Just one more thing…
or what I learnt from lieutenant Columbo
This New Year’s eve we found ourselves in Budapest, beautiful capital of Hungary. We walked down the random streets, the names of which we gave up trying to pronounce after a couple of first attempts.
Then all of a sudden, when nothing presaged such a dive into nostalgia, on one of the streets we notice a bronze statue of ..who do you think? Lieutenant Columbo and his droopy-faced Dog! There was no limit to our astonishment. The tribute to America’s gentle detective in Budapest… The simple fact of its existence in such an unusual place left us wondering, rather than provided with any hints or answers.
Anyway, we continued city exploration, but Columbo was stuck in my head. Further research didn’t help much, some say Peter Falk was a relative to 19th century Hungarian writer and politician Miksa Falk, for whom the street is named; others say that there’s a basset hound dog living in that district that inspired the sculptor, who then connected the dog to the character of famous homicide detective. One way or another, no one really knows why lieutenant Columbo appeared in Budapest, let’s leave it in the urban legends hands.
Since then, starting from January, from time to time I am back to my childhood era — I re-watch episode after episode, every time finding something new, funny, appealing and heartwarming. Columbo is not only an entertaining evening time-killer, years later I look at this character from a new prospective, and find him quite educational and applied to real life.
So what are the lessons lieutenant Columbo can teach?
When talking with his suspects, he turns off his internal ‘primadonna’ and speaks in a very simple manner, immediately prepossessing people. Columbo likes to refer to his relatives and friends in the conversations, like “Oh, you are a photographer, how interesting! The cousin of my wife took some pictures of my brother’s wedding last weekend, of course he’s not as professional as you, but we were happy he volunteered. How did you reach this effect on your picture?” or “Would you mind putting your autograph on the book, you’re my wife’s favorite author, she never misses your public speakings, she mentioned last time you said this and that… “. Excellent trick to cajole and palaver poor arrogant cocky wisenheimers!
This casual attitude makes everyone think he’s just-like-everyone else, ordinary man who lives his ordinary life, spends time with his family, loves his wife, spills morning coffee and lacks sleep. He could be your neighbor, colleague, friend, anyone.. But no way you could expect him to be the greatest detective in the world.
And because no one takes him seriously, people around him talk freely, not even thinking to hide anything, because “..look at him, he doesn’t even know where he has put his pencil, notebook, cigarette, how do you want him to disclose the murder??”
The detective comforts his suspects, thus, in the majority of cases they expose themselves. Lieutenant wafts the suspect a sense of security and then breaks suspect’s rest with fleeting remark during the conversation or a reflection said out loudly.
Yes, he’s often distracted (or looks just so), naive and sincere. But at the same time, he notices every little detail, sign, time — everything. He has sharp wit, observation, perseverance and knowledge of human psychology, but all that is hidden under clumsy manners, old rain coat, broken car and the apperence of simpleton. He’s recollecting all the details, or as he says “tries to make the ends meet”, and plays a very intellectual game.
Columbo can dig the garbage, or drabble himself in mud, if he thinks it will help solving the murder.
Lieutenant Columbo isn’t afraid to look ridiculous, ask dumb questions. Once he has mistaken ventilation grille for a piece of modern art, the other time in the haute cuisine restaurant he couldn’t make an order according to bourgeois etiquette. He knows he’s funny sometimes, but that’s the way he is and he doesn’t pretend to be anyone else but himself.
He’s not aggressive, never jumps on anyone (with or without proofs of guilt), on the contrary he’s always polite, soft-spoken, gracious. And sweet. In case of a conflict, he would be the first to say “Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t want it to turn this way. Please excuse me” and the conflict is gone. Easy!
Peter Falk’s character doesn’t underestimate the power and influence of secretaries, assistants, and other staff — he understands they might be the key to access to the murderer, better be sincerely nice with them.
And one more thing…
He leaves his most important remark or question to the very end. Once he’s finished with interrogation and he’s almost out of the room, the tension drops, suspect exhales and thinks it’s all over, then Columbo makes a pause, turns around and ..”Oh! Just one more thing!”. He leaves his greatest trick to the end.
Adopting Columbo’s techniques has certainly upgraded my life. Hope his lessons will be of use for you too!
