Escape and Suspense!

Suspense - The Black Curtain

Suspense's "The Black Curtain" was based on the classic 1941 novel of the same name by Cornell Woolrich. Their version does not represent the book exactly as written, but whether or not the changes  are acceptable...is up to the listener. Suspense presented this story three times, twice as a half hour program and once as an hour-long episode.

In the biography, Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, then You Die, author Francis M Nevins, Jr. gives Suspense's adaptation high praise for capturing the essence of Woolrich's particular brand of bleakness and for improving upon the final scenes. As he states on page 494:

"Cary Grant gave a magnificent performance as Townsend and Lurene Tuttle was superb as Ruth in this play which was at once so different from its source novel and to true to its dark spirit that I'm almost convinced it was adapted by Woolrich himself..."

Suspense's version more closely remembles novel's 1942 film adaptation, Street of Chance, which starred Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor. 

As the episode opens, Frank Townsend awakens from an accident to discover that he is unable to remember the last three years of his life. His only clue is his hat, which is mongrammed with the initials "D.N." Soon, however, Frank realizes that he is being followed by someone who does know. Someone with a gun... 

"The Black Curtain" was presented the first time on December 2, 1943. William Spier produced and directed. Cary Grant starred as Frank Townsend. Lurene Tuttle played Ruth. Also appearing were Bea Benaderet, Hans Conried, William Johnstone, Harry Lang, and Walter Tetley. 

. Download Suspense_1943-12-02_The_Black_Curtain_

The second presentation was on November 30, 1944. Cary Grant and Lurene Tuttle again played the roles of Frank and Ruth.

. Download Suspense_1944-11-30_The Black Curtain_

Suspense presented this story a third time in an hour long episode on January 3, 1948. William Spier again produced and directed. This time, Robert Montgomery played the role of Frank Townsend. Lurene Tuttle again played Ruth. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Jeannette Nolan, Sidney Miller, Conrad Binyon, Jack Kruschen, William Conrad, Jerry Hausner, Paul Frees, Ira Grosell (a.k.a Jeff Chandler (in the role of Franklin)) Junius Matthews, Harry Lang, and Joseph Kearns .

. Download Suspense_1948-01-03_Black Curtain_

Street of Chance is not currently available on DVD, but hopefully, it will be restored someday soon and released again. 

Watch Street of Chance (1942) in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Suspense - You'll Never See Me Again

Suspense's "You'll Never See Me Again" was adapted from the Cornell Woolrich novella of the same name, which was first published in Detective Story, November 1939. Today, you can find it in the book Four Novellas of Fear (2010). Suspense's version has a different outcome than the original, but most of the story remains the same.

As the episode opens, Ed Bliss and his wife, Janet, have just had their first big argument after three months of marriage. She storms out, claiming that he will never see her again! Ed plays it cool. He doesn't want to give in to her too soon, so he waits three days, and then calls her at her mother's home. When Mrs. Alden answers, Ed discovers that Janet isn't with her mother.

Where is she? What happened to her?  Ed rushes off to the bus station to pick up the trail of his missing wife...

"You'll Never See Me Again" was adapted, produced and directed by William Spier. Joseph Cotten starred. Also appearing were Lurene Tuttle, Wally Maher, and John McIntire. This episode aired on September 14, 1944.

. Download Suspense_1944-09-14_You'll Never See Me Again

Suspense presented this story a second time on September 5, 1946. Robert Young starred. Also appearing were Verna Felton, William Johnstone, Cathy Lewis, and Wally Maher.

. Download Suspense_1946-09-05_You'll Never See Me Again

Suspense - They Call Me Patrice

Suspense's "They Call Me Patrice" was adapted from the novellette by Cornell Woolrich eight months after it was first published in Today's Woman magazine (April 1946).  Woolrich later reworked this same story into his classic novel, I Married a Dead Man, which was published in 1948 under his pen name, William Irish.

William Spiers adapted the original novellette for Suspense and made two important changes: the main character, Helen/Patrice is not pregnant, and the happy ending was changed to one that isn't.

