Escape and Suspense!

Suspense - A Killing in Abilene

"A Killing in Abilene" stars Alan Ladd in a western saga about a man determined to bring his brother's murderer to trial.

Jeff Mander has spent two years in pursuit of the man who murdered his brother. As the episode opens, Jeff rides into the small town of Pleasant Valley. There, he finds the townspeople gathered around a pit where they have just uncovered a body . As it turns out, the man whom they believe has committed this murder, Lee Burrage, is the same man that Jeff is looking for.

Jeff wants to bring the accused man back to trial in Abilene, but the townspeople have their own ideas about justice. Will he be able to convince the townspeople that Lee Burrage deserves a trial?

"A Killing in Abilene" was written by Gil Doud and Antony Ellis. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. Appearing with Alan Ladd were Parley Baer, Jeannette Nolan, and Barton Yarborough. This episode aired on December 14, 1950.

. Download Suspense_1950.12.14_AKillingInAbilene.mp3 

Suspense presented this tale again with Parley Baer in the lead role on February 3, 1955.

. Download Suspense_1955.02.03_AKillingInAbilene.MP3

This story also made it to the Suspense television show in 1951, but that episode, if it survives, is not available at this time.

(Image from Morguefile)

Escape - Present Tense

Escape's "Present Tense" has similarities to "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" but takes the story in a more nightmarish direction. In the introduction to this episode, the story is billed as James Poe's "seething tale of violent death." That it is.

Vincent Price plays a poet turned ax murderer named Roger who escapes while being transported to prison. When he returns to his home, Roger finds his wife Mary and her lover. He thought he had murdered them, but clearly they had just tricked him into believing that he did! So, Roger grabs a cleaver and gets his revenge. Then, he is convicted again, sent to prison again, sentenced to death again, escapes again, returns home again...

"Present Tense" was written for Escape by screenwriter James Poe and was produced/directed by William N. Robson.  Vincent Price starred as Roger, the cleaver-wheeling poet. Also appearing were: Charles McGraw, Joan Banks, Harry Bartell, and Ben Wright. This episode aired on January 31, 1950.

. Download escape_1950.01.31_ PresentTense.mp3   

Seven years later, William N. Robson presented this radio-play again on Suspense. The peppy music that accompanies this episode is distracting and the pace of the story is much faster. Vincent Price again played the role of Roger. Also appearing were Daws Butler, Jack Kruschen, Peg La Centra, Ellen Morgan, Sam Pierce, Charles Lavalack, and Joe DiSantis. This episode aired on March 3, 1957.

. Download Suspense_1957.03.03_PresentTense.mp3

(Images from Wikimedia Commons and Morguefile)

Suspense - Muddy Track

"The Muddy Track" is a radio noir about a bookie who is framed for the murder of a model.

Harry Clark is new in town and down on his luck. He is alone in a bar sipping a Coke when he is descended upon by Brandy. She takes a liking to him, buys him a bourbon, and soon his luck begins to change. Her "friend," Mr. Persian, arrives shortly afterwards and offers Harry a job as a bookie. Mr. Persian buys Harry another round, but this time Harry asks for a brandy. Mr. Persian warns Harry that, "Brandy lovers often die young."

Harry goes to work the next day, but when he finds Brandy murdered, he realizes he was set-up. Now Harry is on the run for a murder he didn't commit, but he can't get out of town without some help.

"The Muddy Track" was written by Buckley Angell and Bob Shelly. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Academy-award winner Edmond O'Brien, in one of his four appearances on Suspense, starred as Harry. Ann Blyth starred as Eleanor Grayson. This episode aired on November 11, 1948.

.  Download Suspense_1948.11.11_Muddy_Track.mp3

(Image from Stock.xchng)

Escape - An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge

"An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge" tells the strange story of a Confederate civilian sentenced to be hanged by the Union army.  The short story by Ambrose Bierce was first published in 1890, and the text is available online from Wikisource.

In 1947, William N. Robson adapted this story for Escape, and though he took some liberties to fill the half-hour time slot, his dialogue and story enhancements were good. He added a scene with a deadly snake, presumably so we wouldn't forget what show we were listening to, and also added a scene with Jethro, a former slave. He presented his radio play once on Escape and then three times on Suspense. Though the script is the same in all four episodes, the lead role was played by four different actors. Most notably, by Joseph Cotten and Vincent Price.

