Escape and Suspense!

Escape - A Passenger to Bali

Escape's "A Passenger to Bali" begins in a Shanghai harbor onboard a freighter named The Roundabout. The ship is about to depart when a man named Mr. Walkes convinces the captain to allow him to purchase passage to Bali. The Reverand Mr. Walkes is a Dutch missionary bound for Bali to distribute bibles and religion. Captain English allows him to travel on The Roundabout although technically, the freighter isn't supposed to take on passengers.

Soon afterwards, Captain English realizes he has made a horrible mistake. Manipulative, drunken, and murderous, Mr. Walkes slowly takes control of the ship by purposely inciting trouble between the British officers and the Kanaka crew. 

When the ship arrives in Bali they learn that Mr. Walkes is an anarchist, unwelcome in any port in Indonesia. Everywhere Mr. Walkes has gone, he has caused trouble. No port will allow him to land. Now The Roundabout is doomed to wander from port to port with an evil passenger who can never disembark.

"A Passenger to Bali" was based on the short novel by Ellis St. Joseph. It was adapted for Escape by Norman McDonald, who also directed this episode. John Dehner played Captain English and Lou Merrill played the Rev. Mr. Walkes. This episode aired on December 10, 1950.

. Download Escape.1950.12.10_A_Passenger_to_Bali.mp3

"A Passenger to Bali" had been performed years earlier as an hour long episode by The Mercury Theatre on the Air on November 13, 1938. Their version was produced and directed by Orson Welles, who also appeared in the role of the Rev. Mr. Walkes. The hour-long version delves deeper into the details of the story and it is an hour of radio theater that is definitely worth the time.

.  Download MT1938-11-13-APassengerToBali.mp3

(Image of Southeast Asia from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - After Dinner Story

"After-Dinner Story" was one of many works by Cornell Woolrich adapted for radio. Suspense presented twenty-two of his stories on their program, but his works were also performed on Molle Mystery Theater and other radio shows. Suspense's "After Dinner Story" was based on the 1938 short story of the same name which Woolrich wrote under his pseudonym, William Irish.

Suspense's version altered the structure of the story a little, but otherwise retold the tale as it was intended. What was left out was the Depression-era setting, and so it lost some of its depth and meaning. The original short story is very tense and the description of the elevator crash is more frightening than on radio. Read Woolrich's story if you get the chance.

"After-Dinner Story" was adapted for radio by Robert L. Richards. Otto Kruger appeared as Mr. Hardecker. Also featured were Hans Conried, William Johnstone, and Lou Merrill. This story aired once on October 26, 1943. Although it never aired again on the Suspense radio program, the television show Suspense aired this story on April 12, 1949. Otto Kruger starred in the same role he had played in the radio version.

. Download Suspense.1943.10.26_After_Dinner_Story.mp3

(Image of elevator shaft from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - My Own Murderer

Richard Samson is a London attorney who receives a visit at his home from an old friend, Alan Rennick. The circumstances prompting this visit are unpleasant. Rennick has just murdered his butler, Baines. The butler had stolen letters and then tried to blackmail him, so Rennick bashed him in the head with a poker. Now he wants his friend and attorney to hide him, or he will kill him too. Samson agrees, but nearly levels his old chum by explaining that while in hiding he will have to do his own laundry, cooking, and serving. Clearly, Rennick hadn't considered all of the ramifications of murdering his butler.

Rennick stays in hiding at Samson's flat until his escape can be carried out. He asks his friend Margaret Farley to help and soon a plan is in motion. Their idea is to fake his death so he can assume another identity. Anita Kilner, the lady-friend who had written the letters stolen by the butler, is also called in to help. All four of them set out on a frosty night to stage the "accidental drowning" in the river. Unfortunately for Rennick, the plan doesn't play out as expected.

"My Own Murderer" starred Herbert Marshall as Richard Samson and Norman Lloyd as Alan Rennick. The radio-play was written by Richard Hull. This episode aired on May 24, 1945.

.  Download Suspense.1945.05.24.My_Own_Murderer.mp3

(Image of the Old Bailey in London from Wikipedia.com)

News from Escape and Suspense!

Hello,

Not everyone thought yesterday's sudden blackout was a hoot!

If you tried to access this blog yesterday and had difficulties, it was due to a large blackout that we had in downtown San Francisco. My blog host,TypePad.com, was one of the many companies affected by it.

The office building where I work had to be shut down for a while, too, just when I was expecting the UPS guy to drop off my new DVD set of Suspense: The Lost Episodes. Talk about suspense! Finally, after two hours, the building was re-opened and UPS delivered my package. Yay for UPS!

