You Got to Have Luck

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

"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.

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.

I like this episode as it is one of the few so far that actually nails the 25 minute cutoff. Most episodes struggle with that format. "You got to have luck" keeps it very simple. Doesn't try to tell a convoluted story but a straightforward simple one. It kinda stands or falls with how you feel about the ending. In my opinion it at least has an ending, instead of the completely open endings we've seen from other episodes that seemed to be deprived of time. This one wraps everything up neatly with it's final reveal. Though I liked it well enough I can certainly see some people who find in implausible and possibly flat. To me this one is kind of the blueprint of what I'm looking for in Alfred Hitchcock presents. Simple, easy to follow, with a simple ending that more or less gives all the closure I need.

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.)