Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) You Got to Have Luck (1956) User Reviews

Cassevetes is great

[Archbishop_Laud · 9/10 · 3 July 2013]

Robert Stevens directed a boatload of episodes in this series, but in this one he's only the third most noteworthy director. There's Hitchcock, of course, and there's John Cassevetes (The Killing of a Chinese Bookie), who is one of the two lead actors. This is one of my favorite episodes of Season 1.

Cassevetes gives a very strong, modern performance as an escaped convict who invades a young woman's home. He's menacing, and there are about as many allusive sexual threats as they could show in those days.

I'm not sure if all actions here make sense (if you're going to dote on this, then don't bother with the series), it's not ridiculously unrealistic. The ending makes me want to re-watch to see why I didn't see it coming.

Hearing evil

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 23 February 2022]

"You Got to Have Luck" signals the first of four Robert Stevens-directed episodes in a row. Stevens was the most frequent director on 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' for very good reason and directed some truly fine episodes, a few from the first season. The series is a very interesting one and a must if a fan of Hitchcock, count me as one and have been since my late teens. Even the lesser entries are better than a lot of shows/series at their worst, speaking as someone that didn't like every episode.

This is one of the episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' to be in the "like it" category. No, make that love. Although it is not perfect and its main criticism of its lack of realism is valid, "You Got to Have Luck" to me is a great episode and can totally see why it is one of the highest rated episodes of Season 1. It is one of the best of that season and one of the best of those that Stevens directed. Not sure about it being one of my favourites of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but as far as the first half of Season 1 goes and the season overall it compares favourably.

Will agree that some of Cobett's decision making is rather rash and confused.

And although the twist is extremely clever and completely unexpected, it will be unrealistic to those that have prior knowledge of what it revolves around.

However, there is so much great here. John Cassavetes is the main reason as to why "You Got to Have Luck" works so well, it is an intensely sinister performance that does leave one unsettled. Marisa Pavan is alluring but not passive. Stevens' direction is tight and accomplished, his experience in regard to the series and the genre are evident. The script is thought provoking and lean, and Hitchcock certainly delivers on his dry drollness in the bookending.

Despite not always being easy to swallow, the story is still very suspenseful and full of atmosphere, as well as moving at a lively pace. While the twist doesn't completely come off, its cleverness and "didn't see it coming" factor stop it from being a failure and make it interesting instead. The episode is slickly and atmospherically filmed and the main theme for the series is wonderfully devillish.

Overall, great. 8.5/10.

Watching all episodes in order

[sdot8787 · 8/10 · 21 March 2021]

The acting was good in this episode and the twist is almost impossible to catch.

Locking the Door Doesn't Help

[dougdoepke · 2 February 2016]

Good thing strong performers like Cassavetes and Pavan were hired since they monopolize the screen time. Sam (Cassavetes) has escaped prison and guess where he ends up. Yup, it's at sweet little housewife Mary's (Pavan) house, and guess what—hubby's gone for the day. Few actors of the day were more intense than the maker of Shadows (1959). So Mary's more than just a little menaced, that is, if Sam can make up his mind whether to cut her throat or kiss her. Home invasion plots were popular at the time (1955) and Cassavetes made his movie mark in 1955's The Night Holds Terror. So he's had some practice before invading poor little Pavan"s domicile. The episode's cheaply produced: basically one set, namely, the house's interior. I'm not sure about the upshot. Like another reviewer, I'm tempted to watch again to see if there's some kind of tip-off in Mary's behavior. Anyway, it's solid Hitch with a chance to catch one of the period's most talented actors.

(In passing—there's something about Cassavetes' thin, dark looks that reminds me of Tony Perkins in Psycho. See if you agree.)

Wish it was a feature!

[sfbhattacharjee · 10/10 · 3 January 2020]

I was awestruck as it progressed. The moment Cassavettes entered the frame I knew I was in for a ride. It was such a treat to watch the plot unfold, and the strong performance by Pavan just kept it altogether. This bestowed Cassavettes into one of America's finest filmmakers thereafter.

