Mr. Lucky (1959–1960) User Reviews

An Adult Themed Show Ahead of its Time

[jfdvet · 9/10 · 20 April 2021]

I recently got the DVD set of this classic TV show which I haven't seen in 60 years. Back then I had a genuine fascination with Mr. Lucky and his adventures. It may have been the dark edgy atmosphere, the mystery surrounding star John Vivyan's character, or the strong chemistry between the cast members themselves. Above all, it was Henry Mancini's magnificent music that really made the show a hit.

One point that needs to be mentioned is the reason why the show went off the air. Those of us who were alive back in 1959 recall that America was a very different place when it came to public mores, and for its time, Mr. Lucky was quite daring for a television show. Its protagonist was a complex character with a shady past, a professional gambler running a barely legal casino outside the three-mile limit. Along with all the gambling, there was lots of excessive drinking, smoking, partying, and overt sexual innuendos in the dialogue. Not to mention that Lucky and his lady friend Maggie had an "open relationship" when it came to commitment.

Soon CBS and sponsor Lever Brothers received flak from viewers in the South and Midwest concerning the show's alleged "immorality". This is partly why the show's format was changed mid-season from a casino to a swank supper club. However, this was not enough to placate viewers in the Bible belt. Thus, in spite of the shows' strong viewership and high ratings, Lever Brothers refused to renew its contract. Because the show was so hot, CBS was unable to find another sponsor. And so, to the great regret of its audience, Mr. Lucky was subsequently canceled, its last episode airing in September of 1960.

Back then Mr. Lucky was considered to be way too much over the top and paid the penalty for being ahead of its time. Today a show such as this would be a hit on TV but also probably be rated PG because of all the smoking and drinking.

For myself however, seeing this classic TV show once again and hearing the beautiful Henry Mancini score brings back warm memories of a simpler time, when television was indeed real entertainment.

And now, as Andamo ( Ross Martin) would say- "That's it and that's all!"

Online Discussion Group of Mr. Lucky

[pkirkwood · 7/10 · 19 March 2010]

Some of us who enjoy this show in general and Ross Martin's work on it in particular, have been discussing it episode-by-episode at www.andamoinmrlucky.proboards.com.

Here's an example, from one of my own posts, which provoked argument from another member:

"Anyway, back to 'The Money Game': Notice the difference between how natural Rovacs sounds when he says, "The bird from Wilbur College?" and how unnatural Lucky sounds when he says, "The bird who said this country has no respect for mathematicians . . . ." I think the writer missed it with that line. Lucky just can't use slang terms like "bird." And the writer did it again, though not so blatantly, with Lucky's dialogue with Eddie about the "fish." Lucky has too much respect for his customers to refer to them with derogatory words like that. Poor John Vivyan-- what he must have thought when he saw this week's script. In addition to having to speak out of character, he sure got stuck with some lame lines this time."

In retrospect, I'm not sure I agree with myself there about the fish. We'd sure welcome other voices, other opinions, from people who'd like to watch and seriously discuss the show with us.

One season only

[jameselliot-1 · 7/10 · 10 June 2019]

Considering the talent in front of the camera and behind it, Mr Lucky's scripts and fights were lame. The fights were also poorly blocked by the directors. Hovering between comedy and mystery, the show should have lasted at least two years. The show needed more intriguing gambling stories. And were Lucky and Andamo the only crew? A ship like that would need 30 men to run it. They had one janitor.

A Classy Series with Class Actors and the Classiest Musical Score

[chanvat · 31 March 2005]

This TV series, very loosely based on the movie by the same title, is about a suave gambler, Mr. Lucky (John Vivyan), his faithful sidekick, Andamo (Ross Martin), and various guest stars (such as Frank Gorshin) who undergo their adventures on Lucky's yacht, the Fortuna II (Fortuna I sank in episode 1). Anchored beyond L.A.'s twelve-mile limit, the yacht is a center of gambling, classy dining, and intrigue. Lucky and Andamo get themselves into all kinds of danger, but always manage to get themselves out by the time the closing credits roll. While the setting is creative, the magic of this series is created by Hank Mancini's fabulous musical score. The theme "Mr. Lucky" plays throughout, as does Mancini's "Chime Time" and other lovely numbers (e.g., "Blue Satin").

Sadly, this series lasted just one season. Even sadder is the fact that these few episodes have not been reissued in DVD. Just a handful have been released in VHS mode. Maybe this will change. I certainly hope so.

fortuna found

[bencronk · 10/10 · 6 July 2007]

I was only seven at the time the series was on, but I remember I had to leave the room when the Mancini music would start (after all, they were gambling) My main memory of the show from that time was the "launch" pulling up to the Fortuna against the black background. To me, finding the Fortuna rusting and forgotten would be like finding the Batmobile in a junk yard. It (to me) is one of the great Television props of all time. I have always wondered what could have happened to it. Kinda sad to hear that it will eventually fade into history along with the memory of the one great season of a great show. I sure would love to see a picture of it. At least they released a few episodes for us to remember....