I have been on a bit of a Suspense binge since they have arrived. So far, "Dr. Violet" has won me over as the most entertaining, but I have many more episodes to watch.

If you are interested in purchasing the new set you can click on the orange widget to the left. If you would like to read a little more about it, here is a link that will take you to an article at iF Magazine with more information.

My new companion blog about the television show Suspense will be up soon. In the meantime, you can visit my new MySpace.com page for Escape and Suspense!

Best,

Christine

Escape - The Untouchable

In Escape's "The Untouchable," a hypochondriac on a business trip in India becomes convinced that he has contracted leprosy. Like deadly snakes and poets, leprosy was a subject used more than once by Escape. This episode delves into the terror of the disease, a terror that has plagued humankind from our earliest history.

The story begins with Fred McGallister, an American construction engineer on assignment in India. With him in Delhi are Henry Rydell, a hypochondriacal chemical engineer from Ohio, and Henry's wife, Prudence.  Fred needs this job to be successful, and he pushes Henry to get over his fear of germs for the sake of their work. When they take a side trip to Bombay, Henry spirals out of control after a begging leper touches him on the arm. He refuses to believe that the disease is not highly contagious and that he is not infected. In the end, Henry's hysterical fear of leprosy is the real danger.

"The Untouchable" stars John Dehner as Fred, Parley Baer as Henry and Joan Danton as Prudence. The story was written by James Leal Henderson. This episode aired September 27, 1953.

.   Download Escape.1953.09.27_Untouchable.mp3

(Image of Medieval leper's bell from Wikimedia Commons)

Best or Worst? - Lady in Distress

Suspense's "Lady in Distress" showcases Ava Gardner. The radio-play was written by John Michael Hayes, who also wrote the screenplays for the Alfred Hitchcock films Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. So why isn't this episode better? It could have been a neatly packaged radio noir but it isn't.

"Lady in Distress" begins with a hitch-hiker, which is always a good start, but then Ava Gardner's character, Mrs. Harris, and the hitch-hiker named Sullivan start talking while she is driving. We find out that he is an escaped criminal, and that now she is in danger. They keep talking and driving, driving, driving. The humm of the motor, the sound of rain, the endless dialogue...zzzz. Suddenly, they stop in a diner for hamburgers and coffee in a completely unnecessary scene. Then there is more talking, driving...motor humming...rain sounds...zzz...zzzz.

When we wake up again we find out that the escaped convict wants revenge on the policeman who put him in prison. That man just happens to be the husband of Mrs. Harris! Of course, that's no accident. She hates her mean, crabby husband and wants to help Sullivan accomplish his revenge. They arrange to put a bomb in her husband's car but things don't go as planned.  It would be a surprise if they did because neither of these two seems that bright. In the end, the bad people get their come-uppance through their own evil work.

So, that's that.

You really have to listen closely to this story to appreciate it but due to the somnolent sound effects, this is hard to do. "Lady in Distress" was Ava Gardner's only appearance on Suspense. The previous year she had starred in the film noir The Killers by Ernest Hemingway. Also featured in this episode were Howard Duff as Sullivan and Wally Maher as the husband. It was produced and directed by William Spier, who later worked with Gardner on the film Tam Lin. "Lady in Distress" aired on May 1, 1947.

.  Download Suspense.1947-05-01_Lady_In_Distress.mp3

Suspense - Dark Journey

In Suspense's "Dark Journey" we learn that if we really want something to happen, we can will it to happen. At least that is what the main character, Ann Brody, believes. She concentrates on what she wants her boyfriend to do and then, using her power of will, she makes him do it.

The story begins as Ann and her friend Alice arrive in New York City to meet Ann's boyfriend, Clyde Dexter. Ann is clingy and "terribly in love," a situation that signals trouble. (Beware of this on radio--and in your own life.) Ann's boyfriend can't meet them at the train station, or have lunch with them that day, or see her the next day. We can't really blame him based on what we know about Ann so far.

Alice tries to make Ann realize that she has been jilted but Ann refuses to accept that. Ann feels that it is Clyde's mother who is keeping them apart and she uses her "power of will" to get her boyfriend back. When his mother is suddenly murdered, Ann does gets her man back. Alice however, finds the whole situation creepy. She stays away until she has to take a "dark journey" back to see her friend 15 years later.

"Dark Journey" was a radio-play written for two actresses by Lucille Fletcher. The script leaves you guessing at the truth right up to the end. Most women have had a friend who became a little too weird over a boyfriend and this story plays on those fears and bad memories. Ann is a pathetic mess and her friend is stuck in the middle.

