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)
Which version would you say was the best of the three?
Posted by: Grigs | February 11, 2008 at 04:33 PM
I don't think the version with Sam Edwards was as good as the other two. Personally, I kind of liked the one with Van Heflin the best.
Posted by: cmillinsf | February 11, 2008 at 10:40 PM
OK, I'll download it and give it a listen. The synopsis intrigues me.
It was a dark and stormy night last night here in Indiana, so I turned out the lights and listened to "The House In Cypress Canyon". I try to do that a few times each year. :) Fun stuff!
Posted by: Grigs | February 12, 2008 at 02:16 PM
That was great. Loved the plot, dialouge, characters...everything. What I liked best was that it wasn't easily figured out. The guy that I pegged as the red herring turned out to be the killer.
Posted by: Grigs | February 12, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Glad you liked it. Rest assured that here at Escape and Suspense!, we are always here for your entertainment -- especially on dark and story nights. Take care,- Christine
Posted by: cmillinsf | February 17, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Widmark gives the best performance. Paul Fees is great too as the sheriff. Widmark makes a mistake, he says he puts his shoes on the cafe's counter but he had left them at the shoe shop.
Posted by: Martin | October 25, 2015 at 06:58 PM