"An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge" was produced, directed and adapted for Escape by William N. Robson. The role of Peyton Fahrquhar was played by Harry Bartell and Jethro was played by Luis Van Rooten. William Conrad and Bill Johnstone narrated. This episode aired on December 10, 1947.

. Download Escape_12.10.1947_OwlCreekBridge.mp3

Nine years later, the story was presented for the first time on Suspense. Victor Jory starred. This episode aired on December 9, 1956.

. Download suspense_1956.12.09_Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge.mp3

Suspense presented a slightly shorter version of the same radio-play on December 15, 1957. Joseph Cotten played Peyton Fahrquhar. Also appearing were Ellen Morgan, Harry Bartell, Jack Kruschen, Lou Merrill, and Roy Glenn.  William Conrad was the narrator. This episode aired on December 15, 1957.

. Download Suspense_1957.12.15_OccurenceatOwlCreekBridge.mp3   

Suspense presented this story for the last time on July 9, 1959, with Vincent Price in the lead role. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Barney Phillips, Sam Pierce, Roy Glenn, Norm Alden, and Sam Edwards.

. Download Suspense_1959.07.19_OccurrenceatOwlCreekBridge.mp3   

(Image of Ambrose Bierce from Wikipedia)

Richard Widmark and Suspense

This week saw the passing of actor Richard Widmark (1914-2008), who died at age 93. Though he is known primarily for his film and television work, he began his career in radio and left behind an interesting collection of performances.

Richard Widmark made thirteen appearances on Suspense between 1942 and 1954. His first appearance occurred as early as episode #4, when he appeared in Suspense's presentation of "Rope," Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play about the Leopold and Lobe murder case. On Suspense he played roles that ranged from Iago in Shakespeare's Othello to a radio-script writer gone mad in "A Murderous Revision."

Here is the list of episodes in which he appeared:

1) "Rope" (07/08/1942) - Considered a lost episode. No known recordings of this broadcast exist.

2) "Too Hot to Live" (10/26/1950)

3) "Tell You Why I Shouldn't Die" (06/07/1951)

4) "The Hunting of Bob Lee" (10/29/1951)

5) "A Murderous Revision" (12/03/1951)

6) "The Track of the Cat" (02/18/1952)

7) "Mate Bram" (04/14/1952)

8)  "How Long is the Night" (10/13/1952)

9) "The Spencer Brothers" (1/26/1953)

10) "Othello" Part One (05/04/1953)

(Suspense's presentation of Othello was the first on radio.)

11) "Othello" Part Two (05/11/1953)

12) "A Message to Garcia" (09/14/1953)

13) "The Card Game" (04/19/1954)

(Image of Richard Widmark from 1950 film Panic in the Streets from Wikipedia)

Suspense - The Track of the Cat

In "The Track of the Cat," Richard Widmark plays Curt, a Nevada rancher who is determined to hunt down the mysterious panther that killed his brother.

The snow is falling on the Nevada mountains, and in the early morning winds, there are sounds of trouble on the ranch. Curt and his brothers think that a mountain lion is upsetting their cattle, and they want to go into the canyon to kill it. Their mother asks them not to go because there is a blizzard coming, and because she believes that the first snow of the year brings out the great black panther. Is the black panther a Native American legend or is it real? When Curt finds his brother Arthur dead from an attack by the ghostly animal, he vows to hunt it down.

Suspense's radio-play was adapted by Sylvia Richards from the 1949 novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark. This story also became a movie in 1954 that starred Robert Mitchum and Teresa Wright. For a review of the DVD version of Track of the Cat visit DVDBeaver.com.

Appearing with Richard Widmark in "Track of the Cat" were Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, Sharon Douglas, Lee Millar, and Martha Wentworth. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. This episode aired on February 18, 1952.

.  Download Suspense_1952.02.18_TheTrackOfTheCat.mp3

(Image by Steve Mestagh from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Night Must Fall

"Night Must Fall" was one of a number of hour-long episodes that Suspense presented in 1948. Their radio play was adapted from the 1935 play by Emlyn Williams and performed by actors from both the original London stage production and the 1937 film Night Must Fall.

