Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Second Shot

Escape's "The Second Shot" was "based on a classic story" by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870). They don't tell us  which one, but it appears to be based on the short story "Zodmirsky's Duel." Escape's version is so loosely based on this story that it is more "in the spirit" of Dumas, but it is a well written episode. The Suspense television show presented an episode called "The Duel" in 1953 and it too, appears to be loosely based on the same short story. If you want to read "Zodmirsky's Duel" it is available online at The Daily Pulp.

As the episode opens, two men are taking their places in a pistol duel. They count off their paces and bang! Lt. Daumier wins the duel. His opponent, one of his own comrades, lies dead.

Afterwards, Daumier is called into the colonel's office for an official interview. He is told that his record is impressive, but his habit of getting into constant duels and killing his fellow soldiers is a problem. All Lt. Daumier seems to care about is defending his honor, and the colonel warns him not to start any more duels. Lt. Daumier then starts a challenge to the colonel, but backs down when he is told that threatening an officer is a crime. Lt. Daumier then asks if it is a crime to issue a challenge to an officer for personal reasons. The answer is no.

The colonel wishes that Lt. Daumier would grow up and hopes that the coming campaign against the Austrians will calm him down.

Later, the colonel is invited to a dinner by a fellow officer and meets the beautiful Marian. He quickly falls for her, and Marian accepts his attention, but seems hesitant.

What she hasn't told him is that she once exchanged rings with someone else! As it turns out, the man with whom she was previously involved was Lt. Daumier.

When Lt. Daumier finds out that Marian is now involved with the colonel, he calls for a duel!

"The Second Shot" was written by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnnell. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Vic Perrin, Ellen Morgan, Ben Wright, Harry Bartell, Jack Kruschen, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on March 25, 1954.

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Below is a clip from the Suspense television show's version, which aired a year earlier on April 21, 1953.

(Image of Alexandre Dumas (pere) from Wikipedia)

Suspense - Vamp Till Dead

In "Vamp Till Dead," Ginger Rogers stars as a woman who attempts to solve her sister's murder through an elaborate plan that involves recreating herself in her sister's image and then marrying her husband.

As the episode opens, Amy has just arrived at the home of the famous writer Paul Gentry, to start a new job as his private secretary. In his initial encounter with her, Paul is tough and demanding, but the cook, Jenny, tells her not to worry. Mr. Gentry isn't as harsh as he appears. People just don't understand him. Then, Jenny explains that Mr. Gentry's late wife, Isabell, died about a year earlier. It was never proven that Paul Gentry was responsible for her death, but many people believe he was. Jenny then notices how much Amy looks like the late Mrs. Gentry...

Paul and Amy spend the next few weeks working furiously on his new book, until one day a local newspaper reporter named Al Pender comes by. Paul wants nothing to do with him! He resents the articles that Al wrote about Isabell's murder.

When Al and Amy are alone, he warns her to be careful of Paul Gentry. Al believes that Paul killed his wife and that Amy is in danger. Then, Amy tells him that she already knows that...because she is Isabell's sister!

Can Amy find out what really happened to Isabell?

"Vamp Till Dead" was written by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Neuman. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. Ginger Rogers starred. Also appearing were John Hoyt, Ed Max, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on January 11, 1951.

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Suspense presented this story a second time on September 29, 1957 with Vanessa Brown in the lead role. Jeannette Nolan also appeared. William N. Robson produced and directed.

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(Image of Ginger Rogers from Wikipedia)

Suspense - 227 Minutes of Hate

In "227 Minutes of Hate," Charles McGraw stars as a police lieutenant who must find a way to retrieve a stolen airplane--that is still in the air.

As the episode opens on a dull Friday morning at the detective bureau, Lt. McDougall  receives an urgent call from the airport. An airplane has been stolen, and the man who hijacked it does not know how to fly. The thief, Charles Regan, pulled a gun on the pilot and took off into the sky!

Lt. McDougall has no problem finding the plane because reports about it are coming in from all over town. The problem is how to bring it down safely. When Lt. McDougall begins to investigate what caused Mr. Regan to flip out and steal the plane, he discovers that Regan had just been fired. Then, he realizes the Regan has a plan to crash the plane into his old workplace.

Can MacDougall find a way to stop him?

"227 Minutes of Hate" was written by Sam Pierce and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Charles McGraw and Shirley Mitchell starred. This episode aired on February 25, 1957.

