Suspense - Sorry, Wrong Number

"Sorry, Wrong Number" was the Suspense radio play that not only gave the series its biggest success, but it also became "radio's most famous play." This story was presented eight times between 1943 and 1960, and it created a phenomenon of its own by provoking tremendous listener response. The radio play was written by Lucille Fletcher and, aside from "The Hitchhiker," it is her best known work. "Sorry, Wrong Number" was the only Suspense story to be made into a film.

Lucille Fletcher had an exceptional flair for writing terror for radio, and nothing demonstrated that more than "Sorry,Wrong Number." The collection of episodes written by Fletcher and presented on Suspense includes "The Hitchhiker," "Fugue in C Minor," "Dark Journey," "The Thing in the Window," "The Diary of Safronia Winters," "The Furnished Floor," and "The Night Man."

In the sixty or so years since "Sorry, Wrong Number" was first presented on radio, it has made the transition to film, television, novel, and play. In recent years, it has made its way on to the internet via old time radio websites and YouTube videos.

However, to fully appreciate Fletcher's unique style of conjuring up suspense, one must listen to the story as it was presented on radio.

All eight versions of "Sorry, Wrong Number" starred Agnes Moorehead in the lead role of Mrs. Elbert Stevenson.

The first time this story was presented was on May 25, 1943. In the East Coast version, there was a flubbed line at the end that made the end of the story confusing. The performance done for the West Coast has the correct ending. William Spier directed.

. Download suspense_1943.05.25_ Sorry, Wrong Number (EAST COAST).MP3

. Download suspense_1943.05.25_Sorry, Wrong Number (WEST COAST).MP3

The second performance was on August 21, 1943.

. Download suspense_1943.08.21_Sorry Wrong Number.mp3

In response to listener requests, the story was presented again on February 24, 1944. William Spier directed.

. Download suspense_1944.02.24_Sorry, Wrong Number.mp3

Again, due to requests from the public, Suspense presented this story again on September 6, 1945.

. Download suspense_1945.09.06_Sorry Wrong Number.mp3

"Sorry, Wrong Number" was presented on Suspense for the fifth time in 1948 to coincide with the release of the film.

. Download suspense_1948.11.18_Sorry Wrong Number.mp3

The sixth version of this episode was presented on September 15, 1952, but there is no known recording of that episode at this time.

In 1957, William N. Robson brought "Sorry, Wrong Number" back to Suspense. As he states in his introduction, he felt that great radio plays, like great stage plays, should be revived from time to time.

. Download suspense_1957.10.20_ Sorry Wrong Number.MP3

Suspense presented this story for the last time on Valentine's Day in 1960.

.  Download suspense_1960.02.14_Sorry, Wrong Number.mp3

In the 1948 film Sorry, Wrong Number, the role of Mrs. Stevenson was played by Barbra Stanwyck, for which she later received an Academy Award nomination.  Stanwyck performed the role of Mrs. Stevenson once on radio, along with her costar Burt Lancaster, in an hour long adaptation of the film for Lux Radio Theater. This episode aired on January 9, 1950.

.  Download LuxRT.1950.01.09_Sorry_Wrong_Number.mp3

Here also, is the movie trailer for Sorry, Wrong Number. It mentions Suspense and how the craze over the radio version brought the story to the big screen.

Comments

[Grigs]

I'm some kind of a ghoul.

Agnes Moorhead's character annoys me to no end in this episode and I usually end up rooting for the bad guys.

It is a great piece of OTR, though. No doubt about that.

[david]

I think its acrime that agnes moorhead did not get the movie of of mrs.albert stevenson

[jigenbakuda]

I agree, I hated Agnes' character, but I thought it was an interesting story.

[Bruce]

I don't think she's supposed to be likeable...she's a paranoid old woman prone to letting her imagination get the best of her. I rate "Sorry, Wrong Number" at least on the same level as "War of the Worlds." Too bad most people today only know Agnes Moorhead from "Bewitched" because this is a real tour de force.

[Edwin]

This wasn't the only Suspense radio play that was made into a movie. 'Cabin B-13' was made into a noir(-ish) movie, called 'Dangerous Crossing' in 1953. Not as good as the movie version of 'Sorry, Wrong Number', but very enjoyable and suspenseful nevertheless.

[Christine A. Miller]

Hi Edwin,
You are right. I should revise that. Actually, I think there might be one or two more episodes besides Cabin B-13 that became films as well. So, let's just say that "Sorry, Wrong Number" is the most famous episode to be made into a movie. Best, Christine

[Richard McLeod]

Miriam Hopkins flew to Australia in the early 1950's to perform "Sorry, Wrong Number" on the LUX Australian Radio Theater. She performed the complete 1 hour version as written by Lucille Fletcher.

The complete 30 minute Radio Version is rarely heard today in the States, but has been available through various sellers of the Australian LUX Radio Shows. Miriam Hopkins was flown to Australia on Pan Am Airlines courtesy of the LUX Australian Radio Stations.

All 8 different Radio versions were done in the States in the 30 minute mode with the great Agnes Moorehead.

The 1 Hour Radio version starring Miriam Hopkins is quite well done as one will hear if they have never heard the 1 Hour Radio Version.

Interestingly, Miriam Hopkins was once married to Anatol Litvak, who directed the Movie version with Barbara Stanwyck. And, Bernard Hermann (who also wrote the musical score for Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" and many other movies and plays,) was once married to Lucille Fletche who originally wrote the play "Sorry, Wrong Number". There are many interesting connections to this Radio Play.

To me they all did a great job. I hope the Australian LUX version can eventually be heard on Youtube, as Miriam Hopkins is extremely good as the neurotic Mrs. Elbert Stevenson

Eventually and hopefully. one will be able to hear the full 1 hour version in addition the various 30 minute versions performed by Agnes Moorehead over a 20 year period on Radio.

[angela]

I think maybe if they portrayed her in a different way it would have made this story a little better but other than that is was a great story.

[Dave]

I work with the public and run into customers like this ALL THE TIME. Agnes nailed it. I was also amused to no end to find out Lucille Fletcher based the character on a woman who'd harassed her and a friend at a drug store. The best stories are taken from life.

I recently read a book about customer service that discussed the extensive training that "Sorry, Wrong Number"-era telephone operators underwent. So the astonishing (by 21st century standards) courtesy with which the operators in the play deal with this wretched harridan is also reality-based.

[Christine Miller]

Amen, Dave! I work with the public, too.

What is the name of the book? I would love to read it.

Best,
Christine