The episode opens in a cottage in rural England, the home of Mrs. Bramson. The disappearance of a local woman has recently brought Scotland Yard investigators into the town and into her home. At the same time, she also receives a visitor named Danny. He and Dora, the maid, are involved and Mrs. Bramson expects him to marry Dora. Mrs. Bramson is a difficult old bitty confined to a wheelchair, but she takes a liking to Danny and offers him a job in her home.

Danny accepts the job and moves in, but Mrs. Bramson's niece, Olivia, has her suspicions about him.

"Night Must Fall" was adapted for Suspense by Robert L. Richards and directed by Anton M. Leader. Robert Montgomery produced, hosted and starred as Danny. Ten years earlier, he had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in the film Night Must Fall. Dame May Whitty and Matthew Boulton had both appeared in the original London stage play, but Whitty also appeared in the film version and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Also appearing in this broadcast were Heather Angel as Olivia and Richard Ney as Hubert. This episode aired on March 27, 1948.

. Download Suspense_1948.03.27_NightMustFall.mp3

(Image of Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Black Shawl

"The Black Shawl" stars Dame May Whitty and Maureen O'Sullivan in a weird story about an Englishwoman who engages a home companion to live with her...and the person hidden in her home.

As the episode opens, Susan Applebie tells us that she is about to be murdered. Only three days earlier, she had been enjoying herself at the town fair, but then she met Elizabeth Masters.

Mrs. Masters approached Susan at the fair with an offer of employment as a home companion. She told Susan that her primary responsibilities would be to brew tea and chit chat, and for that, she would be well paid. Susan agreed because she and her fiance needed the money, but when her fiance heard about her new position with the strange old woman, he wasn't pleased.  Despite his concerns, she started her new job the next night.

Now, Susan is imprisoned in the house of a madwoman who has a peculiar grudge against home companions.

"The Black Shawl" was written by Richard R. Lewis and produced/directed by William Spier. This episode was the first of Dame May Whitty's four appearances on Suspense, but it was Maureen O'Sullivan's only appearance. This episode aired on July 27, 1944. 

. Download Suspense_1944.07.27_TheBlackShawl.mp3   

(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Lonely Road

In "The Lonely Road," Gregory Peck plays a man who becomes dangerously smitten with his house-maid.

Steven Gare and his wife, Ellen, life in an isolated house in the country. They are in need of help around their home and so, they post an advertisement. A girl named Jenny responds, and Ellen hires her. Initially, everything seems to go well, but soon Ellen becomes uncomfortable with Jenny. Ellen sees something dangerous in her, and she isn't wrong. Jenny wants get rid of the Ellen, so she and Steven can run off together.

"The Lonely Road" was written by Mary North and produced/directed by William Spier. Gregory Peck, in the first of his five appearances on Suspense, played Steven Gare. Cathy Lewis played Ellen Gare, and Maria Palmer played Jenny. Peck and Palmer had previously worked together in the 1944 film Days of Glory. This episode aired on March 21, 1946.

. Download Suspense_1946.03.21_Lonely_Road.mp3

(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Give Me Liberty

"Give Me Liberty" sounds patriotic, but this Suspense episode is a harsh tale about an escaped criminal unable to free himself of his handcuffs.

Mr. Earl French embezzeled $250,000, was caught, and then sentenced to seven years in prison. None of this bothers him because it was all according to his plan. He never disclosed to the authorities where the stolen money was, and after he completes his prison term, he plans to spend it.

On route to the penitentiary, Mr. French is smug while chatting with the police officer accompanying him. His plan, however, takes a sudden new direction when the train crashes. In the aftermath, he murders the police officer, switches their wallets, and escapes.

Now, the only obstacles to his freedom are the handcuffs that he can't remove. Mr. French can't get the tools he needs to break them, and no one will help him. His smugness turns to desperation as his circumstances become worse, and he meets up with a cruel female hobo.

"Give Me Liberty"  was written by Herb Meadow and starred William Powell. Ann Morrison played the hobo.  This episode aired for the first time on October 21, 1948.