10/10/2008 I've done more research on the show recently. It has actually become an obsession for me. I was able to locate the complete series on DVD so I have been able to study them carefully. I have contacted all the marinas in the Eureka / Woodley Island area where the gentleman reported finding the Fortuna. I can find no evidence that the Fortuna is mothballed in the area. There appears to be a suitable ship visible via "Google Earth" but the harbor master assures that it is not the famous boat. I have also contacted Suzanne Lloyd who is a charming actress that guest stared on an episode titled "A Business Measure". She informed me that all of her scenes were shot on a sound stage. As she had several scenes on and around the "boat", I am suspicious that there was only a model boat used for long distance and daylight shots. I would love to be proved wrong, so fire away with any additional info you may have come up with. I suspect the only definitive authority would be Blake Edwards, and as of yet I have been unable to find a contact for him. Aside from Mr.Edwards there are only a handful of surviving actors / actresses, all of them only one time guest stars.

04/11/2012 OK, here it is. After many years and tons of dough...The definitive story of the real "Fortuna II" She was a real yacht. A magnificent one to be sure. She was built in Camdon NJ in 1932 by the Mathis Shipyards as the Yacht "ALAMO" for a Mr. Wm F. Ladd, a New York stock broker. Considering it was the height of the great depression, he must have been a pretty good one. She had several prestigious owners besides Mr Ladd. One in particular was a Mrs. Eleanor Widener Dixon, daughter of the chairman of the White Star Line, owners of the Titanic (the wreck of which she survived). Mrs Dixon donated the yacht to the Navy in 1941 for war service, as did many rich patriots. She was called the USS Alabaster. After the war she was sold as surplus to a private citizen. She was restored to it's original majesty and cruised the west coast until it was leased to Spartan Productions for use in the Mr Lucky series. After the series was canceled she was sold to Enriche Braun, who took her to Acapluco for service as a luxury bay tour boat. In 1980, after being retired from service, she was basically abandoned and left to deteriorate. She sank in Acapluco Bay just off the Yacht Club in a severe storm in 1982. To this day she sits upside down, in a murky current in just under 100ft of water.

I have pictures and documentation for the whole story. If anyone out there wants to see any of it, you may contact me at [e-mail] and I will be happy to share all of it. Use subject "Mr Lucky"

Not one of the best 50-60s shows- corny, cliche without the fun or wit

[braquecubism · 2/10 · 16 October 2019]

I don't see any reviews under 6 stars- but this is not one of the nostalgic gems from the 50s-60s. Meant to be funny, tongue in cheek, like Wild Wild West with Ross Martin who is again, Robin to his Batman. Maybe the best thing in the show. So I was expecting something like home fries, and Chips & salsa- warm comforting, corny but with some style. This is so corny and cliche- I watched part of the 1st, skipped the 2nd, and watched the 3rd. sometimes, some episodes are better than others. It was homey, but sad and predictable. I recognized the "wife" of the drunk" running from gangsters (this is told in the 1st few minutes, so it's not a spoiler; it's the theme of the episode). She is a solid actress of the time, I think Pippa Scott, who is alive and living in Calif. , fun to watch, Lovely. "Mr. Lucky" doesn't have enough panache or sway to carry such a weak plot with so much corn. This is not "the Andy Griffin Show". Down from "the Love Boat" which I didn't like when I was 7. Someone said it was his favorite show when he was 9- that about says it- It certainly doesn't have the wit, fun or joy of George and Gracie, or Milton Berle (Make-up!) or Jack Benny (OH, Rodchester!). If you like the old timey shows, and it brings back an era, or you are under 10, you might like it. I doubt any other episodes are any better.

A smooth crime show with plenty of humor

[zippgun · 28 March 2004]

Mr Lucky was one of a series of half hour crime shows of the late 50's and early 60's.But unlike "Peter Gunn" "Richard Diamond" etc,the hero is not a detective,but a vaguely shady, but basically honest,club owner.The series "Dante" with Howard Duff is probably Mr Lucky's closest relation(that show began the season after "Mr Lucky")."Mr Lucky" is a smooth, enjoyable show with a lot of comedy mixed in the dramatics.John Vivyan,as Lucky is suave and likable. The ever reliable Ross Martin is his sidekick Andamo.It seems strange that Vivyan's career never went anywhere after this show. Martin went on to greater fame in "The Wild Wild West".The shows title sequence, featuring cats,and Henry Mancini's music are great.Interestingly, Mr Lucky's gambling boat,"The Fortuna",turned into just a restaurant about half way through the series-probably in response to the moral criticisms then being directed at some TV shows.

