Suspense's "The Merry Widower" was adapted from a short story by Roy Vickers called "The Rubber Trumpet," which was first published in Pearson's Magazine in September of 1934. It can also be found in Fiction Parade and Golden Book, October 1935.
Vicker's story is about Scotland Yard's Department of Dead Ends and shows how a murder case was solved by connecting two separate crimes, both involving a toy rubber trumpet. (In Suspense's version, the rubber trumpet is changed to a music box.) This was the first of many stories that Vickers would write about the fictitious Department of Dead Ends.
As the episode opens, George Muncey and his wife are arguing. Ethel is upset because they have so little money. George is annoyed with Ethel and her petty complaints. After he tells her that she isn't fit to share his life, he storms off.
George then goes off to see the popular operetta that is playing in London, The Merry Widow. He believes that the story being played out on the stage is his own and that the main character, Prince Danilo, is him. George doesn't feel that the time is right to make an announcement about this to anyone, but he suspects that there is one person who knows, Miss Callemere, a lady who also frequents the show. She understands his true importance.
Now, George has two women in his life. One sees his greatness and the other doesn't. He must rid himself of the one who doesn't. Nothing then will stand in the way of his rightful place in society...
"The Merry Widower" was adapted for radio by Robert L. Richards. William Spier produced/directed. Reginald Gardiner starred. This episode aired on October 12, 1944.
. Download Suspense_1944-10-12_The Merry Widower
(Image from Wikipedia )
Comments