Escape's "Pollack and the Porroh Man" was adapted from the 1895 short story by H.G. Wells. In their adaptation, a few changes were made to the story, but the essentials remain intact. The original work is available online at Horrormasters.com.
If Escape had presented the story as written, they may have had a better result. Instead, the episode starts with a retelling by Pollock of the events that have driven him mad...which means that we know from the start that he goes mad.
As the episode opens, Pollock is visited in his London flat by Waterhouse, who is surprised to find his old acquaintance in such bad condition. When they travelled in Africa together some months earlier, Pollock was an arrogant and robust man, but now he is a broken and disturbed. Waterhouse is shocked to discover that he is still haunted by the events that occurred on their expedition.
Pollock's health problems began when a Porroh man put a curse on him for stealing an idol. Unfortunately, Pollock didn't know that to have the curse removed, he must ask the Porroh man to remove it or kill the Porrah man himself. Instead, he paid someone to kill him.
Afterward, when the Porroh man's head was brought to him, Pollock tried to get rid of it...but it wouldn't go. No matter how he tried to dispose of it, the head returned.
Now, he tells Waterhouse, the Porrah man's head follows him everywhere. Can he escape it?
"Pollock and the Porroh Man" was adapted for radio by John Dunkel and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Barton Yarborough played Pollock. Also appearing were Louis Van Rooten and William Conrad. This episode aired on October 28, 1947
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(Image from Wikipedia)
Speaking of changing things -- have you seen the Alan Ladd movie of "The Great Gatsby"? It actually starts with two of the main characters standing over Gatsby's grave reminiscing about his colorful life ! ! !
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