About this season
Mr. Lucky is a CBS adventure/drama television series that aired from October 24, 1959, to June 18, 1960, with repeats until September 3. Blake Edwards developed the program as a retooling of his Willie Dante character from Four Star Playhouse, where the role was played by studio boss Dick Powell. In the 1960–1961 season, Howard Duff assumed the role of Willie Dante in the NBC adventure/drama series Dante. Mr. Edwards directed and co-wrote the first episode of Mr. Lucky, and the credits of the first eighteen episodes included "Entire production supervised by Blake Edwards." Jack Arnold produced the show and directed fifteen of the thirty-four episodes. Henry Mancini's smooth theme music for the show reached Number 21 in the US singles charts. He released two successful LP's based on the show, Mr. Lucky and Mr. Lucky Goes Latin.
Episodes (34)
1. The Magnificent Bribe
Aired 24 October 1959 • 30 min
Mr. Lucky and his associate Andamo are forced to abandon their casino in Andamo's island country when the corrupt president learns that their yacht, the Fortuna, has been used by a group of revolutionaries to bring in arms.
2. They Shall Not Pass
Aired 31 October 1959 • 30 min
Lucky and Andamo, penniless, crash a costume party aboard an enormous yacht, and Lucky turns it into a floating casino, the Fortuna II.
3. Bugsy
Aired 7 November 1959 • 30 min
It seems that Bugsy McKenna is on the run from the mob. Not just any mob, one headed up by a well educated Mr. Henry Praisewater accompanied by his two henchman. Bugsy was given money to purchase land in the desert for a new hotel but he invested it in his name now they want his hide. He turns to his friend Mr. Lucky to hide him, but Praisewater is hot on Bugsy's tail. Mr. Lucky is caught by Praisewater, claiming Bugsy's not on his casino boat. A few minutes later Mr. Lucky literally steps on Bugsy, to his surprise. He tries to hide Bugsy in the hidden wine room but Bugsy gets drunk and escapes. To add to the chaos, Bugsy's wife is onboard and in order to protect her Lucky knocks her out, pretending she's some woman he's romancing. Bugsy, walking around the boat druink accidentally dropping a bottle of champagne on Praisewater's head. Now Bugsy's cover is blown. Praisewater beats up Lucky and his sidekick Andamo. Mrs. Bugsy wakes up, see's her husband about to be shot and grabs Lucky's
4. The Money Game
Aired 14 November 1959 • 30 min
Lucky is on the lookout for counterfeit money when the police inform him that phony bills are being put into circulation from the Fortuna's port.
5. That Stands for Pool
Aired 21 November 1959 • 30 min
Lucky is challenged to a high stakes game of pool by a gambler who brings a pair of thugs with him to insure that he wins.
6. My Little Gray Home
Aired 28 November 1959 • 30 min
An ex-convict who can't handle the outside world seeks Mr. Lucky's help in returning to prison.
7. The Gordon Caper
Aired 5 December 1959 • 30 min
A woman devises an elaborate blackmail scheme to obtain money from her rich ex-employer to pay off a gambling debt to Mr. Lucky.
8. Little Miss Wow
Aired 12 December 1959 • 30 min
Lucky and Andamo find a missing heiress who has been living in poverty.
9. A Business Measure
Aired 19 December 1959 • 30 min
A pair of smugglers board the Fortuna, one to distract Mr. Lucky while the other hides gems on board.
10. Hijacked
Aired 26 December 1959 • 30 min
Thieves seem particularly interested in stealing a check a lady gave Mr. Lucky to pay off a large gambling debt.
11. Aces Back to Back
Aired 2 January 1960 • 30 min
A wartime buddy sends Mr. Lucky a hideous painting for a birthday gift which the artist desperately wants back.
12. Maggie the Witness
Aired 9 January 1960 • 30 min
An insurance company is after Maggie to give her money inherited from an uncle, right after Mr. Lucky puts her into hiding since she witnessed a mob killing.
13. The Two Million Dollar Window
Aired 16 January 1960 • 30 min
Mr. Lucky is informed that money he won gambling with a scar-faced man was stolen from a race track.
14. The Leadville Kid Gang
Aired 23 January 1960 • 30 min
The police inform Mr. Lucky that they can't go after three elderly men who robbed the Fortuna, since it was outside the three mile limit when the crime occurred.
15. The Sour Milk Fund
Aired 30 January 1960 • 30 min
Andamo falls for a lady who boards the Fortuna in an effort to stop gambling there.
16. The Brain Picker
Aired 6 February 1960 • 30 min
After Lucky decides to change the Fortuna from a gambling casino to a supper club, a woman who Lucky rescues when she attempts suicide asks him for a very large loan.
17. The Last Laugh
Aired 13 February 1960 • 30 min
A gangster is pressuring a comedian who works on the Fortuna to quit his job.
18. The Parolee
Aired 20 February 1960 • 30 min
Mr. Lucky gets some legal problems when he tries to intervene with the police, who are throwing his salad chef in prison for parole violations.
19. The Tax Man
Aired 27 February 1960 • 30 min
A businessman under investigation for tax fraud tries to place a similar rap on Mr. Lucky to keep the IRS investigator busy until he can fix his own books.
20. The Gladiators
Aired 5 March 1960 • 30 min
Lucky holds a charity boxing match on board the Fortuna.
21. Big Squeeze
Aired 12 March 1960 • 30 min
Bandits set out to frame Mr. Lucky when he turns down their request to use the Fortuna as a getaway vehicle.
22. Cold Deck
Aired 19 March 1960 • 30 min
After a ruined poker player attempts suicide, Lucky sets out to find who has been using marked cards at a friend's club.
23. His Maiden Voyage
Aired 26 March 1960 • 30 min
A lawyer in a custody battle over his daughter tries to smuggle her out of the country on the Fortuna.
24. I Bet Your Life
Aired 2 April 1960 • 30 min
Lucky hires himself a hit man to find out who is trying to kill him.
25. Hair of the Dog
Aired 9 April 1960 • 30 min
A known criminal tries stronger tactics when Mr. Lucky refuses to sell him the Fortuna for a ridiculous price.
26. Vote the Bullet
Aired 16 April 1960 • 30 min
Lucky runs for city council to try to oust the criminals who run the town.
27. Hit and Run
Aired 23 April 1960 • 30 min
Lucky is accused of a hit-and-run murder when he loans his car to a friend.
28. Taking a Chance
Aired 30 April 1960 • 30 min
Lucky wins a lottery for which the prize is a date with a popular Hollywood actress who asks Lucky for help against blackmailers.
29. Last Journey
Aired 14 May 1960 • 30 min
During the middle of the night a small boy is smuggled onto the Fortuna from a small fishing vessel.
30. Operation Fortuna
Aired 21 May 1960 • 30 min
A bungling waiter shows his appreciation by robbing Mr. Lucky after Lucky decides to give him one last chance instead of firing him.
31. Stacked Deck
Aired 28 May 1960 • 30 min
A runaway heiress stows away on board the Fortuna, but a peculiar man is pursuing her.
32. Odyssey of Hate
Aired 4 June 1960 • 30 min
Stowaways plan to enter the United States on board the Fortuna and once there spread pro-Nazi literature.
33. Dangerous Lady
Aired 11 June 1960 • 30 min
A woman who needs lots of money very quickly comes to Mr. Lucky for help.
34. Election Bet
Aired 18 June 1960 • 30 min
A man who lost a large bet to Lucky over the outcome of a South American election tries to kill Mr. Lucky to avoid paying the debt.