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Escape - Earth Abides

Escape's "Earth Abides" was adapted from the 1949 novel by George R. Stewart, and it was their only two-part episode. Earth Abides is a novel that is an experience of its own, and you can't fully understand the book from the radio adaptation. Still, Escape deserves credit for attempting to present this complex story. The book is a classic that everyone should read.

The first part of Escape's version doesn't drift too far from the novel, but the second part is quite different. Escape's version shortens the story considerably and leaves out a number of characters. It also omits subjects like sex, bigamy, religion, spirituality, illiteracy, etc. The focus is on the horror of a "man-dead" world.

Most of the book takes place on the east side of San Francisco Bay, but not in Escape's version. The primary location was changed from Oakland to San Francisco. The most important monument in the book is the Bay Bridge, but Escape, changed that to the Golden Gate Bridge.

As the episode opens, Isherwood Williams is in a forest in Northern California. He is an ecologist who has been up in the woods collecting samples. As he is climbing a ridge, he is bitten by a snake.  He treats the wound himself, but falls ill. Two men find him at the cabin, but when they see he is sick, they leave quickly.

When Ish feels well enough, he drives into the nearest town, there he finds...no one. What he does find are old newspapers that tell of a great epidemic virus that has struck and killed millions. Ish drives on in seach of people, but he finds none. The water still runs, the electricity works, but there are no people.

Civilization has been brought down by the virus, but there are other survivors. One by one, they find each other and band together in the lonely world they now inhabit.

"Earth Abides" was adapted for Escape by David Ellis and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Lawrence Dobkin, Peggy Webber, Michael Ann Barrett, Parley Baer, Ron Brogan, Paul Frees, and Lou Krugman.

Part one aired on November 5, 1950, and part two aired on November 12th, 1950.

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(Image of the 1949 first edition of Earth Abides --Wikipedia)

See also:

The Scarlet Plague

 

Suspense - The Long Shot

In "The Long Shot," George Colouris stars as a gambler who takes a cross-country ride in the hopes of changing his luck.

As the episode opens, Kelly Ramond, professional gambler, is being questioned by the police. He tells them that he took his chances at getting away with murder. It was a long shot...but sometimes those pay off. If only he hadn't been caught by a smart cop in Nevada, it all might have worked out...

Kelly explains that ten days earlier, he was alone and penniless in New York after a run of bad luck at the horses. He then noticed an ad in the paper, requesting a traveling companion on a cross-country trip to San Francisco. The ad requested that the applicant be an Englishman, specifically from London.

Kelly needed to get out of town, so he applied for the job. Fortunately, Mr. Walter Hendricks, the man who placed the ad, decided that Kelly was just the right person to accompany him on his urgent business trip.

The arrangement seemed to work out well, but Mr. Hendricks only wanted to discuss London. Kelly was bored, but after discovering the reason why Mr. Hendricks need to take this trip, he realized that there might be a better way to make some quick money...

"The Long Shot" was written by Harold Swanton and produced and directed by William Spier. George Colouris starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns and Wally Maher. This episode aired on January 31, 1946.

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(Image from Wikipedia)

Suspense - Hitchhike Poker

In "Hitchhiker Poker," Gregory Peck stars as a hitchhiker who takes a ride with someone dangerous.

As the episode opens, Ridge Fowler, a college student and former vet, is hitchhiking to Ojai to visit his mother. His dilemna appears to be resolved when a yellow convertible pulls up, and the friendly man behind the wheel offers him a ride. Ridge accepts! The driver, Jay Stewart Belden, seems like a good guy. Why, he even buys Ridge lunch, and gives him the coat off his back. 

Not long afterwards, Mr. Belden jumps out of the car and leaves Ridge to die an explosive death! Ridge survives the crash...but then Mr. Belden starts shooting at him!

So, why did Mr. Belden offer to give Ridge a ride?

"Hitchhiker Poker" was written by John and Gwen Bagni, and produced/ directed by Anton M. Leader. Gregory Peck starred. Also appearing were Ed Begley and Kay Brinker. This episode aired on September 16, 1948.

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(Image from Wikipedia)

Escape - The Island

Escape's "The Island" tells the story of two American soldiers trapped behind enemy lines, one wants to get back to his unit, and the other wants to follow his dream.

The episode opens during the Battle of Okinawa in May of 1945. Two U.S. Marines have been caught behind Japanese lines at night. One of them, a soldier called only "Deboret," is tense, but Corp. Robert Lacey settles down for some rest. To pass the time, Lacey starts telling his companion about his dream island. Deboret has already heard about this "dream island" too many times, but Lacey babbles on...

