Suspense - The Face is Familiar

In "The Face is Familiar," Jack Benny stars as a man so common, so forgettable, that no one can remember his face or his name.

As the episode opens, Tom Jones is milling around the train station when he suddenly recognizes Harry Edmonds, an old friend from childhood. Harry has no memory of Tom and thinks he is a nuisance, but then Harry realizes that his forgettable friend just may be the perfect person to help him pull off a bank job.

"The Face is Familiar" was written for Suspense by Arthur Ross and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Jack Benny, in his fourth and last appearance on Suspense, played Tom Jones. Sheldon Leonard played Harry and Clayton Post played Joe. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Herb Butterfield, Stanely Farrar, Joseph Kearns, and Jeane Wood. This episode aired on January 18, 1954.

. Download Suspense_1954.01.18_ The Face Is Familiar

This story was also presented on the television on General Electric Theater later that same year, and the results were much better. The radio version of this story is a bit flat, but the comedy is played up in the television version. (The gangsters get most of the laughs.) One of the highlights is the appearance of Joseph Kearns, who plays the bank teller that Jack Benny robs. Despite the annoying laugh track, this television version is fun to watch.

Here is a clip of scene that includes Joseph Kearns. If you want to watch this episode in its entirety, you will find it at the Internet Archive.

Comments

[gary]

It's fun to watch Ronald Reagan host the TV Version on General Electric Theatre. And trivia buffs will recognize Don Herbert doing the middle commercial. Herbert's claim to fame was the host of a science-fact show called "WATCH MR. WIZARD!"