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)
I'm a big Suspense fan and I thought I listened to all the great ones before, but thanks to your terrific site, it's a nice surprise to find out that there are more wonderful ones I hadn't heard yet.
By the way, actress Ellen McRae who plays Sheila is actually future Oscar and Tony award winner Ellen Burstyn.
Posted by: Rob | April 09, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Hi Rob,
Glad you found us! Thanks for posting the info about Ellen Burstyn. I had no idea it was her in this episode. Best - Christine
Posted by: cmillinsf | April 09, 2008 at 10:45 AM
This is another story that was turned into a film noir on screen (albeit in color) starring Robert Ryan...
Posted by: Jimbo | July 17, 2011 at 06:35 AM