Escape's "Gringo" is the story of an American captain in Mexico, who hires out his boat to retrieve a fortune from a crashed plane on a deserted island. Escape's "The Coward" is the story of an American pilot in Mexico, who hires a boat to retrieve a fortune from a crashed plane on a deserted island.
The only difference is that "Gringo" is the better of the two. Both episodes were written by E. Jack Neuman, who wrote a number of radio plays for Escape.
"Gringo" begins on an island off the coast of Mexico where an American named Jim Canovan has just arrived on his schooner. Canovan soon meets Ramon Chavez, another recent arrival, who wants to make a deal. Chavez wants to use Canovan's schooner to sail to a remote island and retrieve a fortune in payroll money from the inside of a wrecked plane. Canovan agrees, but when Chavez brings the beautiful Maria along for the trip, their deal doesn't work out the way they had agreed.
"Gringo" directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Edgar Barrier, Lillian Buyeff, and Parley Baer. This episode aired on October 12, 1952.
. Download Escape.1952.10.12_Gringo.mp3
Frank Dorian was a pilot for an oil company in Mexico, but a plane crash put him in the hospital for 18 months. On board with him were four passengers and $80,000, but the wrecked plane was never recovered. As the episode opens, Frank visits the office of the oil company in order to rent one of their power boats. The company refuses, but a secretary named Maria agrees to help him. She thinks that he wants a boat to retrieve the money from the deserted island where the plane went down. So, she strikes a deal with him.
"The Coward" was produced/directed by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Featured in the cast were Barney Phillips, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, and Herb Butterfield. This episode aired on August 14, 1954.
. Download Escape_1954.08.14_The Coward.mp3
(Image from Stock.xchng)
I was coming here to point out the similarities between the two stories, but I see you have beaten me to the punch!
I agree with you 100% that "Gringo" is the superior effort. The last minute change of heart in "The Coward" just didn't seem believable, imo.
Posted by: Atoz | May 05, 2018 at 05:51 PM