Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) The Legacy (1956) User Reviews

A Maughamesque-like departure from the usual Hitchcockian fare

[silversurfersgp · 6/10 · 3 February 2021]

While all the standard elements of a typical Hitchcock story are there (there's a little bit of suspense, someone dies, and the usual twist at the end), this was a refreshing change of style, and I really liked it. It was reminiscent of a Somerset Maugham short story, with the exception of the characters being part of the American old money and nouveau riche jet set instead of British colonials, a sprinkling of foreign expatriates, and a setting in Palm Beach instead of Southeast Asia.

The lovely Leora Dana was well cast as the very wealthy, pleasant, nice but mousy Irene Cole - there was something kind, honest and real in her character which made it believable that a dashing royal prince might be drawn to her. An eyesore though was the heavy George Hamilton tan makeup liberally applied to Jacques Bergerac for him to play Indian Prince Burhan.

Having the narrator character of English author Randolph Burnside worked well also, and although it was a little surprising with the breaking of the fourth wall right at the very end, it made for a rather touching conclusion.

"His Highness is in a generous mood tonight."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 30 July 2021]

I agree with another reviewer here who felt the episode had a soap opera feel to it. Stories about pretentious and shallow, wealthy socialites generally turn me off to begin with. I was stunned by the appearance of Jacques Bergerac as the dashing Prince Burhan, he was heavily made up with that fake tan that was entirely absent when he appeared in the earlier 'Safe Conduct' episode. Not for a minute did I think he was actually falling for the plain Jane Mrs. Cole (Leora Dana). Not that she wasn't attractive in her own way, but the clash in life style and personality just didn't add up. The manner of his death was also made questionable by the explanation offered at the end of the story. One could consider that the mechanic working on Burhan's car disengaged the breaks prior to preparation for the following day's big race; I wouldn't have thought it was intentional to harm the Prince. Burhan's attempt to blackmail Mrs. Cole into marrying him for her money, by stating he would kill himself if she didn't, felt more like a schoolboy's lament over a lost puppy love than the world traveler he was. The ending however did make sense when explained to Burnside (Ralph Clanton). I had to agree with his decision to leave Mrs. Cole in the dark regarding Burhan's gold digging attempt.

The prince and the housewife

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 6 April 2022]

James Neilson directed two 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' episodes prior to "The Legacy". They being "Help Wanted" and "The Orderly World of Mr Appleby", both worth watching episodes without being great or particularly distinguished. "The Legacy" is another change of pace for Season 1, with a slighter and lighter feel and a different type of story. Changes of pace should never be automatically dismissed, Season 1 was no stranger to changes of pace and did them well ("Santa Claus and the Tenth Avenue Kid").

"The Legacy" is another one of Neilson's efforts, so pretty much the same as his previous two instalments, worth watching without being great or particularly distinguished. It is a long way from being one of the best episodes of Season 1 or 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', but the change of pace is handled quite well and it is miles better than the incredibly disappointing previous episode "The Hidden Thing". It is very understandable though if it doesn't click for all.

Did think that the story is too on the lightweight and thin side, and there is a preference for the more suspenseful and tense sort of episodes (the types of stories where Hitchcock was at his finest).

Maybe it could have had a tighter pace, a few draggy stretches here and there. The ending at least makes sense, but comes off a little blandly and forgettably. The make up for Jacques Bergerac agreed is an eyesore and seemed excessive and not needed.

Having said all of this, it is a slick looking episode and Neilson directs more than competently, with a mostly assured pace and a sense that he knew what he was doing. Hitchcock's bookending is as enjoyable and drolly ironic as ever, not coming as out of place. The main theme for the series has lost none of its memorability. The script is thought provoking while not taking itself too seriously or coming over as verbose.

Furthermore, the story provokes thought enough and even better is the character writing, very interesting psychologically. As was the interaction, which was a lot more detailed than one expects for this story. Jacques Bergerac is dashing, while Leora Dana brings real poignancy and honesty to her mousy character.

Concluding, not bad at all and pretty decent, if not exceptional. 7/10.

An Interesting Story of Psychology & Relationships

[Snow Leopard · 20 March 2006]

Something of a change-of-pace for the series, this episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" primarily concentrates on psychology and relationships instead of suspense and fear. Gina Kaus's story takes several unexpected turns, as did so many episodes in the series, but this time with a rather different style. It has some of the show's familiar elements, plus an interesting psychological angle (in his closing remarks, Hitchcock adds some amusing satirical remarks to keep you from taking the psychology too seriously).

