Best crime movie character mistakes of 1968

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Columbo: Prescription Murder picture

Character mistake: After Fleming has murdered his wife, he warns his girlfriend not to touch anything in the apartment, but he hands her a drink which he already prepared for her. At his direction she also makes a telephone call, holding the receiver with a cloth he hands her, but dialling the number with her bare fingers. On top of that, he hands her a pair of gloves after she has made the call - she would have touched or handled all sorts of things in the room by then. Why didn't he hand her the gloves as soon as she stepped in the room?

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Suggested correction: This is a subtle hint that Fleming is preparing to frame his girlfriend for the murder. He would admit to having an affair with her (not a crime) but is going to deny any involvement in his wife's murder. (SPOLER ALERT!) Later he makes it clear that his girlfriend meant nothing to him and he didn't care that she had committed suicide (or so he thought).

Nowhere in the episode is this sub-plot explored or even mentioned.

Not only that, but the idea he was going to subtly frame his girlfriend doesn't make sense because he used her to establish his alibi. He tried to make it look like she was killed by an random intruder.

Bishop73

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Oliver picture

Character mistake: In the beginning of the film, Oliver has been brought by Mr. and Mrs. Bumble to the Governor's door after asking for more to eat. Mrs. Bumble then sings, "They'll lay the blame on the one who named him," and as Mr. Bumble is responding, "O-li-ver", look at Oliver. He is completely spacing out and not in character at all - staring off into the distance and flicking his tongue in and out of his mouth.

Christie_Love

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Suggested correction: The character is in character, he is acting alarmed and concerned and regretting his choice to inform the governor. As seen https://youtu.be/nlJugdk4OGc.

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