Escape - The Country of the Blind

In Escape's "The Country of the Blind," a mountaineer, lost in the snowy Ecuadorian mountains, finds a valley, cut-off from the rest of civilization and inhabited only by the blind. The radio play was based on the famous short story by H.G. Wells, which was first published in 1904 and then later given a revised ending in 1939. The short story is available online from Wikisource but not the later revised version. Escape's version has a different ending altogether, as well as a modified introduction, but otherwise their radio play stayed true to the original work.

As the episode opens, a mining engineer named Ibarra tells the tale of an expedition into the Andes Mountains that ended in tragedy when one of the guides, Juan Nunez, slipped and fell over a precipice. Ibarra then explains that he was stunned when, a year afterwards, Nunez suddenly reappeared! When Ibarra asked him where he had been, Nunez told him the incredible story of his journey into a fabled land inhabited only by the blind.

"The Country of the Blind" was adapted for Escape by John Dunkel and produced/directed by William N. Robson. William Conrad played Ibarra and Paul Frees played Nunez. This episode aired on November 26, 1947.

. Download Escape_1947.11.26_ Country of the Blind.mp3

It was presented again on June 20, 1948. Norman MacDonnell produced/directed and Paul Frees again played Nunez. Berry Kroeger played Ibarra.

. Download Escape_1948.06.20_Country of the Blind.mp3

Escape presented this radio play for the last time on March 20, 1949. Norman MacDonnell produced/directed. Edmund O'Brien starred and Berry Kroeger again played Ibarra.

. Download Escape_1949.03.20_Country_of_the_Blind.mp3

Years after Escape went off the air, William N. Robson recycled Dunkel's script, with a few modifications, on Suspense on October 27, 1957. Raymond Burr starred.

. Download Suspense_1957.10.27_County Of The Blind.mp3

The second presentation of "The Country of the Blind" on Suspense was on December 13, 1959. Paul Roberts produced/directed and Bernard Grant played Nunez.

. Download Suspense_1959.12.13_Country of the Blind.mp3

(Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Comments

[Jim Widner]

Christine, nice web site to visit. I like your choice in radio programs! Keep up the good work, I enjoy reading your entries.

[cmillinsf]

Thank you! I will do my best. - Christine

[Daryl]

This is a great classic. Don't know that I've heard all the different perofmances of it though.

[cmillinsf]

It is definitely a classic. I would have included versions that were done by other radio programs as well, but I felt that posting 5 versions of it here was enough. However, if you are interested there is also a version done by Favorite Story called "Strange Valley (Country of the Blind)" that aired on 4/23/49. Ronald Coleman starred as Nunez.

[Atoz]

I think the radio version is even better than the original short story. All three of the Escape presentations are good, but if I had to pick one, I'd go with the November 26, 1947 version.