Set in a high-class Palm Beach resort, the story has Jacques Bergerac as a renowned playboy who takes a romantic interest in a seemingly plain, shy married woman whose husband is neglecting her. The script effectively blends in the story developments with sequences of the other characters marveling over this odd development. It creates a believable atmosphere of life among the 'idle rich' while also arousing the viewer's own curiosity about what is going on. The story is narrated by one of the characters who is writing a book about the playboy, and this device works well.

Bergerac is well-suited to his role, and Leora Dana gives quite a good performance in an unusual kind of leading role, as the plain-Jane housewife. Her make-up artist(s) also deserves praise for the effective change in her appearance between the beginning and the end, which also helps to make the story believable.

One of the things that made the series so interesting was that you were never quite sure what tone an episode would take. This one holds onto the strengths of the show, and makes things interesting by adding a slightly new mood of its own.

Mildly interesting...nothing more.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 19 February 2021]

The episode begins in Palm Beach. A couple are enjoying some time at the beach and socializing with the high-class folks at some resort. The wife is rather plain and the husband spends time around other women...too much time. But the wife isn't jealous...and just shrugs off the time he spends with these ladies. However, a reversal is coming....as a very handsome young prince and playboy begins showing attention to her. In fact, after a while he asks her to marry him and leave her husband...and she refuses. What's next?

This is an okay episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"....not bad at all but also not among the more memorable episodes...with just an okay twist. Worth seeing but far from a must-see.

Interesting storyline but ALL of these people are awful

[glitterrose · 7/10 · 6 July 2022]

I think I just want to cut out a bunch of these characters and only mention them in passing.

So it's vacation time and it's time to go rub elbows with snobs with bad attitudes. Irene's married to Howard...and let me make a small tidbit comment when it concerns Alan Hewitt. I've enjoyed a lot of old series when I was growing up and one of my favorites back then was 'My Favorite Martian'. Alan Hewitt showed up on that series as Detective Brennan and I genuinely thought the hair on his head was his own. It wasn't til later I saw a picture of him and saw him without his hair piece. Must say his piece looks as good as Pernell Robert's when he was on Bonanza.

Anyway, Irene and Howard are married and Howard likes other ladies. He's hanging out with an actress to the point where you'd think he was married to this actress instead of Irene. The other richie riches gossip about Irene looking the other way. There's a writer in this area that's there to write an article about the Prince. Anyway, the writer tosses in judgmental cracks that make it sound like Irene married Howard for his money and she'd be a fool to let that go. She knows her place. The writer is corrected. Irene's richer than Howard. The writer puzzles over why she'd put up with Howard's nonsense.

The Prince arrives and he treats Irene like she's the only one in the room. The two hang out but it doesn't turn into an affair. Irene talks about Howard all the time to the Prince. This irritates him. He acts like he's in love with Irene. Needless to say the rich people have something new to gossip about. Why is this good looking Prince paying attention to this plain looking, ordinary woman? Even Irene's puzzled over the Prince and confides to the writer what's going on. The writer tells Irene she's a challenge to the Prince and she'd never be able to keep him. Thought that was pretty cruel tbh. More on that later.

The Prince threatens to commit suicide because of Irene. Needless to say Irene didn't react well to that threat. Little bit of time passes and the Prince is involved in a car accident and is killed. New gossip subject: The Prince killed himself over Irene! Irene and Howard are going home. Irene looks in shock over everything that's happened.

The writer accidentally finds out some more details about the Prince's death. It wasn't suicide. It was simply an accident. More details spill out. The Prince was deeply in debt and he was just using Irene. The writer decides he must go tell Irene so she doesn't keep blaming herself over the Prince's death.

The writer goes to see Irene and Howard and sees how much things have changed for Irene and Howard. Howard's actually acting like a supportive husband to Irene and Irene has come out of her shell. She's dressing fancier, has new hobbies, and is involving herself with charities.

The writer decides to keep his mouth shut and not spoil this new life Irene and Howard are having. The actor turns to the camera and says a line that makes me cringe as he basically asks if they would tell.

I can't buy that last scene because the writer has already said some blunt things to Irene to start with. What's one more thing to unload on Irene? And for Irene to be living her best now, I guess the theme for the episode is 'It's good when you think somebody killed themselves over you. Have fun!'

