Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Red Mark

Escape's "The Red Mark" was loosely adapted from a short story by John Russell about a French prison colony in New Caledonia. The original work is available in a book called The Red Mark: And Other Stories (1919), which also includes his better known tale about French convicts in New Caledonia, "The Fourth Man."

Escape turned "The Red Mark" into a love story, and though it is a good episode, it bears little resemblance to the original, which is a grim father and son tragedy. Earlier, in 1928, "The Red Mark" had been made into a silent movie, but with a different ending.

Escape's version centers on the relationship between a convict named Bijou (named Bibi-Ri in the original) and Zelie, the child-bride of Monsieur de Nou. Zelie's husband is a convict, but because he willingly took the job of executioner, Monsieur De Nou has special privileges and a higher rank in the colony. De Nou and his assistant, Bombiste, know that Bijou and Zelie want to be together and they have a plan to stop them.

"The Red Mark" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and Manny Grotnik. Harry Bartell played Bijou and William Conrad played Dumail. Also appearing were: Will Geer (M. De Nou), Junius Matthews (Bombiste), Barbara Whiting (Zelie), and Paul Frees (The Commandant). This episode aired on February 21, 1950.

. Download Escape.1950.02.21_Red_Mark.mp3

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Suspense - Subway

"Subway" stars June Havoc in a story about woman who is annoyed to the brink of murder by an old friend from school.

Paula Stevens is battling the 5:00 mob in a New York subway station. She has a terrible cold, she is weary, and she hates everyone and everything around her. On the train, Paula finds herself standing next to an old friend from college, Ruth Carney. The two had both attended the same acting academy, but things haven't turned out the way either of them expected. Paula was determined to become a great and serious actress, but her career went nowhere. Ruth, however, made a career for herself in the theater but did it through her family's connections and money. Paula is envious and depressed by the way things have turned out. Suddenly, she remembers the scissors in her purse and she comes up with an idea...

"Subway" was written by Mel Dinelli and Eileen Douglas Walzer. William Spier produced/directed. June Havoc played Paula and Lurene Tuttle played Ruth. This episode aired on October 30, 1947.

.  Download Suspense_1947.10.30_Subway.mp3

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Richard Widmark and Suspense

This week saw the passing of actor Richard Widmark (1914-2008), who died at age 93. Though he is known primarily for his film and television work, he began his career in radio and left behind an interesting collection of performances.

Richard Widmark made thirteen appearances on Suspense between 1942 and 1954. His first appearance occurred as early as episode #4, when he appeared in Suspense's presentation of "Rope," Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play about the Leopold and Lobe murder case. On Suspense he played roles that ranged from Iago in Shakespeare's Othello to a radio-script writer gone mad in "A Murderous Revision."

Here is the list of episodes in which he appeared:

1) "Rope" (07/08/1942) - Considered a lost episode. No known recordings of this broadcast exist.

2) "Too Hot to Live" (10/26/1950)

3) "Tell You Why I Shouldn't Die" (06/07/1951)

4) "The Hunting of Bob Lee" (10/29/1951)

5) "A Murderous Revision" (12/03/1951)

6) "The Track of the Cat" (02/18/1952)

7) "Mate Bram" (04/14/1952)

8)  "How Long is the Night" (10/13/1952)

9) "The Spencer Brothers" (1/26/1953)

10) "Othello" Part One (05/04/1953)

(Suspense's presentation of Othello was the first on radio.)

11) "Othello" Part Two (05/11/1953)

12) "A Message to Garcia" (09/14/1953)

13) "The Card Game" (04/19/1954)

(Image of Richard Widmark from 1950 film Panic in the Streets from Wikipedia)

Suspense - The Track of the Cat

In "The Track of the Cat," Richard Widmark plays Curt, a Nevada rancher who is determined to hunt down the mysterious panther that killed his brother.

The snow is falling on the Nevada mountains, and in the early morning winds, there are sounds of trouble on the ranch. Curt and his brothers think that a mountain lion is upsetting their cattle, and they want to go into the canyon to kill it. Their mother asks them not to go because there is a blizzard coming, and because she believes that the first snow of the year brings out the great black panther. Is the black panther a Native American legend or is it real? When Curt finds his brother Arthur dead from an attack by the ghostly animal, he vows to hunt it down.