This episode starred Nancy Kelly as Ann. Years later, she won a Tony Award (1955) and a nomination for an Academy Award for her role in the play and movie, The Bad Seed. Suspense regular Cathy Lewis starred as Alice. "Dark Journey" was produced, edited and directed by William Spiers. It aired once on April, 25, 1946.

.  Download suspense.04.25.1946.Dark Journey.mp3

(Photo by Morguefile.com)

Escape - Crossing Paris

Escape's "Crossing Paris" takes place during the Nazi occupation of France. It isn't so much a war story as it is a suspense story about two men who have to cross Paris on an icy winter night without getting caught by the German police. Food rationing is in effect and they are carrying four suitcases containing a slaughtered pig that is worth a fortune on the black market. The main character, Martin, makes his living this way but not his new assistant, Grandgil, whom he had only met earlier that day. Out of the compassion felt during hard times, Martin had asked Grandgil to join him on this job to earn 450 francs, but as the night passes he soon regrets his goodwill. Grandgil is difficult, dishonorable, and condescending from the start. Martin is non-confrontational at first, but as the truth about Grandgil comes to light, their trek together takes a bleak turn.

Escape's radio-play was adapted by John Meston from the 1950 short story "Crossing Paris" by the French novelist Marcel Ayme (1902-1967.) Their version stays close to the original work but makes a few changes at the end. Ayme's story is available in English in the anthology Stories in the Modern Manner (1953). In 1956, the short story was the basis for the movie La Traversee de Paris, but the movie version was a comedy with a happy ending. In 1957 Escape's radio-play was performed again for an episode of Suspense.

"Crossing Paris" starred Jay Novello and William Conrad. It also featured Howard McNear, Barney Phillips, Edgar Barrier, Vivi Janiss and Paul Frees.  Unfortunately, none of the actors have convincing French accents. This episode aired on August 25, 1950.

Download Escape.8.25.1950_Crossing_Paris.mp3

Suspense's version made a few changes and has better French accents. It starred Hans Conried, John Dehner, Ted Di Corsia, Joe Di Santis, and Paul Dubov. This episode aired on June 2, 1957.

Download Suspense.06.02.1957.Crossing_Paris.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Suspense - Rave Notice

"Rave Notice" was written for Suspense by James Poe, a scriptwriter who not only wrote intriguing original stories but also successfully adapted other author's works for radio and film. He wrote the radio-plays for a number of notable episodes of Escape including their most famous episode, "Three Skeleton Key," an adaptation from the short story by George Toudouze. Among the episodes he wrote for Suspense, "Never Follow a Banjo Act" and "Rave Notice" stand out as two of the best radio-plays Suspense ever presented. In 1956 he won an Academy Award for his work on the script for Around the World in 80 Days and he was nominated three other times for his work on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Lillies of the Field, and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

"Rave Notice" is the story of a struggling Broadway actor named Sam who commits murder after his director replaces him in a play. In order to avoid getting the electric chair, he uses the Stanislavsky Method to act as if he were insane. The glitch is that the doctors who come to examine him turn out to be the better actors.

This story was presented three times on Suspense and all three presentations are excellent. Variations in the tone of the story come from the three different actors who played the lead. The first broadcast was on October 12, 1950, and Milton Berle starred in the role of Sam. Berle's maniacal laughter is particularly good and he could be considered the best match to this role.

. Download Suspense_10.12.1950.Rave_Notice.mp3

The second time it was presented was on October 21, 1954, and Hans Conried starred as Sam.

. Download Suspense_10.21.1954 Rave Notice.mp3   

The third time was on June 1, 1958, and Vincent Price starred as Sam.

. Download Susp.1958.06.01_Rave_Notice.mp3

(Images of "Old Sparky" and Vincent Price from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Stand In

"Stand-In" is a radio noir about a movie queen and the people in her life who hate her. The story begins with Maggie, or Madame as she is known, returning from an extended vacation in Florida. She arrives home in Hollywood with paparrazi, yippy little dogs and a new husband in tow.

Madame's stand-in and assistant is Dianne Burke. She doesn't have the right face for movies, but she claims she's "got everything else." Dianne sees right away that Madame's new husband, Dennis O'Brien, will be trouble. Dianne and Dennis avoid each other for a while, but on the night of the Academy Awards they find themselves alone in the big empty mansion. From there they drift towards trouble.

