MR LUCKY – Operation Fortuna – 1960 John Vivyan plays the lead in this Blake Edwards produced series. The series ran for 34 episodes during 1959-60. Vivyan is a gambler who runs a posh casino on the yacht Fortuna. He keeps the yacht outside the 12 mile limit to avoid government entanglements. His number two is played by Ross Martin.
This one starts with Vivyan firing one of his waiters. The waiter, Jack Nicholson, begs to at least finish out the week. He really needs the money. Vivyan relents and agrees he can stay till the end of the week.
Sitting in the casino crowd, is, Richard Chamberlain, Ann Helm and Buzz Martin. Nicholson serves drinks to the three and whispers that all is set for tomorrow night.
The next night, Nicholson slips into the ship's radio room and pulls some tubes loose. Then, before returning to the casino, he goes on deck and flashes a light at a small speedboat. In the speedboat, Chamberlain, B. Martian and Helm, clad in black and wearing face-masks, pull up to the yacht's stern and tie up.
Helm stays with the boat as Chamberlain and B. Martin enter the ship's cash count room. The cashier, Della Sharman, is quite happy to hand over the night's take when a gun is shoved in her face.
Chamberlain and company then hit the casino to relieve the patrons of their cash and jewels. Ross Martin and Vivyan make a play for Chamberlain's gun but a shot into the roof stops them.
The gunmen exit and leap into the speedboat for a speedy exit. Vivyan heads for the radio, which of course does not work.
The next morning, Vivyan and R.Martin are in town talking with Police Detective, Tom Brown. "Two gunmen in masks is not much to work on." Says the Detective.
Returning to the yacht, Vivyan finds that waiter Nicholson has not reported in for work. Vivyan finds this a tad suspicious and decides to check up on Nicholson.
Not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, Nicholson has left a trail a mile wide. They track him down to a small garage. There, they find Nicholson, Chamberlain, Helm and B. Martin dividing up the take from the yacht job.
A vigorous fistfight ensues with Nicholson, Chamberlain and company getting thoroughly thrashed. Detective Brown is summoned and the four are handed over. Vivyan retrieves his cash and has the stolen jewels returned to their owners.
A very entertaining bit of television. This series was Blake Edwards' follow-up to Peter Gunn.
This was Jack Nicholson's third billed role.
The director was Jack Arnold. Arnold's films include, THE GLASS WEB, MAN IN THE SHADOW, GIRLS IN THE NIGHT, THE TATTERED DRESS, OUTSIDE THE LAW and HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL. He also was the director of some of the all time best, 50's sci-fi. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, TARANTULA and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.
The d of p was Edwards' regular, Philip Lathrop. His film work includes, THE PINK PANTHER, CRY TOUGH, LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, THE CINCINNATI KID, POINT BLANK and THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY. (b/w)
This one starts with Vivyan firing one of his waiters. The waiter, Jack Nicholson, begs to at least finish out the week. He really needs the money. Vivyan relents and agrees he can stay till the end of the week.
Sitting in the casino crowd, is, Richard Chamberlain, Ann Helm and Buzz Martin. Nicholson serves drinks to the three and whispers that all is set for tomorrow night.
The next night, Nicholson slips into the ship's radio room and pulls some tubes loose. Then, before returning to the casino, he goes on deck and flashes a light at a small speedboat. In the speedboat, Chamberlain, B. Martian and Helm, clad in black and wearing face-masks, pull up to the yacht's stern and tie up.
Helm stays with the boat as Chamberlain and B. Martin enter the ship's cash count room. The cashier, Della Sharman, is quite happy to hand over the night's take when a gun is shoved in her face.
Chamberlain and company then hit the casino to relieve the patrons of their cash and jewels. Ross Martin and Vivyan make a play for Chamberlain's gun but a shot into the roof stops them.
The gunmen exit and leap into the speedboat for a speedy exit. Vivyan heads for the radio, which of course does not work.
The next morning, Vivyan and R.Martin are in town talking with Police Detective, Tom Brown. "Two gunmen in masks is not much to work on." Says the Detective.
Returning to the yacht, Vivyan finds that waiter Nicholson has not reported in for work. Vivyan finds this a tad suspicious and decides to check up on Nicholson.
Not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, Nicholson has left a trail a mile wide. They track him down to a small garage. There, they find Nicholson, Chamberlain, Helm and B. Martin dividing up the take from the yacht job.
A vigorous fistfight ensues with Nicholson, Chamberlain and company getting thoroughly thrashed. Detective Brown is summoned and the four are handed over. Vivyan retrieves his cash and has the stolen jewels returned to their owners.
A very entertaining bit of television. This series was Blake Edwards' follow-up to Peter Gunn.
This was Jack Nicholson's third billed role.
The director was Jack Arnold. Arnold's films include, THE GLASS WEB, MAN IN THE SHADOW, GIRLS IN THE NIGHT, THE TATTERED DRESS, OUTSIDE THE LAW and HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL. He also was the director of some of the all time best, 50's sci-fi. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, TARANTULA and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.
The d of p was Edwards' regular, Philip Lathrop. His film work includes, THE PINK PANTHER, CRY TOUGH, LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, THE CINCINNATI KID, POINT BLANK and THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY. (b/w)