Best episode that I've seen so far

[BombVark · 8/10 · 5 May 2021]

Thirty episodes in and this is the first twist that i didn't see coming.. The story is so-so but the two actors provide enough to keep you interested until the ending. I had to rewatch it to realize what a nice job they did providing clues to the ending. Perhaps, someone paying more attention will guess the ending but most episodes don't demand that much thought.

A really nice twist....and some info about that twist.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 17 February 2021]

John Cassevetes plays an escaped convict. Because he already has a 300 year sentence for murder, he hasn't got much to lose, which makes him extremely dangerous. During his escape, he makes his way to a home of a young wife (Marisa Pavan) and he takes her hostage. While the killer appear to have every contingency taken care of, he does manage to slip up...and that is the twist at the end of the episode.

The twist is that the woman is deaf and reads lips perfectly....so the killer has no idea she cannot hear him or answer the phone. Well, I have significant personal experience with deafness and have several family members who are deaf. The possibility of any deaf person hiding the deafness and reading lips (commonly called 'Speech Reading', not lip reading), is very, very, very remote. Despite TV and films showing a perfect ability to do this, this just is almost never the case in real life. It did make for a great episode and I am not knocking it....but thought if you were willing to read a review with a spoiler, that I would mention the ridiculousness of the premise in real life.

Close Quarters Evil

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 13 June 2017]

Warning do not read unless seen episode.

This is my eighth favorite episode in the show. The episode is almost like a stage play as it all takes place in one setting much like the play/movie "Wait Until Dark." There really isn't much to say as it's a simple hostage situation premise but what I like is it's pacing and just simply the fact that it's short so it doesn't drag on too long which is a mistake most of those stories sometimes make.

It's really tense because the whole episode has that feeling of isolation, knowing that the house is almost located in the middle of the country which means there is no one within miles to help. But also in the interplay between both Sam (John Cassavetes) and Mary.

John does a great job at playing a scum sucker you plain hate, and once again this was another acting debut for another well known actor, most known actors had their start playing baddies. The actress playing Mary is also really good and I'll admit I though she was really cute when I was a kid. Mary is a sweet character that really didn't ask or look for trouble which makes he all the more sympathetic because she didn't deserve this to happen to her.

Throughout the whole thing we are just constantly in suspense, hoping Mary will find some way out of her predicament. There is one moment that I thought was kinda funny when she locks the front door on Sam, this might seem like she's in the clear except for one big problem it's a damn screen door. Times like that I wish those things were never invented.

But we're also concerned about her life, as it has just this constant sense of discomfort. Half the time I was afraid not just that he might kill or hit her but may'be even rape her; which just all the more made me want Mary to somehow escape or for the authorities to find him on time.

I really liked the twist at the end, which might not be much of a twist if you paid close attention to a scene or two. It sort of makes the tale all the more interesting on a second watch as you have a better perspective on the character Mary.

Yeah you gotta have luck, but as an old saying goes "Sooner or later luck runs out." Rating: 4 stars

A good story with a clever twist, even with some odd character ambitions.

[b_kite · 7/10 · 23 May 2019]

Sam Cobbett has just broken out of prison and enters the house of Mary Schaffner while her husband is away. Cobbett makes Mary cook for him, dismiss her neighbors when they come by, and pretends that everything is okay over the phone when her mother calls. Cobbett believes he can take his time, but he soon learns a shocking discovery that will ultimately be his undoing.

