Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) Strange Miracle (1962) User Reviews

Religion, magic or advanced technology?

[talonjensen · 8/10 · 5 May 2018]

I'm wondering why there are no reviews? Maybe people shy away because there is a religious theme or no big name stars in this episode. I'm not going to recap the storyline, just a little further discussion.

The twist at the end is predictable, one of two that I thought of before I saw it. I would have liked a little more development of Pedro's and Lolla's reactions after the initial twist.

Regardless, there is an additional twist after the initial twist at the end of the show and I did like that, something more along the lines of karma or the balance of justice.

If it bothers you that this episode has a religious theme then just think of it as magic or really advanced science controlled by ?

SPOILER: Overall well done for a half hour show, Pedro and Lolla clearly never even consider that the water at the local shrine might have an effect.

Equilibrium

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 7 March 2019]

Community standards and broadcast rules demand that no crime go unpunished. In addition, most people believe in some form of karmic balance. So it is no great surprise when this story takes a certain turn. But a final twist somewhat elevates this simple tale of greed.

"Are you sure they won't find out?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 24 March 2022]

Call it karmic payback or a convoluted miracle, as this story features an opportunistic man who's the victim of an accident that seemingly leaves him paralyzed in both legs. Intending to bilk his company for a large insurance settlement, Pedro Sequiras (David Opatoshu) even hides the fact that he can walk from his attractive wife Lolla (Miriam Colon). I found the casting for this episode somewhat suspect, as actor Opatoshu was almost two decades older than the actress who played his wife, and he looked it. For her part, Ms. Colon had an uncanny resemblance to Jennifer Lopez.

After collecting the final insurance check, Sequiras comes up with a scheme to legitimize a cure for his paralysis. The couple encounters a young girl in the village square who actually is paralyzed. She holds out hope for a miracle cure by visiting a statue of the Virgin Mary at a fountain in Nogales. Taking a cue from Maria (Adelina Pedroza), the couple heads to Nogales where Pedro feigns a miraculous end to his affliction, only to fall down with no feeling in both legs. At the same time back in their village, the crippled Maria finds herself able to walk after hearing the voice of the Blessed Mother. The explanation offered had to do with 'transferring' the useless legs of Sequiras to the young girl who had prayed for the miracle every day of her life.

For Hitchcock, this was a somewhat offbeat story, but not so surprising when you consider he was raised a Roman Catholic, and a number of his stories dealt with the church and faith-based themes. Perhaps the best example of this would be his 1953 movie "I Confess", which tells the story of a priest who comes under suspicion for murder, and cannot clear his name without breaking the seal of the confessional.

Karma time.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 April 2021]

When the episode begins, there's been a bad train accident and many people have been injured. Pedro (David Opatoshu) is one of the victims and initially he cannot walk. But he soon regains the use of his legs...and decides to pretend to be paralyzed in order to get a big settlement from the railroad! What happens next, well, it seems like a great case of karma.

This is a good episode of "Alfred Hitchcock" with a most unusual twist at the end. I do wonder why they used David Opatoshu in this one. He was a fine, fine actor...but wasn't the least big Mexican.

Too Much of the Supernatural

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 3 June 2021]

A man is badly injured in a train accident. He is told he will never walk again. As it turns out, he is whole and is going to cheat the insurance company. He dominates his wife and cruelly walks around. But then he decides he will be cured by the magical waters of a saint. It gets very maudlin at the end.

God Don't Like Ugly

[synash-79487 · 10/10 · 28 December 2021]

"I am weak, but Thou art strong ... I'll be satisfied as long as I walk ... just a closer walk with Thee" could pertain to any number of characters in this teleplay.

Oh! This episode starts out slow and actually ends slow but with a couple of somersaults and maybe a triple lutz thrown in for great measure.

Hubby is in an on the job train accident and is paralyzed - he will never walk again! He is brought back to his village in Mexico to live out his life in a wheelchair. Or is he? Believe it or not, this is not the spoiler. We are all let in on what transpires next - he can actually walk. He's fooled them all; his company, his neighbors and up until this little "milagro", his own wife. If they can continue this ruse, Hubby is in for a fat settlement if he and the Missus can keep up the ruse a while longer. And they succeed! Wifey won't be miserable and can live her life in truth (and money), but Hubby has one last convincing public show for the whole thing comes together. Will it work?

This is an episode of compare and contrast. The two parties both have perseverance, faith, a hard work ethic for each to obtain their goal of a grand reward. In contrast, Your miracle isn't my miracle. At film's end, the contrast is stark. Both parties seemingly pass one another without seeing the other, one in the light, the other an even deeper darkness than at the beginning.

GO TO CHURCH MORE OFTEN!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 19 January 2024]

I agree with the last reviewer, Hitchcock was a devout Catholic all his life, and both his tv show and movies would have references to the church or clergy... but naturally with a daring twist. Stay tuned!

Excellent writing on the part of Halsted Welles, who did several episodes for the master of chills. Welles had an impressive background in the macabre, writing for SUSPENSE and later NIGHT GALLERY. This story, though, leans more to the very dramatic than dark and dreary...

David Opatoshu, never to turn in anything less than an excellent performance, plays Pedro who is involved in a train accident and supposedly has both legs paralyzed. Greed rears its ugly head --insurance money plus the prying investigators --and its time to change things rapidly. Pedro comes up with the idea of a blessed "miracle" that will set him free, so he thinks!

Terrific support from actress Marian Colon as Pedro's concerned wife. They make a terrific team in this story, playing so well off each other. Marian would later appear in the EDGE OF NIGHT and many episodes of GUNSMOKE. Best of it all is the casting of veteran Eduardo Ciannelli, usually at home playing nasty villains, this time around playing a priest! Hitch had to have a say in this!

There IS one realistic, true to life footnote. The joke was on Pedro. A good lawyer would insure he kept that large bank book with all the 000000s. But, alas, this is TV Land.

Nevertheless... not to miss the ending, and perhaps one of the best ever karma tales. Be the judge. SEASON 7 EPISODE 19 remastered Universal dvd box set.