Suspense - (Forecast) The Lodger

How did the radio show Suspense begin?

It first appeared on a CBS program called Forecast, which presented the pilot episodes of new shows. Forecast aired Suspense: "The Lodger" on July 22, 1940. The radio-play was based on the novel by Marie Belloc Lowndes, as well as many other tales of mysterious lodgers who may have been Jack-the-Ripper.

The premier episode was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who had previously filmed The Lodger in 1927. Edmund Gwenn and Herbert Marshall were working with Hitchcock on the movie Foreign Correspondent when they appeared on this program. "The Lodger" is a unique Suspense episode because it was performed in front of a studio audience.

Although the response was good, it would be another two years until Suspense became a regular series on CBS. Once it was established in 1942, the show went on to run for twenty years! For more information about the first episode of Suspense and the show's association with Alfred Hitchcock, read "Murder and Suspense: Hitchcock's Established Reputation" by Martin Grams.

Herbert Marshall stars as Mr. Sleuth and Edmund Gwenn stars as Mr. Bunting. This episode also features Noreen Gammill, Joseph Kearns and Lurene Tuttle. Alfred Hitchcock makes an appearance at the end of the show.

Download Forecast-The_Lodger-Suspense_audition_40-07-22_CBS_.mp3

To watch a video clip of Hitchock's The Lodger see: Suspense - The Lodger (First Episode)

(Rev. 02/18/08)

Comments

[Grigs]

Great right up until the ending.