The Man Who Found the Money

William (Arthur Hill) is in Vegas and his luck has been terrible. However, on his way out of the casino, he finds a money clip with $92,000 in it...all in $1000 bills. He soon puts the money in a safe deposit box and then reports it to the police. Then, his troubles begin.

This episode is only okay and much of the show isn't very realistic. First, why would the police act so towards William when he turns in the money? Sure, they say that originally the clip had $102,000 in it and they come right out an accuse him of stealing the other $10,000....which really makes no sense because a thief would probably just keep it all. And the reaction of the man who lost it...well that also doesn't make a ton of sense. An interesting idea...but an episode that falls flat despite Hill being such a good actor. In fact, my wife was pretty angry at how this one ended!

First of all, remember this is just a story. And being a Hitch story you know there's absolutely, positively NO happy endings.

Here's my way of looking at it, and the same opinion I've held for over 50 years. A lot of reruns! The "Man Who Found the Mazuma," played by Arthur Hill (later to star as OWEN MARSHALL in the 70s), is a good guy. The two subsequent folks he meets, the cop (RG Armstrong) and the casino manager (Rod Cameron) are a couple of shakedown men. It all fits, because it's VEGAS. The name of the game is money.

Question? Whoooooo just casually drops $92,000 in a parking lot? Has to be some sort of a trap. Bottom line; these crooks try to extort more money from the victim, claiming he stole some. Seems to play out that way, and yes, I agree with the last reviewer. The cop is a work of art. He looks like he's got something up his sleeve, too. Remember, Hitch loves a cut-throat story with cut-throats.

Production wise, the actors shine in their roles, particularly western star Rod Cameron, who should have been cast in the GODFATHER. Also Alan Crosland, Jr, just like his famous dad, ties it all together.

You definitely want to see this one through. Beware of tricks and traps! The 92 grand would equal about 900,000 bananas today. Enufffff said.

A one of a kinder that will stick with you.

SEASON 6 EPISODE 13 remastered Universal dvd box set. Why its called the classic edition. Famous yellow box cover with Hitch's frown.

Interesting, but rather tame, one-note entry. While vacationing in Las Vegas, Arthur Hill stumbles across large wad of money in a parking lot. After counting the amount, $92,000, he secures it in a bank lock-box and reports the find to authorities. Eventually the money's owner shows up.

Since there's no action nor much plot development, the actors carry the burden. Hill is thoroughly convincing as the honest well-intentioned professor, winning audience sympathy from the outset, while the two other principals, RG Armstrong and Rod Cameron, are also excellent.

Note how the script draws out certain sequences, such as the waiting in the sheriff's office, no doubt to help fill the show's running time. However, we're never bored since we wonder what's happened to the $10,000 that seems to be missing from the original amount. The climax is chilling, especially when you ask yourself what you would do in Hill's place.

(In passing-- Hitchcock Presents was an unusual series for its era. Unlike other dramatic shows, it did not present a series of predictable morality plays in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished. That may not have pleased moralists, but it did make for more fascinating and realistic viewing because audiences could never be sure how a particular entry would end. The Man Who Found the Money is a good example.)

Not sure why this episode is highly rated vs others from the same season. The title of the episode tells you what happened and very little else happens over the course of the story. It's slow moving and the ending leaves the viewer wIth more questions than answers. Skip this one.