First Secretary of the Suarian Legation plans to eliminate his political adversary, Youssef Alafa (Andre Lawrence), disguising the crime as a robbery and homicide instigated by protesting college students. His idealistic aide, Habib, assists in the crime while Salah is meeting with police officials. To ensure Habib's silence, the ruthless Salah then disposes of Habib.

Nelson Brenner, an advertising consultant who leads a double life as a top domestic spy, sends his former partner on an assignment to recover microfilm from a foreign agent. In reality, Brenner actually sets up his ex-partner, code name Geronimo, for a homicide that Brenner masks as a mugging. When Columbo investigates the crime, his clues lead him through a series of mysterious identities and a maze of domestic intrigue.

Luis Montoya, a retired but proud bullfighter, is credited with saving tempestuous Curro Rangel from a ferocious bull. Together with Curro's father, Hector, Montoya goes to the bullring to put the animal to death. Instead, Montoya set up his long-time friend for an untimely demise. While vacationing, Lt. Columbo's car stalls and comes under police jurisdiction and a likable but crafty Police Lt. Sanchez pressures the detective into assisting in the investigation of the elder Rangel's death.

During his magic act, the Great Santini slays business associate Jesse Jerome, who was blackmailing him. Though the illusionist has a solid alibi - he was supposedly submerged in water in an airtight trunk - Lt. Columbo finds clues that incriminate him. Meanwhile, Sgt. Wilson discovers evidence of Santini's carefully laid plan to frame nightclub singer Danny Green.

Commodore Otis Swanson, an expert yachtsman, is presumed drowned in a boating accident. But Lt. Columbo tenaciously investigates the case, suspecting homicide. When Columbo finds key clues that point to Swanson's money hungry son-in-law, Charles Clay, as the prime suspect, Clay himself becomes a victim of homicide.