Suspense's radio-play was adapted by Sylvia Richards from the 1949 novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. This story also became a movie in 1954 that starred Robert Mitchum and Teresa Wright. For a review of the DVD version of Track of the Cat visit DVDBeaver.com.

Appearing with Richard Widmark in "Track of the Cat" were Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, Sharon Douglas, Lee Millar, and Martha Wentworth. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. This episode aired on February 18, 1952.

.  Download Suspense_1952.02.18_TheTrackOfTheCat.mp3

(Image by Steve Mestagh from Wikimedia Commons)

Escape - The Pistol

Escape's "The Pistol" takes place during the early days of the California gold rush and tells the story of one man's quest for revenge.

As the episode opens, Jonathan Storm is attending an auction in Sacramento. At stake is a six-shooter that he wants badly, but he is outbid by a lady. The next morning on the stage-coach to Rawhide Flats, Jonathan meets the same lady, and they strike up an acquaintance. He finds out that her name is Theresa Blake and that she is a singer at the Brass Nugget saloon. Things are friendly enough, until he mentions his brother, Dave Storm. On that subject Theresa has nothing to say.

Jonathan arrives in Rawhide Flats and goes out to the Boston Pocket claim to see his brother. When he gets there, he finds that his brother is no longer the owner of the mine and that no one wants to discuss how that change in ownership occurred.

"The Pistol" was written by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Gerald Mohr played Jonathan Storm, Betty Lou Gerson played Theresa Blake, Charles McGraw played Bart Mallory, and Will Geer played Dan Rivers.This episode aired on January 3, 1950.

.  Download Escape.1950.01.03_The_Pistol.mp3

(Image of Sacramento in 1849 from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Night Must Fall

"Night Must Fall" was one of a number of hour-long episodes that Suspense presented in 1948. Their radio play was adapted from the 1935 play by Emlyn Williams and performed by actors from both the original London stage production and the 1937 film Night Must Fall.

The episode opens in a cottage in rural England, the home of Mrs. Bramson. The disappearance of a local woman has recently brought Scotland Yard investigators into the town and into her home. At the same time, she also receives a visitor named Danny. He and Dora, the maid, are involved and Mrs. Bramson expects him to marry Dora. Mrs. Bramson is a difficult old bitty confined to a wheelchair, but she takes a liking to Danny and offers him a job in her home.

Danny accepts the job and moves in, but Mrs. Bramson's niece, Olivia, has her suspicions about him.

"Night Must Fall" was adapted for Suspense by Robert L. Richards and directed by Anton M. Leader. Robert Montgomery produced, hosted and starred as Danny. Ten years earlier, he had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in the film Night Must Fall. Dame May Whitty and Matthew Boulton had both appeared in the original London stage play, but Whitty also appeared in the film version and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Also appearing in this broadcast were Heather Angel as Olivia and Richard Ney as Hubert. This episode aired on March 27, 1948.

. Download Suspense_1948.03.27_NightMustFall.mp3

(Image of Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Black Shawl

"The Black Shawl" stars Dame May Whitty and Maureen O'Sullivan in a weird story about an Englishwoman who engages a home companion to live with her...and the person hidden in her home.

As the episode opens, Susan Applebie tells us that she is about to be murdered. Only three days earlier, she had been enjoying herself at the town fair, but then she met Elizabeth Masters.

Mrs. Masters approached Susan at the fair with an offer of employment as a home companion. She told Susan that her primary responsibilities would be to brew tea and chit chat, and for that, she would be well paid. Susan agreed because she and her fiance needed the money, but when her fiance heard about her new position with the strange old woman, he wasn't pleased.  Despite his concerns, she started her new job the next night.

Now, Susan is imprisoned in the house of a madwoman who has a peculiar grudge against home companions.

"The Black Shawl" was written by Richard R. Lewis and produced/directed by William Spier. This episode was the first of Dame May Whitty's four appearances on Suspense, but it was Maureen O'Sullivan's only appearance. This episode aired on July 27, 1944. 

. Download Suspense_1944.07.27_TheBlackShawl.mp3   

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Escape - Confession

"Confession" was adapted from the well-known short story by Algernon Blackwood, and although Escape made a few changes, it is one of their finer radio adaptations. If you are interested in reading the short story, it is available online at horrormasters.com.

O'Reilly has been recuperating from shell-shock in a London army hospital for several months. He has been disturbed by an inability to differentiate which beings are real and which are not, but his condition appears to have improved. On this day, O'Reilly has been invited for tea by a female friend, and his doctor feels confident in allowing him to make the trip. O'Reilly is nervous about following the directions to his friend's home because he gets confused easily and he doesn't like to be alone.