Suddenly, they hear a rustling in the woods and when they investigate,  they see four people, three men and a woman. They catch up to one of the group, the woman Taki. She tells them that she wants to return to her island.  Lacey, in his battle-weary mind, believe she is really from the island of his dreams. He then decides that he must follow her back there--no matter what.

"The Island" was written by screenwriter Millard Kaufman and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Harry Bartell and William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Michael Ann Barrett and Edgar Barrier. This episode aired on July 11, 1951. (This is the best recording of this episode.)

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Escape presented this story a second time on March 8, 1953. Antony Ellis directed. Stacy Harris and William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Michael Ann Barrett, Jack Kruschen, and Steve Roberts. (The sound quality of this recording is pretty bad.)

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Suspense recycled this script for the show on January 12, 1958. William N. Robson produced and directed. John Lund starred. Also appearing were Lillian Buyeff, Joe DiSantis, and Hans Conried. (The sound quality of this recording isn't too good either.)

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(Image of the Ryuku Islands from Wikipedia)

Suspense - The Windy City Six

In "The Windy City Six," Fred MacMurray stars as a band player who becomes involved with a gangster's girlfriend.

The episode opens in a speakeasy in the 1920's. Ham, a drummer, gets in trouble for being distracted by a pretty lady in the audience. The bandleader is angry with him, but the men accompanying the young lady are even more annoyed. They call Ham over to tell him that they are keeping an eye on her--for someone important. If he doesn't stop looking at her, the consequences will be dire.

Next thing they know, the police bust in and raid the place! Ham and his bandmates sneak out the kitchen, and on the way, Ham witnesses a shooting.

When he gets back to his rooming house, Ham finds Cora Lee, the young lady from the speakeasy,  waiting for him. Big Mike Donovan sent her to collect him. He wants Ham and his bandmates to play a private party in the mountains.

What Big Mike really wants is to find out which one of them witnessed the shooting...

"Windy City Six" was written by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Neuman. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. Fred MacMurray starred. Also appearing were Mary Jane Croft, Elliott Lewis, Edmund MacDonald, and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on February 8, 1951.

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Red Nichols and his Five Pennies provided the Dixie-land music for this episode. Red Nichols was one of the most popular and prolific recording artists of the 1920's. In 1959, Danny Kaye portrayed him in the Hollywood film The Five Pennies.

Here is the band in a short Vitaphone film from 1929.

Suspense - One Hundred in the Dark

Suspense's "One Hundred in the Dark" was adapted from a short story by Owen M. Johnson (1878-1952). The original text can be found online in a collection of Johnson's short stories called Murder in Any Degree (1907), which is available at ManyBooks.net. It is also available in the 1918 collection Modern Short Stories: A Book for High Schools, which is available online through the Internet Archive and Google Books. More recently, "One Hundred in the Dark" was published in the 2007 book Uncertain Endings: The World's Greatest Unsolved Mystery Stories.

Suspense made only minor changes in their adaptation and took something of a risk in presenting this story because it does not have the traditional twist ending. This is a sophisticated episode, one that may require pondering.

The episode opens at the fashionable Writers and Artists Club in New York, where a group of gentlemen have just settled in for their after-dinner drinks. They are discussing the evolution of stories and how the basics of human relations are played out and re-interpreted in an endless number of ways. In that regard, thousands of stories are generated from just a few possible scenarios.

Then they pause, while their drinks are being poured.

On they go, but now, one member of the group disagrees. He brings up a conflicting example, a detective story. The others then debate "curiosity" and "intellectual vanity" as the true motivating factors behind detective fiction. 

As their discussion continues, one of them brings up the story of the "rare coin and the visitor at club." That leads to the similar story of Rita Kildair, a hostess who had her sapphire ring stolen from one of her guests and the clever way in which she got it back...

"One Hundred in the Dark" was adapted for radio by Jack Anson Fink, directed by John Dietz, and produced by William Spier. Berry Kroeger was the announcer.  Eric Dressler, Alice Frost, and Ted Obsborne were featured. Also appearing were Helen Lewis, Joan Shay, Henriette Kay, Paul Luther, Ian Martin, Frank Readick, and Stephan Schnabel. This episode aired on September 30, 1942.

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Suspense presented this story a second time on November 20, 1947. This time, the after-dinner drinks are changed from whiskey to coffee. William Spier produced and directed. Howard Duff played Mr. Peters. Other club members: Joseph Kearns, Frank Albertson, John McIntire, Dick Ryan and Horace Willard. Theresa Marshall (pseudonym for June Havoc ?) was Rita Kildair. Her party guests were: Jeannette Nolan, Wally Maher, Mary Jane Croft, Jerry Hausner, and Grace Givern.

