Initially, I wanted to create a thread specifically about Columbo but then decided to broaden the subject 'cause I love Sherlock Holmes too. In fact, I proudly hold the title of a man who read ALL of canonical novels and short stories about Sherlock Holmes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It's all started in junior/middle school years when I found in my father's collection book with Sherlock Holmes short stories. I was in love ever since. My favourite novel is unsuprisingly The Hound of Baskervilles, favourite short stories - The Man with the Twisted Lip, The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, The Adventure of the Three Students, The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, The Adventure of the Dying Detective, His Last Bow, The Adventure of the Three Garridebs and some others. Sherlock Holmes always attracted me as a character who is very cold, closed-off, non-emotional but deep down has a heart of gold. For example, there's a wonderful moment in Three Garridebs when Watson gets shot and Holmes genuinely worried for his life and was ready to shot down the bad guy right there. His constant berating of Watson never fails to bring smile to my face. There's even a joke of Holmes criticising Watson's writing efforts which reaches meta level when you think of it as Doyle making fun of himself. It's a joy to see two men friendship grow throughout the course of the books - even though Watson's severely lacks smarts (in comparison) Holmes learns to appreciate him as a faithul friend. Their final dialogue in His Last Bow (which has wonderful undertones of WWI being around the corner with Holmes spoiling German spy plans included) is a beatiful indication of that
For a long time I had no interest in checking out any other detectives 'cause was confident that Holmes is the best of them all. Probably, 'cause authour himself presents it that way - in the first ever SH novel - A Study In Scarlet Holmes laughs up other contemporary fictional detectives and openly calls them fools (kinda interesting if you consider this Doyle's own opinion). So I thought SH was the best detective genre has to offer ... until recently when I caught Columbo re-runs on TV. I liked it and my appreciation for Lieutenant was growing with each subsequent episode - much so that when re-run ended and I didn't manage to watch all of them I watched every one I missed with my mother (she liked it well enough too) via the help from the Internet. My favourites: Murder by the Book, Any Old Port In a Storm, By Dawn's Early Light, Double Exposure, Double Shock, The Bye-Bye Sky-High IQ Murder case, Columbo Goes To Guillotine, Columbo Cries Wolf, Ashes to Ashes, Columbo Likes the Nightlife. I guess, I dig Lieutenant so much 'cause he's so drastically different from SH. While Holmes is more of a romantic, somewhat fantastic character Columbo feels much more grounded with his uncamped hair and terrible taste for clothes. I also like that Columbo unlike Baker-Street detecitve has to work within the restraints of police department - he has to follow the procedure and has to catch the murderer even if his feelings more on his/her side than victim's. Whole "reverse" formula is great and allows for some interesting writing. And of course Falk's acting with all his mumblings, "one more thing", 'you know what bothers me?", rarely putting his act aside, constatnt smoking and piercing glaze is wonderfully brings character to life. May he rest in peace
Anyway, that was a way too long intro, but what are your favourite detective stories/books/movies/TV shows etc and why ?
Scratch that, now it's just Columbo thread
