Richard Long plays a devious department store manager who catches a shoplifter (Coleen Gray) and blackmails her into performing a duty for him. Ms. Gray is a married woman with two children in her late 30s and Long threatens her with charges of grand larceny if she doesn't do exactly what he demands. She's already signed a confession and her back is against the wall, so with great reluctance, she agrees. He invites her to come over his house on the weekend when his wife is away. Naturally, Ms. Gray assumes that this meeting is for sexual favors and is sick at the thought, but Long has something even more outrageous in mind. We soon find out that his marriage is on the rocks and his rich wife (Rebecca Sand) won't give him the divorce that he seeks so they can divide up the community property (and bank accounts). When Ms. Gray arrives at his house, she's shocked to find out that Long's master bedroom has been trashed, the jewelry is all missing and the wall-safe is cleaned out. It's immediately obvious to her that Long has stolen everything of value in the house and he wants to make it appear that he's been robbed. He has Lady Gray tie him up to the bed posts and gag him with some tape. She's been instructed to leave the premises after that and is somewhat relieved that she didn't have to strip off her clothes for him. When Long's wife returns, she's not a bit surprised at the upturned furniture and stolen property. In fact, she's downright amused at seeing her husband tied up and in such a compromising position. It doesn't take her but a few minutes to figure out her own scheme to rectify the situation. "The Opportunity" is standard Hitchcock fare without much of the usual suspense. The best thing about it is the performance of beautiful Coleen Gray. Even though she was pushing forty at the time and made-up to be merely an upscale housewife, she still looks glamorous and better than ninety-percent of all working actresses. "The Opportunity" was directed by the prolific Robert Florey.
6 Reviews
He gets what's coming to him.
planktonrules22 April 2021
Paul (Richard Long) is an unhappily married man. His wife is rich and insists she won't grant him a divorce....despite him asking her again and again. She doesn't want to split her money with him....and he, naturally, wants all he can get from her. So, when a shoplifter is caught at the department store where he works, he uses this desperate woman to stage a robbery of his home. His plan is to ransack the safe and blame it all on a robber. How can this plan backfire?
This is a creepy episode and the end, well deserved. My only complaint, and it's common in many of the shows involving murder, is that Hitchcock's epilogue essentially tells us the killer was caught and punished. Since this is never seen in the show and the murder seems like a perfect murder, it's quite irritating...and probably something the network and/or sponsors demanded.
This is a creepy episode and the end, well deserved. My only complaint, and it's common in many of the shows involving murder, is that Hitchcock's epilogue essentially tells us the killer was caught and punished. Since this is never seen in the show and the murder seems like a perfect murder, it's quite irritating...and probably something the network and/or sponsors demanded.
Delightfully slimy
mlbroberts23 October 2020
Paul Devore (Richard Long) is a snake of an assistant manager at a department store, married to a wealthy woman (Rebecca Sand) he wants to divorce and get community property from but she'll have none of it. So, he devises a scheme he needs an accomplice for, blackmails a shoplifter (Coleen Gray) and has her come over while his wife is away. She arrives expecting he wants sex, but finds he has ransacked the house and stolen all his wife's jewelry. Then the fun starts. He has her tie him to the bed, fully clothed, and she gets that he is staging a burglary. She follows his instructions and leaves when he tells her to. Then his wife comes home.....
This episode is nasty but deliciously so. Long, Sand and Gray are wonderful, and it's gratifying to see someone as slimy and stupid as Paul Devore get what's coming to him. That just doesn't happen in the real world enough.
This episode is nasty but deliciously so. Long, Sand and Gray are wonderful, and it's gratifying to see someone as slimy and stupid as Paul Devore get what's coming to him. That just doesn't happen in the real world enough.
DIVORCE... HITCHCOCK STYLE!
tcchelsey12 April 2023
Robert Florey, a pioneer of directors, who began a lengthy career in silent films, sound and televison, handled this very interesting, if not risque drama.
In short, its fun. Richard Long, usually playing a hero, portrays a strange gentleman who is going through a nasty divorce. His bitter wife will not give him a dime. Actually, they both deserve each other... What to do? Since he needs cash, he stages a phony robbery at his house with the help of a shoplifter in his store. The reluctant thief is well played by Colleen Gray, who even has to tie him to his bed to make everything look real?
This one raises an eyebrow or two as there's a blackmail scheme (and it may not be money?), also Long's bedroom the center of attention??? Robert Florey has fun with his characters, and I am sure Hitch had a couple of chuckles too. Old directors stick together.
Well written and quite original with some excellent acting. Long makes a nifty bad guy. The ending is one you have to see.
From the final season (1962) SEASON 7 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set.
In short, its fun. Richard Long, usually playing a hero, portrays a strange gentleman who is going through a nasty divorce. His bitter wife will not give him a dime. Actually, they both deserve each other... What to do? Since he needs cash, he stages a phony robbery at his house with the help of a shoplifter in his store. The reluctant thief is well played by Colleen Gray, who even has to tie him to his bed to make everything look real?
This one raises an eyebrow or two as there's a blackmail scheme (and it may not be money?), also Long's bedroom the center of attention??? Robert Florey has fun with his characters, and I am sure Hitch had a couple of chuckles too. Old directors stick together.
Well written and quite original with some excellent acting. Long makes a nifty bad guy. The ending is one you have to see.
From the final season (1962) SEASON 7 EPISODE 33 remastered Universal dvd box set.
Creepy but good
pop_pop508 July 2021
Whatever
Hitchcoc5 June 2021
I don't have much to say about this one. Richard Long concocts a scheme to steal all his wife's money. He extorts a beautiful shoplifter at his store. We think he is going to use her for sex but he has a much bigger plan for her. I just found the whole thing rather risky and stupid.
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