Everything goes well until he exits the underground station and walks out into a heavy London fog. O'Reilly tries to follow the directions, but quickly becomes lost and disoriented. As he walks farther and farther, he meets a woman who also appears to be lost. He follows the woman to her home in the hopes that she will help him, but instead, she is murdered.

"Confession" was adapted for radio by John Dunkel and produced/directed by William N. Robson. William Conrad played O'Reilly, Ramsay Hill played the doctor, and Peggy Webber played the woman in the fog. This episode aired on December 31, 1947.

.  Download Escape_12.31.1947_Confession.mp3

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Suspense - Inferno

With "Inferno," Suspense reminds us to be careful when driving through a long stretch of desert.

Lester and his wife Sheila are driving across the country to his new job in California. As the episode opens, they drive right past a sign advising them to have their vehicle checked before traveling any farther into the desert. The highway in front of them is a lonely one, with no service stations for the next 50 miles, but Lester isn't worried. He tells Sheila that they have enough gas to go twice that distance...but do they have water?

A little farther into their trip, they take a five mile detour down an old road to find a place to eat their picnic lunch. Lester and Sheila assume they are alone in their isolated picnic spot, but two old miners working nearby are watching them...and their car.

"Inferno" was written by Peter Fernandez and was produced/directed by Paul Roberts. Ellen McRae played Sheila and Richard Holland played Lester. Mandel Kramer and Robert Dryden played the miners. (The sound quality of this episode isn't perfect but it was the best recording that could be found.) This episode aired on October 16, 1960.

.  Download Suspense_1960.10.16_Inferno.mp3   

(Image from Morguefile)

Suspense - Murder is a Matter of Opinion

In "Murder is a Matter of Opinion," two law students stage a mock crime in order to prove that an innocent man can be convicted of premeditated murder.

Frank and his younger brother Brian are students at the Tulane College of Law. The two of them disagree on most subjects, but lately they have been arguing about capital punishment. Frank believes the laws are right, and Brian believes that the laws are wrong.

Every year the law school stages a crime and then holds a mock trial to argue the case. This year, Frank and Brian decide to go one better and surprise the school by staging their own crime. Frank will "murder" Brian, and then Brian will argue the case in front of the Mock Trial Board. Or will he?

"Murder is a Matter of Opinion" was based on a short story by Jules Archer and was adapted for radio by Ronald Dawson. Phil Meader and William Lipton starred. This episode aired on August 20, 1961.

.  Download Suspense_1961.08.20_MurderIsAMatterofOpinion.mp3

For other stories by Jules Archer see:

Escape - Two Came Back

Suspense - Sold to Satan

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Escape - Two if By Sea

In "Two if By Sea," Escape gives us a suspenseful love story about a husband who sneaks into Soviet Russia to rescue his wife.

Phillip Sutherland has been a Moscow reporter for the British press for three years, but now he is on his way back to London. Accompanying him is his new bride Marya, a prominent Russian ballerina. As Phillip and Marya await their plane, they are excited about their new life together but when they try to board, Russian officials refuse to let Marya leave the country. Phillip is forced to leave and his wife is forced to remain.

When Phillip returns to London, he is advised by government officials that the odds of being reunited with his wife are dismal. Undeterred, he devises a way to get back to Russia and rescue her. His plan is a tricky one that relies on the help of their friends and a small schooner named The Dawn to sail into the Gulf of Finland.

"Two if By Sea" was based on the 1949 novel Came the Dawn by Roger Bax. The story was adapted for radio by E. Jack Neuman and John Michael Hayes. William N. Robson produced/directed. John Dehner played Phillip, Barton Yarborough played Denny, Paul Frees played Steve Quillan, and Marta Mitrovich played Marya. Also appearing were: Inga Yolas, Jack Kruschen, William Conrad, and Paul Dubov.

.  Download Escape.1950.02.14_TwoIfbySea.mp3

(Image of the Gulf of Finland from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - A Coffin for Mr. Cash

In "A Coffin for Mr. Cash," the supervisor of a crematorium becomes involved in an intricate plan to steal a fortune.