I gotta say its always a pleasure when you get to see really good performers in these episodes and here we get John Cassevetes who I always loved from "The Dirty Dozen". While he plays the role pretty good, I have to say I'm a little confused by the ambition of the character he's playing (much like fellow reviewer hitchcoc stated). Cassevettes sorta bumbles his was threw the episode making stupid decisions, taking to long, and ultimately coming off a little to nice. Of course this isn't Cassevettes fault, but, more of that of the writers. The best thing that saves it and helps me bump up its rating is the clever twist which I'll admit I actually forgot all about since my last viewing. Marisa Pavan does a good job as our lead actress as does the the supporting cast led by veteran actor Ray Teal who makes his second appearance in the series as a law authority figure.

The Answer

[CherCee · 10/10 · 10 August 2023]

A couple of the reviewers asked why Mary Schaffner's (Marisa Pavan) mother would call her if her husband wasn't there to answer. The reason is easy: it is because Mary's mom didn't know that Mary's husband, David Schaffner (Lamont Johnson), wouldn't be home. The mom thought that she would be talking to the husband when she called. She had heard about Sam Cobbett's (John Cassavetes) escape (I believe on the radio, may have been that she saw it on TV). When Mary answered the phone and told her that David wasn't there, that he had gone to do some errands, that told her something was wrong because (1) Mary answered the phone and (2) talked with her like she could hear what the mom was saying, she put two and two together and called the police. It was a suspenseful story and all the actors did a great job!

For a Bad luck guy, just a matter of time!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 17 June 2020]

Opening whatever the episode Hitch ussually makes a little introduction about to come, in this episode the master has an empty hourglass and how it meddle in our life, the subject of the episode concern over that, when a convict Sam Corbett (John Cassavetes) which fits perfect on the cold character, escapes from the Prison through the desert reaching a small town, the Warden delayed the information in hope to catch him before, too late the press already were warned, the news spreading likes fire by radio broadcasting and live TV, Sam circumspectly chosen a house with just one person inside, the mild housewife Mary Schaffner (Marisa Pavan) is shocked for a sudden invasion, the menacing guy wants food, money, bath, clean clothes for a scared woman, however the phone rings twice, the first time no one pick up the phone, in second time Sam afraid to raise suspicions demands that Mary answers the phone at his brief instructions, speaking to her the exact answers, but... how said Hitch the time comes for everyone, quickly for bad luck guys!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5

One Question

[kyrn123 · 8/10 · 1 August 2021]

Spoilers-if she is deaf why didn't her neighbor know that? They are conversing normally.

Watch for the actors not for the story

[Mehki_Girl · 7/10 · 13 January 2021]

This is loaded with spoilers so read at your own risk.

The acting in this was very good and it was great seeing John Castevetti before he drank himself to death.

However in the end the entire premise doesn't work. I'm married to a Deaf person and I work with Deaf people. Even world-class lip readers can't read lips when someone's head is turned from them or has their back to them. They give one hint that maybe something is up when he says, while he shakes, are you Deaf or something? Another instance before then when he says something and he's right in front of her and she asked him to repeat himself. The other thing is if she's totally Deaf from birth like the cop says, she more than likely wouldn't have an accent. I guess it could be possible that if you're taught to speech read as well as speak by someone with an accent that you could get it. The other thing, while it's not completely impossible to have no hint in your voice that you cannot hear the words you are saying, it's actually pretty rare. Usually there's some indication at least to a trained ear that a person has a hearing loss and has difficulty with certain word sounds.

While I'm being picky and maybe to a lay person it wouldn't be a big deal, but these kinds of things kind of annoy me... And frankly disappoint me. Because it gives false information to the general public. People will be expecting Deaf people to lip read from across the room, lip read people with their back to them, lip read around corners.

"You got to have luck!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 19 July 2021]

I read all the other reviews for this Hitchcock episode, and no one mentioned the obvious. Why would a deaf person's mother call her on the phone in the first place? Seems rather silly doesn't it? If you overlook that fact, and obviously everyone on this board prior to my coming here did so, the story has a nice twist ending that got the escaped convict (John Cassavetes) caught based on the deaf woman's (Marisa Pavan) handling of that phone call. But how far could you get with this gimmick today in a world virtually free of dial phones? When Mary's phone rang with the odd cadence, it made me wonder if modern day viewers of a certain age would even grasp the intricacies of Fifties technology. Which is why these time capsule reminders of a day gone by are such a hoot to watch today.

