Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) The Horseplayer (1961) User Reviews

Wow! Claude Rains

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 29 May 2021]

This is a charming little story where a parish priest in a run-down church doesn't know where funds will come from to maintain the building. Out of nowhere, a gambler appears. He has been coming to church and believes his prayer is leading to picking the horses. Hence, he lives generous offerings. He develops a kind connection with the priest (played by the great Claude Rains). But guilt comes in. Nicely done episode.

"Everybody ain't wise to this prayer racket, Father...."

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 April 2021]

The episode begins at a dilipidated church. As Father Amion (Claude Rains) says mass, the roof is leaking badly on the congregation. Sadly, the church doesn't have the money to fix this and Amion wonders where they'll get the money. At about this same time, the collection plate starts getting larger than usual donations and soon Amion recognizes the same guy dropping these donations in the plate regularly. So, Amion approaches Mr. Sheridan to thank him....and is shocked when he hears why Sheridan is being so generous. It seems that Sheridan is a professional gambler who suddenly has developed a string of good luck...and it coincided with his trying the power of prayer when he goes to the track! Where does this all go from there? See the show.

While I didn't adore the big twist, this episode was a nice change of pace for the show...sort of a comedic Damon Runyon sort of plot merged with an "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" plot. Clever and fun.

"The Lord will provide."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 31 January 2022]

This could be my favorite 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', with not a hint of murder, larceny or mayhem as part of the plot. What it does have is Claude Rains in the role of a parish priest struggling with his church's finances, and wondering how he's going to get it's leaky roof repaired. But what really makes this episode fun is the character of Sheridan as a small time gambler, wonderfully portrayed by Ed Gardner. His demeanor is so straightforward and humorous with Father Amion (Rains), as he explains how the power of prayer is helping him at the racetrack picking horses that win. As Sheridan continues to drop appreciative ten dollar bills in the collection plate, Father Amion frustratingly tries to explain that prayer wasn't meant for making bets. But eventually, even the good Father thinks that maybe for the better good, he'll go along with a recommendation to bet his personal savings of five hundred dollars on Sally's Pal. Almost immediately he has a change of heart, and confesses his indiscretion to the bishop (Kenneth MacKenna), who starkly advises Amion to pray against the horse! You would think this would end in an either/or situation with Father Amion either losing all his money, or coming up big with a win. Well, if you think he couldn't have it both ways, the ending will surprise, but for that, you'll just have to catch the episode.

"The Horse Player" a Hitchcock classic

[chuck-reilly · 10/10 · 13 June 2013]

Despite his reputation for the macabre and the suspenseful, Alfred Hitchcock had a sentimental streak that stretched a mile long. This entry of his "Presents" series was directed by the master himself and the performances are of the highest caliber. The story itself is a gentle yarn about taking chances and casting one's fate to the wind, or in this case, having one's prayers answered by the Good Lord. The plot is as follows: Claude Rains plays an old Catholic pastor for a poor and dilapidated inner-city parish. The roof is leaking badly in his church and he doesn't have anything close to the funds for even a minimal repair. Enter one mysterious stranger to his evening services who begins putting some serious cash into the till. When Rains finally meets this fellow (Ed Gardner in full Brooklyn accent) he finds out that the church has been the answer to this guy's prayers. He's the "Horse Player" of the title and he's been praying for winners at the local race track. Lo and behold, his prayers have been answered and Mr. Gardner thanks Pastor Rains for making it all possible. But Rains tries to convince the man that praying for winners at the racetrack isn't what prayer is for. Gardner listens but is not convinced. He even suggests that the priest follow his latest tip and bet on a sure shot that's bound to hit the jackpot. "It can't miss, father," he tells Rains. So against his better judgment, old Claude, now desperate for cash to keep his church from literally going under water, takes out every dollar he has at the bank ($500) and gives it to the "player." Remorseful as heck after he hands over the money, he soon has an audience with the Bishop of his diocese (Kenneth MacKenna) to relate his awful miscalculation. The bishop promptly and sternly reprimands him for his actions and advises Rains to pray to God that his horse DOESN'T WIN. The bishop is also positive that Rains will most likely never see the man again (win or lose) and that he's been taken for a ride. So Rains reluctantly does what he's told---and prays for a losing horse. He is now ready to learn his lesson the hard way. Yet later that evening, and to Rains' utter amazement, Gardner does show up at the church, but he is downcast and chagrined that his "sure shot" didn't win the race after all. Rains comforts him and tells him not to worry about the $500. But Gardner has a surprise for him. "You know, father, the horse was leading until the final turn and then he just died out there. It was like someone was praying for him not to win. Thank God I put YOUR money on him to PLACE and not to WIN. I didn't think it was right to gamble your cash recklessly like that. So he finished second and paid off pretty good." Then Gardner hands the old pastor $2,100. Rains looks up to the heavens (and his leaking ceiling) and realizes that the Good Lord works in mysterious ways. This good-natured tale was superbly mounted and as well-done as anything the series has ever offered. Rains was an absolute world-class actor and he handled his chores here with one of his grand performances. Character actor Ed Gardner played the title role with considerable aplomb and it would've been impossible to find someone else who could do it better. There was a moral to this story and Hitchcock delivered it on a silver platter to his audience. Alfred did not direct many episodes in his series, but when he did, he showed the public what directing was all about.

