The Long Shot

Except for the talky middle, the entry holds interest throughout. Englishman, gambler Charlie Raymond (Lawford) is flat broke and fleeing New York from a bookie he owes money to. So he pretends to be respectable by hiring on with English gentleman (Williams) who needs companionship while driving to San Francisco. On the way, Charlie discovers his companion is set to inherit a fortune by simply turning up at an attorney's office in Frisco and verifying his identity. So the wheels start turning on more than just the car.

It's really a Lawford showcase as he manages the shifty-eyed schemer in fine fashion. Catch how subtly he reacts to his companion's endless ruminations on life in London. We know there's more going on than meets the eye since this is Hitchcock. But what. Stay tuned. And, oh yes, don't look for any shapely girls in his male exclusive 30-minutes.

I've seen so many plots where a man finds out about an inheritance that is being held for someone. Many B movies use this plot. If they can get rid of this person, they can swoop in and grab the money. One need only think for a moment how incredibly hard this would be. All it takes is one eye witness. What about a photograph? We are talking big money here. Peter Lawford is a small time gambler, in trouble with his bookie. He becomes the unwitting accomplice to his rival, a man who will talk about nothing but London. Given the opportunity, he will off this guy and move in. The guy is an utter bore. Being a Hitchcock episode, there are some surprises along the way. It's just that the plot is so far fetched we just know something is going to screw it up.

I like this episode very much. I think it has: Great acting, twist and a good interesting story. I was very surprised by the twist in this episode. I liked the twist, but i will not say when it happens in the episode.

As you may know, frequently cast in Hitchcock's films and this TV-series, it stars the British actor John Williams. Who was in at least 10 episodes of this series. I like him as an actor. I think he is great. He doesn't disappoint me in this episode. I also think Peter Lawford did well. One could think that it was Alfred Hitchcock who directed this. I mean by the interesting story and twist. So, i recommend this episode very much.

The main problem with compulsive gamblers certainly is about to be blinded by the greedy and easy money which they suppose comes along, it was the case of the English Charlie Raymond (Peter Lawford) who reply a newspaper advertisement about a job, a fellow countryman Walker Hendricks (Williams) needs as companion to long journey between New York to San Francisco, he fills all requires, the payment is enough good, they starts a tiresome trip, somehow in the middle of the way he figure out that his new friend is actually a heir of 200.000 dollars from an already died uncle who never meet before, he willing to rid of Hendricks and replaced him as the real one, his knowledge over London and has all papers in your hands he thinks this bet could work, he kill Hendricks on the desert and drives foward to Frisco to receive the money, a really high stake to a compulsive gambler!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

Despite finding a huge amount to like about 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' as a series and really liking to loving five of the previous eight episodes, expectations were not massive for "The Long Shot". The story is very familiar ground and Peter Lawford generally is not a huge favourite of mine. Also didn't care very much for Robert Stevenson's previous episode "Don't Come Back Alive", but did think that he could do another Don Medford in having a lesser episode of the season as his first episode and redeem himself with his second.

Luckily that is the case with Stevenson with "The Long Shot". The improvement is so vast that a check to see whether it was the same person who directed both episodes was needed. It is not flawless and to me there are better episodes of Season 1 and of the series, "Breakdown" immediately coming to mind. "The Long Shot" though is very good and has enough of what makes me like 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' a good deal. Anything that manages to get a great performance out of Lawford already goes up in my estimations.

As said, Lawford is not a favourite of mine (not sure about that being a popular opinion) but it has always been dependent on the role and he did have some weak ones in his earlier years. He has a strong role here and gives a performance that is very committed, pretty subtle but never to the point of boredom and he excels at being shifty. Have always liked John Williams and felt he never gets enough credit and he does smug and distinguished very well. The supporting cast are solid.

"The Long Shot" is another well made episode, with some suitably moody photography and it is not claustrophobic or overblown looking. Stevenson is a lot more in control of the material here and directs with precision and a good eye for atmosphere for much of the time. It's hauntingly scored and the theme tune is for me one of the best uses of pre-existing classical music in television and not a conventional one. On the most part, it's scripted tightly and thoughtfully and the story compels and has a nice suspenseful atmosphere. The twist is well executed and clever, if not earth shattering perhaps.

Where "The Long Shot" is at its weakest is the over-talky and occasionally pedestrian mid-section.

Did feel too that there were moments going towards the end where suspension of disbelief is needed.

In conclusion, very well done. 8/10.