My boyhood memories of "Mr. Lucky"

[CSchwarck · 28 December 2002]

I was nine-years old (and living in New York) when this show premiered, and it quickly became my favorite series. Friday nights meant "77-Sunset-Strip" and then staying up to watch "Mr. Lucky" with a big bottle of Coke and a bag of Fritos. I can still remember the car he drove -- a black 1959 Chrysler Imperial. To me, Mr. Lucky was the epitome of "class."

...a decent television series attempting to cash in on "Peter Gunn"'s success.

[Rockstar-5 Quad Cities, IL-IA · 9 January 2001]

"Mr. Lucky" was a half-hour television series attempting to cash in on "Peter Gunn"'s success. Based on an old '40's feature film that had starred Cary Grant, the t.v. "Mr. Lucky" starred John Vivyan as the title character, Ross Martin as his partner Andamo, Pippa Scott as Mr. Lucky's girlfriend, Maggie, and Tom Brown as Lt. Rovaks of the police department, Lucky's sometimes friend, sometimes adversary. Mr. Lucky was the owner of the ship Fortuna, a floating gambling casino moored off of the California coast's 12 mile limit. Each week Lucky and Andamo would become entangled with an assortment of con-men, gamblers, fugitives, even entertainers working for Lucky aboard the gambling casino. Inevitably it would appear that Lucky was either involved in some type of illegal activity or at the least aiding those involved with the activities. This was all done to a modern jazz musical score supplied by "Peter Gunn"'s Henry Mancini.

The series ran one season (during the '59-'60 season) and is probably best remembered for spawning two hit record albums from Henry Mancini, "Theme from Mr. Lucky" and "Mr Lucky Goes Latin".

The Clones

[schappe1 · 19 January 2003]

TV actors, at least in the old days when they were placed in a separate class from movie actors, often seemed to be clones of their movie brethren. Some were singular in their associations. Nehemiah Persoff seemed to be the Edward G. Robinson of television, getting similar roles and acting them in a very similar manner. Carolyn Jones was the Bette Davis of TV, even to the point of playing a set of sisters one of whom is a murderer on Burke's Law. Other's had company in their pursuits. The western stars were all either John Wayne or Gary Cooper, with an occasional Jimmy Stewart or Henry Fonda thrown in, (including the real thing on "The Deputy"). There were a whole selection of Clark Gables, including John Russell, Rory Calhoun, Richard Egan , Robert Lowery and others. There were plenty of Brandos, including Burt Reynolds, George Maharis and John Saxon. There were enough Rock Hudsons to fill a theater, with John Gavin, Tom Tryon and Gardner McKay coming immediately to mind. The blonde versions I call the "Redfords", a group of thoughtful , well educated types of which Robert Redford was one along with James Franciscus, Richard Chamberlain and William Shatner. They had varying degrees of success with Redford emerging as the head of the class.

Perhaps the most successful strain, however were the Cary Grants. Grant made an ideal model for the suave detective hero, able to be charming or tough as the occasion demanded. Craig Stevens was hired to play Peter Gunn specifically because of a strong resemblance to Grant. His tightlipped performance was not really very charming but it's surely how Cary would have played that character. Latern-jawed John Vivyan played a role that Grant had actually essayed in the movies, Mr. Lucky. He was competent at best. The heroes of the Warner Brother's detective shows were largely based on Cary Grant. Ephram Zimbelist Jr.'s Stu Bailey was a grant-style role with a lot more charm than Peter Gunn. Richard Long's Rex Randolph on Bourbon Street Beat was much the same. Anthony Eisley's Tracy Steele was a less convincing version of the same character on Hawaiian Eye.

But the best of the Grant clones was Gene Barry. He was male-model handsome, had good breeding and seductive whiskey voice. He was also TV's greatest reactors. He had a series of comic takes that was perfect for Amos Burke, who had to confront an unending series of eccentric subjects. Yet he could turn around and romance the ladies or get tough with the tough guys. And he was a good enough actor to hold up his end when the heavy dramatics intervened.

One wonders what the originals of these clones must have thought as they watched the boob tube in it's infancy.

Fortuna Found!

[lee-donehower · 22 December 2006]

During the summer of 2004 we happened upon the derelict, rusting hulk of the Fortuna moored to a dock in Eureka, California. The harbor master pointed it out to us as what was left of the yacht used on the TV series.

Lord only knows what the poor thing had gone through after being decommissioned by Hollywood. The harbor master intimated it might have been used as a drug running boat to and from Mexico.

In any event, a peek through its windows from dockside revealed it is now being used as a storage facility for various boat machinery and parts.