.  Download Suspense_1948.10.21_GiveMeLiberty.mp3

Suspense presented this story again on March 29, 1955 with good results. Television actor/writer Tony Barrett played Mr. French. Also appearing were Michael Ann Barrett, Dick Beals, Helen Kleeb, and Lou Merrill.

.  Download Suspense_1955.03.29.GiveMeLiberty.mp3

(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Lovebirds

Suspense's "The Lovebirds" stars Joan Fontaine in a story about a resentful woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to a needy man.

As the episode opens, Martha explains how she has played nursemaid to her husband, Sam, for seven years. Throughout that time she has been waiting for him to die from one of his many ailments, but Sam has proven to be spunkier than his doctor predicted. Martha is tired of taking care of a husband she hates, but no one suspects her real feelings. Sam and Martha appear to be so devoted to each other that people call them "the lovebirds."

One night, Martha decides to take matters into her own hands by giving Sam an overdose of sleeping pills. When Sam survives the overdose, she tries again. What Martha doesn't know is that Sam has caught on to what she is up to, and he has his own plans for her.

"The Lovebirds" was written by Cheryl Hendricks and adapted for Suspense by Harold Swanton.  This was Joan Fontaine's only appearance on Suspense. At the time, she was promoting the film, You Gotta Stay Happy (1948). Also appearing were Jerry Hausner, William Johnstone, and Lestor Schott. This episode aired on March 3, 1949.

.  Download Suspense_1949.03.03_Lovebirds.mp3

(Image of Joan Fontaine from Wikipedia)

Suspense - Too Hot to Live

Suspense's "Too Hot to Live" is the story of a stranger in a small prairie town who tries to run from a murder.

As the episode opens, we meet Jefferson, a former soldier turned drifter. After he is ousted from the freight train on which he has been hitching a ride, he walks down a sun-baked road towards the closest town, Marcus Junction. On the way, his worn-out shoes fall apart.

The first person he meets in Marcus Junction is Benjamin, the sheriff. He directs Jefferson to a place where he can have his shoes repaired and then offers to buy him a coffee in the diner next door. Jefferson leaves his shoes and socks at the repair shop and goes over to the diner.

Jefferson only came in for the coffee, but Rachel, the waitress, offers more. She invites him upstairs to her apartment for the afternoon. He accepts, and after a few too many strong drinks, he wakes to find Rachel murdered. Now he must outrun the law--in his bare feet.

"Too Hot to Live" was written by Sam Rolfe and starred Richard Widmark. This episode aired on October 26, 1950.

.  Download Suspense_1950.10.26_TooHotToLive.mp3

Suspense presented this story again with Sam Edwards in the role of Jefferson on June 29,1954.

. Download Suspense_1954.06.29_TooHotToLive.mp3

Suspense presented this story a third time with Van Heflin the role of Jefferson on April 12, 1959. This version is a little shorter, but just as good. The background music in this episode is effective.

. Download Suspense_1959.04.12_TooHotToLive.mp3

(Image of Richard Widmark from Flixster.com)

Suspense - Goodnight Mrs. Russell

Suspense's "Goodnight Mrs. Russell" stars Bette Davis in a story about a woman who becomes the victim of a crazed short-order cook. It is an episode that will make you think twice about eating alone at night in an empty restaurant.

Bette Davis plays Mrs. Russell, an office worker who often spends her lunch hours with her co-workers at the cafe near their office. Henry, the young cook behind the counter, seems uncomfortable around the younger women, but likes Mrs. Russell. Although he never smiles, and stops to listen to sounds that only he can hear, she likes him, too.

One night, after working late, she drops in at the cafe for dinner. She becomes uneasy about being alone with Henry and leaves without finishing her food. Afraid that she has hurt Henry's feelings, she returns to have dinner again several weeks later.

Henry doesn't accept her show of interest in his food as a compliment. He knows, from the voices in his head, that she is really one of the many enemies out to get him.

"Goodnight Mrs. Russell" was written by Ben S. Hunter and it was Bette Davis' only appearance on Suspense. At the time, she was promoting the movie Beyond the Forest. Elliott Reid played Henry. This episode aired on October 20, 1949.

. Download suspense_1949.10.20_GoodNightMrs Russell.MP3

Suspense presented this radioplay again on August 3, 1954. Virginia Gregg played Mrs. Russell and Victor Perrin played Henry.