Runyonesque

[Bronco46 · 10/10 · 24 October 2017]

From the very beginning, the name Damon Runyon jumped to mind. I love these kinds of stories, told in this manner. And how can you go wrong with Claude Rains? And I shouldn't forget Percy Helton. This priest in poverty-stricken Parrish gets drawn into something he shouldn't be doing. Not for his own gain. But to help his Parrish, and his church. And he finds himself in the position to have to have to work against his own interests. But there's a BIG twist. Like I said Runyonesque in ending and characters.

THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME MONEY... AGAIN!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 25 December 2023]

No question Alfred Hitchcock was a fan of Claude Rains, and he took some time out to craft this special episode. It shows. One of the absolute best, an episode that is poignant and kind of fun, a bit offbeat for the series, but who is going to complain, right?

Claude Rains, truly a legend, plays Father Amion, beset with a church that is literally falling apart and very little money. His luck changes, though, with the appearance of a parishioner called Mr. Sheriden (well played by Ed Gardner). Sheriden is a gambler --but who also believes in prayer. The prayers seem to work when he plays the ponies and is winning a fortune!

What to do? Why not share the wealth with Father Amion? Should the father place a bet? What a dare, and what a predicament to be in!

A fabulous story, and the acting just marvelous.

Hitch had to have a few chuckles with Claude Rains behind the scenes. Also Ed Gardner is fun to watch, a long time radio personality and character actor, once married to Shirley Booth. Look for popular comedy actor Percy Helton, who was everywhere in movies and tv.

A memorable Christmas tale, even when it's NOT Xmas! SEASON 6 EPISODE 22 remastered dvd box set by Universal. Keep watch on prices, as some of the later series box sets tend to be more expensive.

The Lord works in mysterious ways

[thejcowboy22 · 5/10 · 16 December 2021]

While attending community college on Long Island, I would spend most of my downtime studying. NOT!!! Instead, I would go and play video games at an establishment called "Pinball Palace." The joint was run by James Johnson. A tall fellow, lanky in stature with a toothpick attached to the side of his mouth. Every so often he would ask me to go to the Off Track Betting office and place bets for him, mainly harness racing. Oddly, he would rarely ask me for the receipt /ticket stubs for the purchase. I would offer the stubs but he would say, "You Hold 'em." One day I got to thinking instead of going to place the bet, just pocket the money in hopes of him losing. Such a despicable act on my part, but I figured as long as the losing streak would continue I might as well reap the harvest of his bad luck. The Horse Player is a curious sort of story about a Church in a badly needed repair. The elder priest who runs the parish, Father Amion (Claude Rains) finds large denominations of bills in the collection box. Each day he would receive generous donations when a Mr. Sheridan (Ed Gardner) comes forward and tells the curious Father his recent philanthropy toward the church. Sheridan tells him that the power of prayer and attending daily Mass is due to his winning streak at the Horse Track. Father is baffled at first but realizes that gambling winnings can fix his leaky roof. Sheridan offers the Priest a no-miss winner in tomorrow's race. The priest jumps at the chance and throws in all his savings on Sally's Pal. Then the priest realizes that gambling is sinful and asks the Bishop (Kenneth McKenna) for advice. The Bishop instructs the Priest to pray for the horse to lose. The results are astounding as only a Hitchock directed story would develop. Ed Gardner's performance was so natural as our trackside prognosticator and plays well off the kindly Claude Rains. This is one of 17 episodes Alfred Hitchcock directed in his titled half-hour program. Luckily I also used the power of prayer and prayed for the horse not to win and Jimmy was no more the wiser.