I hate I sound so judgmental. I did enjoy the episode but all the characters were awful in one way or another.

Average

[Cristi_Ciopron · 6/10 · 5 October 2009]

The tale of an intriguing romance in Palm Beach, with a larger cast (a wealthy couple, a prince Burhan, a writer, a Hollywood starlet, a couple of sharp—tongued old—timers), THE LEGACY, with Leora Dana and Jacques Bergerac, a Teleplay by Gina Kaus and Andrew Solt, based on a story by Gina Kaus, with a cast completed by Enid Markey, Alan Hewitt, Walter Kingsford, Ralph Clanton and Roxanne Arlen, is one of the fluffier episodes of this TV series. A very wealthy wife, rather commonly looking and plain, is assiduously courted, in Palm Beach, by an exotic playboy, the Hindu prince Burhan, while her husband keeps busy flirting with a Hollywood bimbo. The intro and _extro by Hitchcock are some mock—Freudian jokes, the director caught in a net and trying to make, in joke, sense of a rather trite story and script.

I Never Bought any of It

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 23 October 2008]

I know the acting was OK, but in the worst soap opera way. These rich obnoxious people play and pretend. The husband in the episode, runs around with some idiot blonde and his wife accepts that this is the way it is. There is no sparring; she is totally fine with this. Along comes some dippy prince, who starts putting moves on her. She isn't that bad looking, but she isn't exactly princess material. Of course, there is something going on. The byplay continues and it eventually ends in a boring, predictable way. I never was able to care about these people. They were smug asses who treated each other with disdain. Anyway, I wouldn't bother with this one, even if it was a little out of the Hitchcock milieu.

Worst episode of season one

[trevor-44290 · 4/10 · 16 April 2023]

I'm currently making my way through the Hitchcock presents complete dvd box set and this is the poorest episode so far ... A prince try's to woo an over 30s housewife and claims he is in love with her and tells her that if she doesn't leave her husband for him, he will kill himself . The next day news comes in that he dies in a car crash and the woman thinks he killed him self because of her . A friend of hers then finds out that it was not a suicide but an accident. He goes to tell her only to find out that she is over the moon in love with her husband and instead of feeling guilty about the guy commiting suicide , her ego has taken a huge boost ,,, so her friend decides not to tell her the truth in case of deflating her ego.

This episode is truly one of the dumbest stories I've ever heard or sat through. Leaves a serious bad taste in the mouth.

Mild, but Entertaining

[dougdoepke · 29 January 2016]

Admittedly this is not the most gripping of Hitchcock entries. Mostly, scenes center around a wealthy watering hole where the jet-set congregates; that is, when they're not aboard a yacht or some such. Fortunately casting supplies a number of colorful types to establish interest, especially lively old gossip Cecilia (Markey). Plain-looking Irene (Dana) doesn't appear to fit in with the sophisticates; nonetheless, she is a wealthy heiress whose husband pays her no attention while squiring around one bimbo after another. Poor Irene appears too defeated to care. So why suddenly does wealthy playboy Prince Burhan (Bergerac) start romancing this wallflower when other women fall at his handsome feet.

All in all, it's a fairly tame episode, minus the usual Hitch dark mood and menace. Still, the characters are entertaining, along with a rather satisfying conclusion, thanks to that fine actress, Leora Dana, and what turns out to be a subtle setup.

very light and thought provoking

[bizzfoho · 5 October 2011]

I went along with this tale out of curiosity. It was unbelievable that the prince would go for "plain Jane" I kept looking for some thing in her appearance. Yea, the husband was a bit too flighty and showing off his "bimbo". The hotel guests were interesting. All proving info about the relationships. But, I did not get the circumstances of the price's deadly auto crash. Did the mechanic mess with the brakes intentionally or was it incompetence ? Anyway, the guy was a hustler trying to capitalize on a flimsy marriage to get access to her dough. But then she affirmes she loved her husband and never leave him. At the end she got over thinking she was responsible for his death. Thought of herself as being worthy of such royalty and found a new confidence within her. Oddly, her playboy husband obviously got over the air headed bimbo types and re discovered a new beauty in his overlooked, underestimated, reborn wife and now had the social life he so strongly pursued !

Kind of funny that the author would break the wall in the end and state that he never told her the truth about the Prince and his intentions....."would you !"