Don't take hostages

[Cristi_Ciopron · 9/10 · 6 November 2009]

An exciting thriller with a twist, YOU GOT TO HAVE LUCK, with Cassavetes (who was quite an actor) and Marisa Pavan (--a standout babe--), a Teleplay by Eustace and Francis Cockrell, based on a story by SR Ross, offers the story of a fugitive who takes as hostage a helpless girl. The hostage thrillers were almost a bit of a fashion in the '50s, three decades before the DIE HARD franchise; Bogart and Sinatra have been awesome as villains.

The cast aligns John Cassavetes as the doomed fugitive, Marisa Pavan as his victim, Lamont Johnson, Ray Teal, Vivi Janiss, etc.. Cassavetes is remarkable as the fugitive, while Mrs. Pavan, as said, looks hot.

It Could Have Been Better

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 8 October 2008]

This is about power and threat. It's about the John Cassavetes character. a thief and murderer who comes to a farm house and holds the woman there hostage. He terrorizes her and threatens her. There is a building of suspense, but there seems to be something wrong with this whole thing. I won't spoil it, but while Cassavetes is quite good in his nervous, hyperactive role, the crossing of characters doesn't seem very realistic. He's also a bit too kind. He is in a desperate situation and his self preservation should come first. He makes way too many mistakes. He also is very slow to get on with what he is going to do. He tells her, "If I kill someone, what can they do to me?" The answer is that they can throw him in prison. That's a very powerful threat. Why does this sociopath get so careless? I may watch this again to see if it works very well a second time.

A HITCHCOCK ENDING YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 10 August 2023]

Marisa Pavan, twin sister of movie star Pier Angeli, had previously appeared as Anna Magnani's daughter (receiving an Oscar nomination) in THE ROSE TATTOO. She is equally as convincing here, playing a young housewife who is left alone --until escaped killer John Cassavettes enters the picture.

Exceptionally written, and one classic early Hitchcock tv episode. Unless you have seen this before, you could never ever guess the ending.

More over, both leads are terrific young actors and shine in their roles. Cassavettes plays a desperate character, seeking refuge at Pavan's countryside house while her husband is away. Basicially a two character show on steroids. Popular character actress Vivi Janiss is good as the atypical nosey and easily insulted neighbor.

One strange thing, if you notice. The camera focuses a lot on the pie Marisa is baking. That's the one scene I always wondered about, and it seemed like Hitch to have Marisa toss the RED HOT pie in pretty boy's face! That may have been the original intention, but perhaps too gruesome. Rest assured, he gets his due.

Pavan would next appear in THE MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT. This role may have lead to Cassavettes landing parts in EDGE OF THE CITY and CRIME IN THE STREETS.

Best of SEASON 1. Universal remastered dvd box set. 4 dvd set. 2008.

Hear no Evil

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 24 September 2012]

***SPOILERS*** Great Alfred Hitchcock episode with a added twist or irony in it on how escaped convict Sam Cobbett, John Cassavetes, who thinks he's in control of the situation in holding Mary Schaffner, Marisa Panan, hostage and using her to help him avoid justice actually has her expose him to the police without him knowing it. With a state wide manhunt on the way for Cobbett he after killing the family dog, who sniffed him out, breaks into Mary's house and threatens to murder her if she doesn't do what he tells her. Like fixing him breakfast giving him a new set of clothes and acting as his wife or girlfriend as he tries to hop a bus to take him out of the state.