.  Download Suspense_1954.08.03_GoodnightMrsRussell.mp3

(Image of Bette Davis from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Guilty Always Run

Suspense goes to the beach, but not to frolic, in a story called "The Guilty Always Run." In his only appearance on Suspense, Tyrone Powers plays a man suspected of murdering a surfer girl.

As the episode opens, Janie and Jeff are at home in their rented summer house when they receive several strange calls from a young woman. The girl on the other end of the line is gasping for help, but the calls make no sense. Janie suspects that the calls are from Karen, a girl that Jeff had been seen with. Jeff swears to her there is nothing going on between the two of them, but Janie doubts him.

The next day, Jeff does find Karen -- floating in the surf. Jeff becomes the main suspect in Karen's murder until his best friend, Lou, steps in with an alibi.

"The Guilty Always Run" was written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. William Conrad played Lou and Cathy Lewis played Janie. Also appearing were Jack Kruschen, Frank Nelson, and Charlotte Lawrence. At the time he appeared on Suspense, Tyrone Powers was promoting the film, King of the Khyber Rifles. This episode aired on March 22, 1954.

. Download Suspense_1954.03.22_TheGuiltyAlwaysRun.mp3

(Image of Tyrone Power in 1953 by Carl Van Vechten. Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Three Blind Mice

Suspense's "Three Blind Mice" stars Van Heflin in a radio noir about a publishing firm and its three partners. One is dead, the other is on Death Row, and the third has taken over the firm from the other two.

The episode opens inside the office of Lockwood, Bentley and Walsh Publishing. Mr. Arthur Lockwood knows that his partners are out to get him, and it appears that everyone in the company knows as well. By all appearances, he is on the way down.

Mr. Lockwood refuses to accept that. He wants his corporation back from his partners. He also wants Helen Conover, the head of the firm's promotion department, but she is involved with his partner, Mr. Walsh.

None of this worries Mr. Lockwood. He seems confident that there will be a day when he is back on top. When Mr. Lockwood finds one of his partners dead at the office, it appears that his problems may be resolved sooner than he thought.

"Three Blind Mice" was written by Kenneth Pettis and Robert L. Richards. Van Heflin starred as Arthur Lockwood. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, William Johnstone, and Wally Maher. This episode aired on January 30, 1947.

.  Download Suspense_1947.01.30_ThreeBlindMice.mp3

(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - End of the Road

Suspense's "End of the Road" stars Glenn Ford in a radio noir about a car salesman who gets involved with a troubled woman.

Ford plays Speed Evans, a man for whom women have been an "expensive" habit. He wants to turn over a new leaf, but when he meets a captivating woman in his showroom, he quickly finds himself back to his old ways. Her name is Sylvia, and she is there with her wealthy husband, Mr. Ganlon, to buy a new car. Speed takes her on a flirtatious test drive and convinces Syvlia that she must have the car--and the salesman.

Sylvia and Speed have an affair, but she is unable to leave her older husband or her mysterious past behind. Speed drives Sylvia back to her hometown in Arizona to find the truth, but their trip leads them into danger.

"End of the Road" was written by Irving Moore and Robert L. Richards. At the time Glenn Ford appeared in this episode, he was promoting the 1947 noir film Framed. "End of the Road" was the first of Ford's two appearances on Suspense. Cathy Lewis played Sylvia Ganlon. Also featured were Hans Conried, Joseph Kearns, William Johnstone, and Wally Maher. This episode aired on February 6, 1947.

.  Download Suspense_1947.02.06_EndOfTheRoad.mp3

(Image from Stock.xchng)

Suspense - Three Lethal Words

Suspense's "Three Lethal Words" stars Joan Crawford as a woman who goes mad after being jilted by her younger husband.

Crawford plays Jane Winters, a screenwriter in Hollywood. As the story opens, she has just arrived in the office of Phillip Lewis, the head of a studio story department. She has come to pitch him an idea for a screenplay.

As she explains her idea for a movie about a screenwriter named Sally, who takes revenge on her younger husband, the boundaries between Jane's fictional character and her own life become blurred.

