In "The Marvelous Barastro," Orson Welles stars as a magician, who is driven mad by an evil magician determined to take over his identity. Of course, Welles plays both roles.
As the episode opens, Suspense producer/director William Spier recounts an incident that happened three weeks ealier. It was just a typical day at the office...when a stranger suddenly appeared! The man claimed to be Barastro, the greatest magician alive. He had come to tell Spier his story, and when he was done, he would leave for Mexico City to hunt down his evil rival.
His story began twenty years earlier when Barastro was traveling with a carnival around southern Europe. It was then that he first met the woman who would become his wife, Anna. She had asked him to read her palm, but he saw sorrow in her future. So, he lied and promised her happiness.
Barastro married Anna in the hopes of saving her from the cruel fate he foresaw. Soon afterward however, he discovered that he was only fulfilling her destiny...
"The Marvelous Barastro" was written by Ben Hecht and adapted for Suspense by Jack Finke. William Spier produced and directed. Orson Welles starred. This episode aired on April 13, 1944.
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I heard the Mystery in the Air version of this story first so it's always seemed the "real" rendition to me, but I do like how Spier is inserted into the story for this version.
Posted by: Michael Hoskin | May 16, 2010 at 12:53 PM