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Escape - Bird of Paradise

Escape's "Bird of Paradise" was adapted from the short story of the same name by John Russell, which was first published in Colliers, August 19, 1916. We've previously covered the other five tales by Russell that Escape adapted for radio, all of which came from the book The Red Mark: And Other Stories (1919). 

"Bird of Paradise" can be found in the book In Dark Places (1923). This was the last Russell story that Escape presented, and while it is typical of all of them, it is somewhat weaker than the others; however, Escape's radio adaptation was excellent.

As the episode opens, Andrew Harben, "with his heart full of greed and 100 pounds in his pocket," has come to the Indonesian Spice Islands looking for opportunity. On the island of Ternate, he finds the chance to make a quick fortune in the form of a dazzling species of the bird-of-paradise. The rare birds reside on one of the many hundreds of local islands, but no one knows exactly where. Andrew is determined to find them and bring back as many bird skins as he can.

Despite the warnings the locals give him about the dangers, he sails off in his boat in search of the birds. Not long afterwards, he ends up shipwrecked and lost on an unknown island. There he finds a man named Jim O'Ryan and an innocent native girl named N'goma. He also finds exactly what he has been looking for...

"Bird of Paradise' was adapted for radio by John Meston and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Dehner starred Andrew Harbin. Lawrence Dobkin played O'Ryan. Also appearing were Jeanne Bates and Ben Wright. Edgar Barrier was the narrator. This episode aired on March 11, 1954.

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(Image of astrapia stephaniae from Wikipedia)

See also:

The Fourth Man

The Red Mark  

Jetsam

The Price of the Head

The Adversary

Suspense - A Friend to Alexander

Suspense's "A Friend to Alexander" was closely adapted from the short story of the same name by James Thurber and is available in the 1942 collection of stories My World and Welcome to It. If you have a copy of the text, you can read along while listening to the episode. Most of the dialogue in Fria Howard's radio play comes from Thurber, but she did make some interesting additions. Her adaptation was used in the 1943 and 1944 episodes. 

In 1956, Suspense presented this story a third time, but a very different radio adaptation by Fran Von Hardesfelt was used that included dramatized dream sequences.

As the episode opens, Mrs. Andrews tells us about her husband, Harry Andrews, and how their troubles started...

It was the day Harry told her that he was having recurring dreams about the Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton duel. At first, she thought that was odd, but when her husband's dreams became nightmares, she became worried. Every night, Harry would dream that he was involved in the events of 1804 that surrounded the famous duel. His ego was deeply injured by the insults that Burr threw at Hamilton..and at him. Burr's pomposity and arrogance made Mr. Andrews so angry that Mrs. Andrews suggested he see a doctor. Then, she suggested that they go away, but that made things worse.

Is there anything she can do for her husband?

"A Friend to Alexander" was adapted for radio by Fria Howard. William Spier produced and Robert Louis Shayon directed. Robert Young and Geraldine Fitzgerald starred. This episode aired on August 3, 1943.

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Suspense presented this story a second time, with some changes, on June 15, 1944. Geraldine Fitzgerald and Richard Whorf starred. William Spier produced and directed.

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Suspense presented this story a third time on August 15, 1956. Antony Ellis produced and directed. The story was adapted by Fran Von Hardesfelt. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Paula Winslowe, Ben Wright, Victor Rodman, Miriam Wolfe, Charlotte Lawrence, Joseph Kearns, and Larry Thor.

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(Image of Alexander Hamilton from Wikipedia)

Suspense - Night of the Storm

In "Night of the Storm," a frantic wife must prove her husband's innocence before he is executed for a crime he didn't commit.

As the episode opens, Jim is on death row for murder. His attorney arrives to inform him that their request for an appeal was denied by the governor. Now, the only way they can stop his execution tomorrow night is to come up with new evidence. Jim swears he is innocent. He didn't kill his uncle. There must be a way to prove it.

His wife, Emily, believes in his innocence. His brother, Steve, believes he is guilty. Suddenly, Emily finds that suspicious. Steve stands to gain a large inheritance if Jim is dead! Emily then realizes that there may be a way to come up with new evidence after all--and she isn't going to let Steve stop her.

"Night of the Storm" was written by Peter Fernandez and produced/directed by Bruno Zirato, Jr. Rosemary Rice was featured as Emily. Teri Keane played Muriel. Also appearing were Ralph Camargo, Alan Manson, James Stevens, and Lawson Zerbe. This episode aired on July 2, 1961.

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