Joan Crawford's performance in this episode is captivating. Her ability to speak every single word of her dialogue with clarity and conviction is impressive. This was the second of Joan Crawford's two appearances on Suspense. At the time, she was promoting the film Goodbye, My Fancy.

"Three Lethal Words" was adapted for radio by Academy award nominated screenwriter Walter Brown Newman from a story by Charles Vion. Joseph Kearns played Phillip and Hy Averback played Chris. Also appearing were: Bea Benadaret, Lillian Buyeff, Ted de Corsia, Don Diamond and Sylvia Simms. This episode aired on March 22, 1951.

.  Download Suspense_1951.03.22_ThreeLethalWords.mp3

(Image of Joan Crawford from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - The Too Perfect Alibi

Suspense's "The Too Perfect Alibi" stars Danny Kaye as man with an obsession for his friend's fiance.

Danny Kaye plays Sam, the sweetest friend a couple could ever have. Jack and Catherine think he is wonderful, but honestly, Jack thinks Sam is too wonderful. Sam gives them a house for a wedding present, he gives Catherine a high-paying job, and he always picks up the tab when they do things together. All of this annoys Jack because it makes him look cheap.

Sam doesn't care what Jack thinks. He is consumed with a fairy tale perception of love, and he is determined to get Catherine for himself. The first part of Sam's plan to win Catherine involves getting rid of Jack, but the first part of his plan goes too well. As a result, the second part doesn't work out the way it was supposed to.

"The Too Perfect Alibi" was written by Martin Stern and produced/directed by Anton M. Leader. This was the first of two appearances that Danny Kaye made on Suspense. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Wally Maher, John McIntire, and Paul Frees. This episode aired on January 13, 1949.

.  Download Suspense_1949.01.13_TheTooPerfectAlibi.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Suspense - The Sisters

"The Sisters" begins with the purchase of a coffin for someone who has not yet died. Lydia Haskell explains that she has had a premonition of her own death and wants to plan her own funeral arrangements. The mortician and the police don't believe her story and think she is suicidal. It appears, however, that Lydia may have someone else in mind for that coffin. Her sister, Ellie, is a madwoman who lives in the attic of Lydia's house. One of them is going to die, but which one?

"The Sisters" was written for Suspense by screenwriter George Wells and was presented three times. The script is more or less the same in each version, but the performances vary with the actresses in the lead roles. The first time this story aired, Ida Lupino starred as the cold and calculating Lydia Haskell and Agnes Moorehead put in a gentle performance as Ellie. This episode was produced/directed by William Spier and aired on February 3, 1944.

.  Download Suspense_1944.02.03_TheSisters.mp3

The second time Suspense presented this story, Rosalind Russell and Lurene Tuttle starred. In this version, the sister fight scenes are the best and we get a better sense of how disturbed Lydia is.  This episode was produced/directed by Anton Leader and aired on December 9, 1948.

Download Suspense_1948.12.09_TheSisters.mp3

The third time this story was presented Francis Farmer and Cathy Lewis starred. This version is shorter and less intense . It was produced/directed by William N. Robson and aired on March 30, 1958.

Download Suspense_1958.03.30_The Sisters.MP3

(Image of Rosalind Russell and Lurene Tuttle performing "The Sisters" from Library of Congress/American Memory)

Suspense - Motive for Murder

The mysterious murder of a vacuum cleaner salesman is a dilemna for Alan Ladd in Suspense's "Motive for Murder." He plays a detective named "Irish" whose wife, Mary, has just been found passed out alongside a dead salesman. All of the evidence points to Mary, but Irish believes she was framed. He intends to go through the facts one by one to prove her innocence. These are things he knows for sure:

Fact! -- Strangers usually don't kill each other.

The people involved in this scenario had to have known each other. He sets out to find their connection.

Fact! -- The vacuum cleaner salesman had come to do a demonstration, but there was no vacuum cleaner at the murder scene; therefore, someone had killed to get that vacuum cleaner.

If he can figure out who wanted it, he can find the murderer.

Appearing with Alan Ladd were Joseph Kearns as the lieutenant, Howard McNear, John Dehner, Ed Max, Jeannette Nolan, and Lurene Tuttle.  "Motive for Murder" was based on the 1948 short story by John and Ward Hawkins and was adapted for radio by  E. Jack Neuman.  This show aired on March 16, 1950.

