Suspense's "The Crowd" was loosely based on the 1943 short story by Ray Bradbury. The supernatural element of the original story isn't incorporated into this episode, but Suspense's version is an intriguing and well-performed radio play about a killer on the loose in New York City.
As the episode opens, police lieutenant Johnny Stillano is called to investigate a murder. When he arrives at the scene, he has to fight his way through the crowd that has gathered around the victim's body. The crowd seems to have materialized out of nowhere, and it wants to absorb every morbid detail of the murder.
Later, the lieutenant receives a package and then a phone call from the killer -- who appears to be taunting him. Can the lieutenant learn the killer's identity before he strikes again?
"The Crowd" was adapted for Suspense by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Elliott Lewis produced/directed. Dana Andrews, in the third of his four appearances on Suspense, starred. Joseph Kearns played the killer. Also appearing were Lou Merrill, Howard McNear, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on September 21, 1950.
. Download Suspense_1950.09.21_TheCrowd.mp3
(Image from Wikimedia Commons)
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