Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) The Long Shot (1955) User Reviews

A very familiar story with a good twist.

[b_kite · 7/10 · 3 October 2018]

A compulsive gambler Charlie Raymond (Peter Lawford) finds himself in serious debt. Forced to flee New York, he answers an ad from a fellow Brit Walker Hendricks (John Williams) looking for a traveling companion to San Francisco. On the way, Charlie decides to change identities with Hendricks - with horrible consequences.

As other reviews have stated this type of episode has been done a zillion times across different TV shows and movies. The down on his luck con man who then decides to get in with a rich man or woman (mostly men) kills them and takes there inheritance. As usual and knowingly here they never get away with it and much like the name of the episode this is in fact a long shot, I mean this would never work in today's high tech landscape let alone in 1955. The episode is a constant build up to Charlie's evident demise, and while it does come there's a very cool twist to the twist which I didn't see coming at all, and Charlie's final scene is great. Williams is his usual smug British self and I love to watch him act all fancy and proper. Lawford is great as Charlie and its fun to watch him literally chain smoke his way threw this episode (different time folks), All in all its a nice take on a very familiar story with a very fun twist ending.

Give it a shot

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 2 February 2022]

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.

A somewhat predictable but still enjoyable ending.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 16 February 2021]

Peter Lawford stars as a ne'er-do-well gambler who is bound to get his legs broken, or worse, if he doesn't get out of town. He owes someone a lot of money...so he accepts the job of a traveling companion....so he can go from New York to San Francisco, and out of harm's way. Along the drive, his traveling companion (John Williams) turns out to be a bore...and he seems to talk nonstop about life in London. What's next? See the show.

The acting and writing are very good here. As I mentioned in the summary, the twist at the end isn't completely surprising...but it is satisfying and enjoyable. Well worth seeing.

It's a Shifty-Eyed Lawford

[dougdoepke · 3 April 2016]

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.

An Englishman Abroad!!!

[kidboots · 9/10 · 5 February 2012]

This excellent variation on the movie "Detour" has Peter Lawford star as Charlie Raymond, a gambler who has to get out of the city fast!!! - for obvious reasons!!! He answers an ad in the paper advertising for a fellow Londoner to take a car trip to San Francisco and meets Walker Hendricks (John Williams who was memorable as the police officer in "Dial M for Murder").

For Charlie the trip is a complete bore, Walker wants to talk incessantly about London, what pub was on which corner, who was the waiter in what restaurant etc and even though Walker seems as British as the Queen things just don't add up. Charley finds out when they stop overnight and he sees Walker handle a wad of money and later when he looks into the suitcase he finds papers, birth certificates etc. He decides that he and not Walker is going to be the long lost heir and sets about covering all his bases, even visiting an old relative of the heir so he can find out some back ground information. The first thing to do is to get rid of Walker and he does, on a lonely road in Nevada but being an "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" he outsmarts himself and the end is a shot of his puzzled face - the scheme was a long shot but with his luck it just didn't pay off!!!

Also in the cast is Robert Warwick, once a matinée idol during movie's earliest days but now playing a grim, older detective.

Compulsive gambler often blind doesn't measure the risky!!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 8/10 · 15 October 2019]

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

"In my business, you listen to hunches."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 13 July 2021]

Compulsive gambler Charlie Raymond (Peter Lawford), in hock for over four grand to a mob connected leg breaker, passes on a 'sure bet' of five hundred dollars returning ten G's in order to accompany a fellow Englishman cross country on a ride from New York to San Francisco. Incessant conversations about London pubs and side streets wear thin after a while for Raymond, who discovers his host's coming into a lot of dough in a will left by an unknown relative. Playing the odds, his 'long shot' almost pays off, until he gets to the attorney's office handling the estate of the deceased uncle. The twist for this one is a bit of a long shot in and of itself, since travel companion Hendricks (John Williams) was as scheming an impostor as Charlie. Considering the outcome of this story, I couldn't see why laughing Raymond found it so funny.

Inherited Troubles Are Not Worth It

[DKosty123 · 8/10 · 26 April 2010]

This little twisted tale does not violate the production codes and the bad guy gets stopped, more than once though the twist is in figuring out who the bad guys really are.

Peter Lawford is the desperate gambler in major hock to his bookie & looking for an escape clause. He finds an ad in the New York City newspaper for and English Companion to accompany someone going across the US to collect his inheritance in California. That British man is played capably by John Williams.

This show benefits from a talented cast & a clever script which puts a couple of unexpected twists into the trek of Lawford with Williams. The British man (Williams)is coming to inherit wealth of an Uncles Estate. It works out more than a little different.

The Long Shot

[bombersflyup · 7/10 · 14 February 2020]

A funny twist conclusion and not as dull getting there. Quality performances and a quality plot, best episode thus far.

Lawford scores !!

[david111478 · 10/10 · 2 September 2022]

Peter Lawford is very good as a shifty gambler . Can gamblers be ever trusted? Never in Alfred Hitchcock presents!! John Williams was a underrated actor. His most high profile role probably opposite Grace Kelly in Dial M for Murder!)

I gave it a 10 !!

The twist is everything in this series!! If we haven't got a twist in this series it isn't a proper Hitchcock episode!! In this episode we know certain things ie the main character will not succeed!! Most reviewers haven't mentioned the twist!! I think they are wise! The twist is ALL in this series!! If the audience gets it at the start then the program is in trouble!!

Long Shot? You can say that again!

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 6 October 2008]

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.

Two thiefs . Same Idea

[AvionPrince16 · 8/10 · 13 May 2022]

I found the short episode pretty good in term of writing .the developpment take time to understand all the risks and the needs of the character and i found really good how things turn up . The end ,let us know that there were 2 thiefs and had both the same idea .the twist at the end make us understand that the guy who get killed by the car had the same motivations to kill the real man who is behind the legacy of the money. The writing was really good and have some nice revelations and surprises.

The Long Shot

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 15 January 2023]

A good showcase for Peter Lawford who was always a good actor. Here he plays English gambler Charlie Raymond. A compulsive gambler in hock to the bookies and at risk of having his limbs broken.

So he takes a well paid job to be a traveling companion for an English gentleman called Walker Hendricks (John Williams) who needs companionship while driving from New York to San Francisco.

Along the way both talk about life in London. Charlies blags it as it has been a while since he has been to the city.

Charlie learns that Walker is going to San Francisco as he is going to inherit a fortune from an uncle he never met. In Walker's brief case are money, all sorts of affidavits and documents regarding his identity.

Charlie intends to bump off Walker and take his place and inheritance. Only when Charlie gets to San Francisco, a cop is waiting at the lawyer's office.

There has to be a twist. Walker might be a bore but there was a clue when he did not seem to know where Vigo Street was. A street in London with literary connections and some people mistakenly think it was named after French director Jean Vigo.

Nicely underplayed by John Williams, Walker was more than an affable codger.

One of the best episodes of season 1

[Snusmumrikken · 14 September 2009]

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.