Escape and Suspense!

Suspense - The Devil in the Summer House

"The Devil in the Summer House" was written by "locked-room" mystery author John Dickson Carr and originally aired as an hour long program on BBC radio on October 14, 1940. (There does not appear to be a recording of that broadcast available.) Carr re-wrote the story as a half-hour program for Suspense but excluded the character of Dr. Gideon Fell, a sleuth who appears in many of Carr's novels. The short story of the version that aired on Suspense can be found in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September 1946. 

As the episode opens, two men meet on the grounds of an uninhabited home on a dark and stormy night. Twenty-five years earlier, the summer house behind the garden was the scene of a death. Now, it is all grown over...

Joe Parker, an attorney, and Captain Burke of the homicide squad, enter the old house. Mr. Parker was the attorney for the family that lived here, and he has come back now because he recently received a letter from someone...who must surely now be dead.

But, why would a dead person send him a letter?

"The Devil in the Summer House" was directed by John Dietz and produced by William Spier. Martin Gabel starred. This episode aired on November 3, 1942.

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 (Image of Martin Gabel)

Suspense - At the Point of a Needle

In "At the Point of a Needle," two women engage in a relentless fight over a patch of public beach.

This show was the second to final episode of Suspense, a.k.a episode #944, and one can only wish that the series had ended its twenty year run with this aggressive little episode, and the  perfect performance by Betty Garde as the apoplectic housewife, Myra.  Instead, the series ended with the generic and snoozy "Devilstone" a week later.

As the story opens, Myra is complaining to her husband, George, about the hot weather. She wants to rent a cottage at the beach to escape the heat, but George tells her that they can't afford the cost. Myra does not accept that and continues to complain...and George relents. 

On the first morning at their rented beach cottage, Myra makes George put up "No Trespassing" signs to keep people away. However, they are on a public beach.

Phil and Esther innocently arrive at the beach to spend a day in the sun...but end up in a battle to the death with Myra.

"At the Point of Needle" was written by Joseph Cochran and produced/directed by Fred Hendrickson. Betty Garde and Walter Kinsella starred. Also appearing were Bill Adams, Teri Keane, and Robert Readick. This episode aired on September 23, 1962.

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(Image of Betty Garde from Wikipedia)

Suspense - How Long is the Night?

In "How Long is the Night?, " Richard Widmark stars as a photographer stranded alone on a radioactive island. This episode is based on the true report by a man named Warner Taube Jr., although there doesn't appear to be a published account of his story. This episode takes place in the Enewetak Atoll, which was the site of atom bomb testing by the United States between 1948 and 1958.

As the episode opens, it is an early morning in May, and an American crew waits for the exlposion of an experimental atom bomb. Afterwards, Warner and his assistants will go to the island dressed in protective gear and photograph the results.

Later, when they arrive on what remains of Island 27, they are overwhelmed by the devastation. The three of them set out to photograph the results, but after a couple of hours, they realize they are short on film. Warner tells his two assistants to take the boat and go back to the ship to get supplies.

Warner remains behind, alone, on the dead island...or is he?

"How Long is the Night" was written for radio by television writer James Moser, and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Richard Widmark starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Herbert Butterfield, and Jack Kruschen. This episode aired on October 13, 1952.

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Suspense - Perchance to Dream

In "Perchance to Dream," a man feels such guilt over his responsibility in an accidental death that he is driven to murder.

As the episode opens, Mrs. Foster has come to visit Dr. Locke about her husband, Paul, who is about to be released from the hospital. Dr. Locke informs her that although they have been able to heal Paul physically, he still blames himself for the car accident that caused the death of a woman.

The accident wasn't Paul's fault, even the dead woman's husband knows that, but Paul is so stricken by guilt that he can't face the reality. He is haunted by dreams of the accident.

So haunted in fact, that the doctor feels that Paul may take his own life to settle the score. Will he? Or, does he have other ideas?

This episode was, according to the announcer, written by Bob Corcoran especially for Suspense. However, it may be the same radioplay used for an episode of the same title in the 1949  radio/television series Starring Boris Karloff. None of the episodes from that series are known to have survived, so it is difficult to determine if it is the same radioplay.

"Perchance to Dream" was produced and directed by Bruno Zirato, Jr.  Paul McGrath starred. Also appearing were Teri Keane, Bernard Grant, Bob Dryden, and Toni Darnay. This episode aired on March 18, 1962.

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 (Image of Paul McGrath)

Suspense - Early to Death

In "Early to Death," Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz star as murderous thieves hoping to recover a hidden fortune. The sound quality of this episode is poor, but it is the best available. If you love Lucy and Desi, a little static won't prevent you from enjoying the story.

As the episode opens, Ben and Evie are in a plane over the mountains of Vera Cruz as they begin the execution of their plan. Ben sends out a distress call of engine trouble, and the two then parachute out of the plane with a box of stolen payroll money.

Ben and Evie land safely, while the plane crashes. They bury the money in the mountains and then, days later, wander into the nearest town. When questioned by the police, Ben and Evie have all of their answers ready.

Their plan is to wait it out until it is safe to go back, but then they meet Rico. He claims to have seen them before...when they were parachuting out of the plane and landing safely with a box. Now, he wants his share of the money...

"Early to Death" was written by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Neuman. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz starred. Also appearing were Tony Barrett, Tom Holland, Joseph Kearns, and Jack Kruschen. This episode aired on April 12, 1951.

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