Download suspense_1950.03.16_Motive for Murder.mp3

The same story had been presented the previous year by Radio City Playhouse. Bernard Grant played David Murphy and Mitzi Gould played Mary. The credits aren't given on the recording but the radio adaptation was probably written by Harry W. Junkin. It aired on June 20, 1949.

Download rcph.1949.06.20_Motive_for_Murder.mp3

(Image of Alan Ladd from classicsavers.com.)

Suspense - Lady Killer

"Lady Killer" is about an insurance investigator and her hunches. The story begins as Peg Lincoln boards a plane for Capital City with a ticket she bought from a woman in the airport's lobby. Shortly afterwards, the flight's take-off is delayed, and Peg suddenly needs to be taken to the hospital. She believes that she was poisoned by Grant Benton, the charming man who sat next to her on the plane. He appears to have saved her life by getting her to the hospital so quickly, but was he the one who caused the harm? The police tell her that he is above reproach and that she is imagining danger where there is none.

Her instincts tell her that he is trouble, neverthless she allows him to drive her home from the hospital. Just before they arrive at her home, he runs over a pedestrian! He says it was an accident, but Peg thinks it was murder. Why would he want to hurt Peg or that pedestrian crossing the street?

"Lady Killer" is a tight radio drama with a suspenseful ending. Loretta Young, in her only appearance on Suspense, starred as Peg Lincoln. At the time, she was also appearing in the film Key to the City (1950) and had just received an Academy award nomination for the 1949 film Come to the Stable. Lawrence Dobkin, John McIntire, and Sydney Miller also appear in this episode. The radioplay was written by William Bruckner, who later wrote an episode for the tv series Letter to Loretta starring Loretta Young. "Lady Killer" aired on March 2, 1950.

.   Download Suspense.1950.03.02_LadyKiller.mp3

(Image of Loretta Young on radio from the Loretta Young Paper Dolls & Coloring Book)

Best or Worst? - Lady in Distress

Suspense's "Lady in Distress" showcases Ava Gardner. The radio-play was written by John Michael Hayes, who also wrote the screenplays for the Alfred Hitchcock films Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. So why isn't this episode better? It could have been a neatly packaged radio noir but it isn't.

"Lady in Distress" begins with a hitch-hiker, which is always a good start, but then Ava Gardner's character, Mrs. Harris, and the hitch-hiker named Sullivan start talking while she is driving. We find out that he is an escaped criminal, and that now she is in danger. They keep talking and driving, driving, driving. The humm of the motor, the sound of rain, the endless dialogue...zzzz. Suddenly, they stop in a diner for hamburgers and coffee in a completely unnecessary scene. Then there is more talking, driving...motor humming...rain sounds...zzz...zzzz.

When we wake up again we find out that the escaped convict wants revenge on the policeman who put him in prison. That man just happens to be the husband of Mrs. Harris! Of course, that's no accident. She hates her mean, crabby husband and wants to help Sullivan accomplish his revenge. They arrange to put a bomb in her husband's car but things don't go as planned.  It would be a surprise if they did because neither of these two seems that bright. In the end, the bad people get their come-uppance through their own evil work.

So, that's that.

You really have to listen closely to this story to appreciate it but due to the somnolent sound effects, this is hard to do. "Lady in Distress" was Ava Gardner's only appearance on Suspense. The previous year she had starred in the film noir The Killers by Ernest Hemingway. Also featured in this episode were Howard Duff as Sullivan and Wally Maher as the husband. It was produced and directed by William Spier, who later worked with Gardner on the film Tam Lin. "Lady in Distress" aired on May 1, 1947.

.  Download Suspense.1947-05-01_Lady_In_Distress.mp3

The Legend of Sonny Tufts

"The Legend of Sonny Tufts" is an urban legend about a radio broadcast. Who was Sonny Tufts? How did his name become a joke? What supposedly happened on a Suspense episode hosted by Joseph Cotten? Snopes.com delved into this famous legend and came up with some possible answers. To find out, visit their Sonny Tufts urban legend page for the story and the audio clips.

