Escape's "Typhoon" was adapted from the 1903 short story by Joseph Conrad. It can be found in Typhoon and Other Tales, and online at Wikisource. It is one of two Conrad stories adapted for radio by Escape. (See also "The Brute" ) To read more about Escape's presentations, click here, to read an article published in Conradiana (3-22-06).
The episode is narrated by Mr. Jukes, first mate of the Nan-Shan. As the story opens, the ship is about to set sail for three years of cargo-hauling in the China Seas. The commander is Captain MacWhirr, a man whose lack of imagination easily frustates Mr. Jukes.
When the ship arrives in Singapore, the captain takes on an unusal cargo, two hundred Chinese workers on their way to Fu-Chau. As the ship sails toward the next port, Mr. Jukes has an ominous feeling.
Soon, the barometer drops and the swells start to grow. Is it just "some dirty weather knocking about", or is there something more serious on the horizon?
"Typhoon" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Frank Lovejoy starred. Also appearing were Raymond Lawrence and Cy Kendall. This episode aired on July 28, 1947.
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