Suspense's "A Friend to Alexander" was closely adapted from the short story of the same name by James Thurber and is available in the 1942 collection of stories My World and Welcome to It. If you have a copy of the text, you can read along while listening to the episode. Most of the dialogue in Fria Howard's radio play comes from Thurber, but she did make some interesting additions. Her adaptation was used in the 1943 and 1944 episodes.
In 1956, Suspense presented this story a third time, but a very different radio adaptation by Fran Von Hardesfelt was used that included dramatized dream sequences.
As the episode opens, Mrs. Andrews tells us about her husband, Harry Andrews, and how their troubles started...
It was the day Harry told her that he was having recurring dreams about the Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton duel. At first, she thought that was odd, but when her husband's dreams became nightmares, she became worried. Every night, Harry would dream that he was involved in the events of 1804 that surrounded the famous duel. His ego was deeply injured by the insults that Burr threw at Hamilton..and at him. Burr's pomposity and arrogance made Mr. Andrews so angry that Mrs. Andrews suggested he see a doctor. Then, she suggested that they go away, but that made things worse.
Is there anything she can do for her husband?
"A Friend to Alexander" was adapted for radio by Fria Howard. William Spier produced and Robert Louis Shayon directed. Robert Young and Geraldine Fitzgerald starred. This episode aired on August 3, 1943.
. Download Suspense_1943-08-03_Friend_to_Alexander
Suspense presented this story a second time, with some changes, on June 15, 1944. Geraldine Fitzgerald and Richard Whorf starred. William Spier produced and directed.
. Download Suspense_1944-06-15_AFriendToAlexander
Suspense presented this story a third time on August 15, 1956. Antony Ellis produced and directed. The story was adapted by Fran Von Hardesfelt. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Paula Winslowe, Ben Wright, Victor Rodman, Miriam Wolfe, Charlotte Lawrence, Joseph Kearns, and Larry Thor.
. Download Suspense_1956-08-15_A Friend To Alexander
(Image of Alexander Hamilton from Wikipedia)
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