June 16, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…A Matter of Honor!

This episode aired February 1, 1976.

The footage of his old bullfighting days that Luis Montoya screens is from the 1943 movie Santa in which a young Ricardo Montalban plays a bullfighter.

Montalban had fond memories of this guest appearance: “The contrast worked very well. He was the fumbling, bumbling guy who was, as we all know, really very bright. And the character I played had a certain amount of stature and tradition. You pit one against the other and it makes for very interesting casting. I loved it. I have very fond memories of that show. I did so many guest shots. Very few of them stand out. That one stands out.”

This is the second episode in which eagle-eyed viewers can catch the name “Frank” on Columbo’s I.D. This was a decision on the part of the show’s art department that was never considered canon by either Falk or the show’s creators.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order….

Khaaaan! Or Mr. Rourke.

Montoya seems like a nice boss despite his ominous black outfit.

Why is Curro picking up and waving that red flag at the bull in his drug-addled state?

Great segue from the charging bull to Columbo rear-ending the car.

That poor man complaining of a broken neck. Columbo can’t believe it.

This is one of my favorite Columbo intros.

Columbo is stranded – and lassoed into tagging along on this investigation because everyone has heard of his success on that cruise ship! Another rare instance where we call back to a previous episode.

8k for a bull would be about 45 grand today.

Columbo is suspicious the loyal employee Curro would destroy valuable property, aka the bull.

“So inquisitive. I find him amusing.” Uh, give it a few hours.

The background noise in this cafeteria scene is surprisingly loud and intrusive.

Wow. The car Nina Montoya drives up in is a beauty. Can anyone identify?

Montoya is perhaps one of the most fashionable of Columbo killers.

A fun scene of Columbo panicked by the baby bull.

Columbo doesn’t like mezcal. Yet another thing we have in common.

“My name is Miguel Hernandez. Very well known. Even to the bulls.” Great line.

Aha! The needle mark on the body.

The Mystery of the Missing Lance!

I love the fact Columbo is reading “The Art of Bullfighting”. Wonder if the information will come in handy in future investigations.

“Learning anything?”
“Oh I have to learn something as I didn’t know anything to start with.”
Great exchange.

Columbo has a crazy notion, but he doesn’t think anyone is going to believe him.

Putting it together….tranquilizers…the air gun…the hypodermic darts…

Why would Curro claim he wanted to work on the books if he finished them three days ago? And why wasn’t Montoya suspicious?

“I must ask you to leave my house and not return.” He doesn’t find Columbo so amusing anymore.

He loses his nerve in the ring. But so what?

What are they arresting him for? Cowardice? Is that a chargeable offense in Mexico?

I’m not buying this ending.

This episode was not as offensive as I imagined it would be but still a weak outing by Columbo standards. I did love Columbo’s introduction and the humorous beats as well as Columbo’s relationship with local cop Sanchez. I thought Montoya an excellent villain as well, but the investigation itself felt pretty clunky, culminating in a Gotcha! moment more confusing than convincing.

Here is my revised episode rankings: 1. Forgotten Lady, 2. Negative Reaction, 3. Any Old Port in a Storm, 4. Double Exposure, 5. A Friend In Deed, 6. Double Shock, 7. A Stitch in Crime, 8. Death Lends a Hand, 9. Suitable for Framing, 10. Publish or Perish, 11. Dagger of the Mind, 12. Requiem for a Falling Star, 13. Prescription: Murder, 14. Murder by the Book/Ransom for a Dead Man (tie), 15. By Dawn’s Early Light, 16. Swan Song, 17. Troubled Waters, 18. Lady in Waiting, 19. An Exercise in Fatality, 20. Etude in Black, 21. Playback, 22. The Most Crucial Game, 23. Blueprint for Murder, 24. Lovely But Lethal, 25. A Deadly State of Mind, 26. The Most Dangerous Match, 27. The Greenhouse Jungle 28. Identity Crisis, 29. Dead Weight, 30. Short Fuse, 31. A Matter of Honor, 32. A Case of Immunity, 33. Candidate for Crime, 34. Mind Over Mayhem.

And now it’s time to ask ourselves whether Columbo has enough evidence for a GUILTY verdict or is the masterful Montoya looking at an ACQUITTAL? This one is interesting. I don’t think there’s enough to prove motive but there is a fair amount of circumstantial evidence. But is it enough? In the end, I would say no and would go with ACQUITTAL.

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