The two radio broadcasts mentioned in the Snopes.com article,"Sneak Preview" and "Cat & Mouse," are posted below. Neither ranks among the best Suspense offered, but they aren't among the worst either. Any radio performance by Joseph Cotten is worth listening to once, even if the radio-play isn't exceptional. The radio-play for "Cat & Mouse" isn't that bad, but Tufts' colorless performance does nothing to help it.

"Sneak Preview" was written by Robert L. Richards and starred Joseph Cotten, Hans Conried, Dennis Hoey, Cathy Lewis, and John McIntire. When he appeared on this episode, Cotten was promoting his upcoming movie Since You Went Away. This show aired on March 23, 1944.

.   Download Suspense_1944.03.23_Sneak_Preview.mp3

"Cat & Mouse" is a WWII era story that takes place in Boston and in a ski resort in Vermont. It was written for Suspense by Hugh Pentecost and starred Sonny Tufts as John Guthrie. Also featured were Wendell Holmes, John McIntire, Lurene Tuttle, and Will Wright. At the time he appeared on Suspense, Tufts was promoting the movie, I Love a Soldier. This episode aired on March 30, 1944.

.   Download Suspense_1944.03.30_Cat_and_Mouse.mp3

Suspense - Noose of Coincidence

Beware of people who introduce themselves as a "prophet of the future." They cause nothing but trouble.

Suspense's "Noose of Coincidence" is about a man who doubts that the future can be predicted, yet becomes involved in a series of events just as they were foretold to him.  Set in the late 1940's, this episode stars Ronald Colman as Christopher Swann, a London bookseller forewarned that he will marry a redheaded woman and that he will be hanged on November 9th.

He does marry a redheaded woman named Margaret but she turns out to be an intolerable shrew. Not long afterwards, he meets another redheaded woman, Ann. Their mutual love of books brings them together and they soon fall in love. Swann realizes too late that he married the wrong redhead, but before he can do anything about it, the rest of the prophesy plays itself out.

"Noose of Coincidence" was a short story written for Suspense by American writer William Fifield and then adapted by Herb Meadow. William Fifield worked as a radio announcer and scriptwriter for CBS and NBC as a young man, and while most radio writers went on to television and movies, Fifield took a more Bohemian path. He moved to Europe in 1950 where he recorded and wrote books about his conversations with men such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and other artists. His later works include fiction as well.

Also appearing in this episode were Hans Conried and Raymond Lawrence. The names of the female actresses aren't given. This broadcast aired on April 7, 1949.

.  Download Suspense_1949.04.07_Noose_Of_Coincidence.mp3

(Images from Classicsavers.com and Morguefile.com )

Suspense - The Blue Hour

Claire Trevor, the Academy Award winning actress and "Queen of Film Noir," made one of her five appearances on Suspense in the drama "The Blue Hour." Here she plays Lois LaPaul, a Chicago dancer who becomes a media darling when her wealthy paramour is murdered. Instantly in demand, she accepts an offer to perform at an "extremely chic" nightclub called the The Blue Hour in New York City. At the airport she meets Alec Mahoney, a reporter with whom she shares some saucy banter.

When she arrives at the sparkling blue nightclub she soon discovers that the owner, Anthony LaCada, has no real interest in her dancing talents. His icy interest is in her murdered boyfriend, Jason White.

Not knowing what to do, she turns to Mahoney for help. Together they discover the blue diamond worth half a million dollars that Jason White was hiding.

"The Blue Hour Diamond" at the center of this story was probably based on the Hope Diamond, pictured to the right. This episode was written by Marty Schwartz and includes a number of moments of entertaining dialogue.

"The Blue Hour" was produced edited and directed by William Spier. The music, more prominent and detailed than usual in this episode, was composed by Lucien Moraweck and conducted by Lud Gluskin. At the time Claire Trevor appeared on this episode she was promoting the movie The Velvet Touch. Also featured were Hans Conried, Wally Maher and Sydney Miller.  This broadcast aired on September 25, 1947.

.  Download Suspense_1947.09.25_The_Blue_Hour.mp3

(Photo of the Hope Diamond from Morguefile.com)

Suspense - Always Room at the Top

Suspense's "Always Room at the Top" was only broadcast once, which is a shame. This bizarre episode should have been given at least a second chance.

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