Dianne is straightforward and unremorseful as events play out. In the end, she is accepting of her fate. June Havoc played Dianne and her smoldering voice suits the dialogue of this dark drama.

"Stand-In" was written for Suspense by Robert L. Richards and Pamela Wilcox. Cathy Lewis played Madame. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Elliott Lewis, and Wally Maher. This episode was produced, edited and directed by William Spier and aired on June 12, 1947.

.  Download Suspense.1947.06.12_ StandIn.mp3

(Photo of June Havoc's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6618 Hollywood Blvd.)

News from Escape and Suspense!

Escape and Suspense! will take a brief break between July 5th and July 8th for a vacation/research trip to Hollywood. While I am away my imaginery back-up staff (pictured below) will be monitoring my messages. Send us an e-mail! There will be much more to come in July.

Up until now I haven't written much about the television show Suspense, which aired 260 episodes from 1949 to 1954. The television show was broadcast live from New York and these episodes have long been considered "lost."

For the first time in over fifty years, some of these lost episodes will soon become available. The first DVD set of the lost television episodes of Suspense will be released on July 24th. Was the television version of Suspense as good as the radio show? We'll see! If you are interested in pre-ordering the Suspense DVD, I've added an orange widget for this item on the left hand side of this page.

I am currently creating a companion blog to Escape and Suspense! that will be devoted entirely to the television show Suspense. Hopefully, it will be up sometime in late July. Of course, I will continue to update Escape and Suspense! three times a week.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this blog in its first six months. For our American readers, have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Hugs,

Christine

The Legend of Sonny Tufts

"The Legend of Sonny Tufts" is an urban legend about a radio broadcast. Who was Sonny Tufts? How did his name become a joke? What supposedly happened on a Suspense episode hosted by Joseph Cotten? Snopes.com delved into this famous legend and came up with some possible answers. To find out, visit their Sonny Tufts urban legend page for the story and the audio clips.

The two radio broadcasts mentioned in the Snopes.com article,"Sneak Preview" and "Cat & Mouse," are posted below. Neither ranks among the best Suspense offered, but they aren't among the worst either. Any radio performance by Joseph Cotten is worth listening to once, even if the radio-play isn't exceptional. The radio-play for "Cat & Mouse" isn't that bad, but Tufts' colorless performance does nothing to help it.

"Sneak Preview" was written by Robert L. Richards and starred Joseph Cotten, Hans Conried, Dennis Hoey, Cathy Lewis, and John McIntire. When he appeared on this episode, Cotten was promoting his upcoming movie Since You Went Away. This show aired on March 23, 1944.

.   Download Suspense_1944.03.23_Sneak_Preview.mp3

"Cat & Mouse" is a WWII era story that takes place in Boston and in a ski resort in Vermont. It was written for Suspense by Hugh Pentecost and starred Sonny Tufts as John Guthrie. Also featured were Wendell Holmes, John McIntire, Lurene Tuttle, and Will Wright. At the time he appeared on Suspense, Tufts was promoting the movie, I Love a Soldier. This episode aired on March 30, 1944.

.   Download Suspense_1944.03.30_Cat_and_Mouse.mp3

Escape - The Invader

"The Invader" is a simple science fiction tale from 1953, but it still holds up as one of Escape's best episodes. There are some similarities to The Twilight Zone's 1961 episode "The Invaders" and to an X Minus One episode from 1956 called "Pictures Don't Lie" but neither has the wit of Escape's story.

"The Invader" begins with an atomic bomb test in the Nevada desert. The explosion is observed by a space ship on its way to Earth carrying the advance guard of a more evolved race.

These beings already know a few things about humans and the Earth...and it irks them that their superiors stuck them with a mission to such a tedious and primitive planet.

Then, we meet Mr. Albert Tanner and his wife Martha.  Mr. Tanner teaches high school chemistry in La Mirada, California, but his own experiments are what really interest him. 

When he accidentally makes contact with the incoming space ship on his radio set, Mr. Tanner is thrilled. His wife is not. She then makes hysterical phone calls to the police and the army about the space men her husband talks to on his radio...

"The Invader" was directed by Antony Ellis and written by Michael Gray. It starred Howard McNear as Albert Tanner, Fay Baker as Martha, and Edgar Barrier as the Commander. Also appearing were Paul Frees, Peter Leeds, Bill Bissell and LeRoy Leonard. This episode aired on March 29, 1953.

. Download Escape_53-03-29_-176-_The_Invader

Here also is X Minus One's similar story, "Pictures Don't Lie."

.   Download xmn1.1956.10.24_Pictures_Don't_Lie.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Revised 7/15/12