Mary goes along with everything that Corbett tells her to do even telling her mom who phoned her that everything is all right in the Schaffner household. Corbett who's been behind bars for five years and, being that he hasn't been with a woman all that time, horny as hell soon gets the hots for the the pretty and Innocent looking Mary and decides to take along, as his woman, with him in his escape to freedom. Just when it looks like Corbett is about to get away from the police his luck suddenly runs out!

***SPOILERS*** It was Corbett's big mistake in using Mary to trick the police and her mom into thinking that he wasn't at the Schaffner house when he really was. By doing that he tipped them off to what was really happening. That by him having forced Mary to answer the phone and tell her mom that in fact everything was all right!

Disappointing once you know the twist, but GREAT the first time around

[IFeedPigeons · 7/10 · 20 January 2008]

WOW!! -- That is what I, and no doubt many others, said upon seeing this episode for the first time. Insanely good twist ending.

My advice -- definitely watch this one, you will be impressed... the FIRST time you see it.

Unfortunately, once you know the twist ending, you WILL want to watch it again, to see if you can spot the major plot point ahead of time.

Well, I can tell you, you will not. Watching both main characters intently, there is no way the twist could be possible. I can list over 20 examples to back this theory up, and that is a big shame.

Back in 1955 when this aired, I am sure that there was no thought given to people ever seeing it again, as there were no VCRs back then, so they figured they were safe with this one-off. Modern technology has allowed us to see the story again, and its flaws are all too apparent.

The tragic part is that these problematic instances could have been eliminated entirely if they just took more care in blocking/direction. Sadly, that is not the case.

Bottom Line: watch it once, in awe... then skip it.

Tension aplenty but not believability.

[p-hodges536 · 6/10 · 21 October 2022]

I'm a fan AH presents and this episode features the excellent Cassavetes as the anti- hero who is great as the psychotic prison escapee, however it it has an enormous hole in the plotline. The woman he has kept prisoner in her own home is supposed to be deaf and is only able to lipread. Out of the blue she gets a phone call from her mother and is told what to say on the phone by Cassavetes. The police turn up shortly after and reveal to him that he gave himself away to them by replying to the phone call. The flaw in all this is why would the girls mother phone her if she knew she was deaf? Otherwise it's a watchable episode.

You Got to Have Luck

[bombersflyup · 3/10 · 19 February 2020]

Nice twist, but I'm not buying it. Nor am I buying Cobbett's actions, he has a life sentence, it's not realistic. Pavan, Pier Angeli's twin sister, by golly. Also, why did she know about the rings if she's deaf.

You Got to Have Luck

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 7 July 2023]

Sam Cobbett (John Cassavetes) has escaped from prison and there is a manhunt.

He holes up in the house of Italian Mary Schaffner (Marisa Pavan.) Her husband has conveniently gone for a few days.

Time is of the essence for Sam but he realises that he needs Mary to help him get away.

Only Sam has made an error and he has not even realised it. Not until the police catch up with him.

John Cassavetes is a strong enough actor to pose a menacing threat. Well as much as you could in mid 1950s television standards.

The twist is effective if you do not think about it too much. As mentioned by others, if Mary could not hear, her mother would not rung her unless she wanted to speak to her husband.

The prisoner who escaped

[AvionPrince16 · 5/10 · 18 February 2023]

So its the story of a prisoner who hide in a house where a couple live and will take as an hostage the woman who is living in the house. We saw a play of an hide and seek and we see the tension grow when neighbour or friends call the home or try to get inside the house where the prisoner hide. It was pretty interesting anyway but classic; we already saw it multiple times that kind of situation in movies. But it deliver basic tension and give us worried about the hostage. And in other side, we saw the lieutenant try to guess where the prisoner is. And we have the prisoner who try to get out but he will want that hostage come with him outside but the prisoner will get arrested. And we will have the huge revelation about how that prisoner get caught and this is because the hostage was deaf and when she answeredmthe phone with her mother; it get a little bit suspect. But it really dont make sense for me; if the mother know she was deaf why call her then? It was pretty illogical for me and dont make sense.