Pete Wilson is the night supervisor of the Lakeside Municipal Crematorium. On one particularly dark and stormy night, Pete receives a visit from Al Thomas. Not too long ago Pete and Al used to share a cell, but now they share a drink while Al explains his visit. He wants Pete to go in with him on a heist, and all Pete has to do is drive a horse.

Pete agrees to the arrangement, primarily because he can't think of a way to get out of it. Al's target is the Dollar Delivery Company, through which payroll funds are delivered by armored cars onThursdays. Al's plan is to steal the money from the delivery company, but not directly. Pete and Al will be robbing the gang that is planning to rob the Dollar Delivery Company next Thursday.

"A Coffin for Mr. Cash" was written for Suspense by Robert A. Arthur and was produced/directed by Paul Roberts. Leon Janney played Pete Wilson and Mandel Kramer played Al Thomas. Also appearing were: Sam Raskyn, Sam Gray, Robert Donley and Joseph Boland. This episode aired on March 27, 1960.

.  Download Suspense_1960.03.27_ACoffinforMrCash.mp3

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Suspense - The Lonely Road

In "The Lonely Road," Gregory Peck plays a man who becomes dangerously smitten with his house-maid.

Steven Gare and his wife, Ellen, life in an isolated house in the country. They are in need of help around their home and so, they post an advertisement. A girl named Jenny responds, and Ellen hires her. Initially, everything seems to go well, but soon Ellen becomes uncomfortable with Jenny. Ellen sees something dangerous in her, and she isn't wrong. Jenny wants get rid of the Ellen, so she and Steven can run off together.

"The Lonely Road" was written by Mary North and produced/directed by William Spier. Gregory Peck, in the first of his five appearances on Suspense, played Steven Gare. Cathy Lewis played Ellen Gare, and Maria Palmer played Jenny. Peck and Palmer had previously worked together in the 1944 film Days of Glory. This episode aired on March 21, 1946.

. Download Suspense_1946.03.21_Lonely_Road.mp3

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Escape - The Derelict

Escape's "The Derelict" is a tale of four people adrift on a ghost ship in the Indian Ocean.

As the episode opens, Cora Moore describes her current situation. She explains that she was a dancer working in Singapore when she boarded a ship bound for Egypt. A few days into the journey, a monsoon ended their voyage, and now Cora is one of four shipwrecked survivors drifting in a life boat. Henry Von Keatman, Mike Bullman, and Lu Wah are her companions.

Soon they see a three-masted schooner sailing toward them. When they board it, however, they find the ship empty except for two skeletons and a fortune in gold. The four of them agree to split the gold when they reach civilization, but secretly, not everyone wants to keep that agreement.

"The Derelict" was adapted by Larry Roman from a story by Victor Schwarz.  Charlotte Lawrence played Cora.  Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Ben Wright, and Charlie Lung. This episode aired on April 26, 1953.

. Download Escape.1953.04.26_The_Derelict.mp3

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Suspense - The Diary of Saphronia Winters

In Suspense's "The Diary of Saphronia Winters," we learn that it is best not to jump into marriage too quickly.

Saphronia Winters, at age 40, is starting her life over again. After the death of her invalid father, whom she took care of for many years, Safronia has gone to stay in Florida. While enjoying her new freedom, she meets Hiram Johnson. He is a handsome hotel owner from Maine, with whom she has a whirlwind courtship. The only thing that seems odd is that he mentions his sister-in-law often. Safronia assumes that it is only because the two of them share the same name.

In a short time, Hiram convinces Safronia to marry him and return with him to his home. When they arrive at his hotel in Maine, Safronia is stunned to find a large, empty hotel that hasn't been open in twenty-five years. Soon, Safronia discovers why he has brought her there and why he mentions his sister-in-law so often.

"The Diary of Safronia Winters" was written by Lucille Fletcher and displays her distinctive style of radio horror. Suspense presented this story twice with Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins in the lead roles.

This story first aired on April 27, 1943.

.  Download Suspense_1943.04.27_DiaryOfSaphroniaWinters.mp3

Suspense presented this story again on August 17, 1944.

. Download Suspense_1944.08.17_DiaryofSaphroniaWinters.mp3

The story aired for the last time on August 10, 1958, with Mercedes McCambridge and Karl Swenson. Mercedes McCambridge was a well-known radio actress, who also found success in films. She was an Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1950, but she is also remembered in movie history for her voice-work as a demon in the 1973 film The Exorcist.

. Download Suspense_1958.08.10_DiaryofSaphroniaWinters.mp3   

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