As the episode opens, Helen Georgesson is on a train back to San Francisco after divorcing her no-good husband in New York. She meets Patrice and Hugh Hazzard, and she is attracted to their bubbly newlywed happiness.

Helen accompanies Patrice to the ladies room, and while they are chatting about Patrice's fears of meeting her new inlaws---the train suddenly goes off the rails and crashes!

Later, Helen awakens in a hospital room, only to realize that she has been mistakenly identified as Patrice Hazzard. In desperation for a new and better life, she doesn't tell them the truth.

Will Helen find peace in her new life? Or, will someone from her past discover her secret...

"They Call Me Patrice" was adapted for Suspense, produced and directed by William Spier. Susan Peters starred. (This radio appearance occurred during the time in her career when she was wheelchair-bound.) Also appearing were William Johnstone, Wally Maher, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on December 12, 1946.

. Download Suspense_1946-12-12_They Call Me Patrice

I Married a Dead Man was the basis of the 1950 film No Man of Her Own starring Barbara Stanwyck, as well as the later remakes J'ai epouse un ombre (1983) and Mrs. Winterbourne (1996).

On September 21, 1951, an excellent version of No Man of Her Own was presented on radio by The Screen Director's Playhouse. Barbara Stanwyck and Lyle Bettger star in this hour long episode. Richard Alan Simmons adapted for radio. 

 . Download SDP_51-09-21_ep121-No_Man_Of_Her_Own

Below is a clip from No Man of Her Own, which is not available on DVD, but is currently available through streaming Netflix.

Suspense - If the Dead Could Talk

Suspense's "If the Dead Could Talk" was adapted from the short story by Cornell Woolrich, which was first published in Black Mask, (February, 1943) and later published in the anthology Dead Man Blues (1948). The French film Obsession (1954) was adapted from the Woolrich story "Silent as the Grave (1945)," but also from "If the Dead Could Talk."

As the episode opens, Joe explains how all of the trouble started. How he became desperate to killl...

Joe, Tommy and Fran were trapeze artists in the circus. Things were going well for them until one fateful night on the train to St. Louis. It was then that Fran broke the news that she and Tommy were going to be married!

Joe was stunned. He pretended to be happy for them, but he wasn't. Joe loved Fran, and couldn't stand to see her married to Tommy.

Instead of telling them how he felt, he bought a gun to kill Tommy. When that idea failed, he decided the easiest thing to do was to create an accident on the highwire...

"If the Dead Coul Talk" was adapted for radio by Larry Marcus. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Dana Andrews starred. Also appearing were Ted de Corsia, Verna Felton, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on January 20, 1949.

. Download Suspense_1949-01-20_If The Dead Could Talk

(Image of Dana Andrews from Wikipedia)

Suspense - Last Night

In "Last Night" Margo stars in a Cornell Woolrich story about a wife who is suspicious that her husband has murdered their wealthy guest.

This episode was adapted from the short story "The Red Tide" (Detective Story, September 1940), which was later expanded into a novelette called "Last Night". There is some confusion about this episode because the name of the person who adapted the story for radio isn't given, only Woolrich is named as the author. This uncertainty in mentioned by Francis M. Nevans in his 1988 biography Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die. He states that: "Whether or not Woolrich wrote the Suspense script himself, he seems to have fallen in love with the changes in the radio version, for that same year, when he revised "The Red Tide" for inclusion in his first story collection, I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes, he took over both the radio play's title and its toned-down though still quite suspenseful plot."

As the episode opens, it is morning, and Jackie Blaine and her husband, Gil, discuss their guest, Mr. Burroughs. They invited him to their Hudson Valley dude ranch with the hope that he would lend them money to keep their enterprise going, but he didn't seem cooperative. To Jackie's surprise, Gil tells her that, last night, Mr. Burroughs did give them the money they need. Then, he mysteriously took the early morning milk train back to the city.

Jackie is confused about his leaving so suddenly, without luggage, and without his secretary?

Is Gil telling Jackie the truth? She thinks something very strange must have happened...

"Last Night" was directed by Ted Bliss and produced by William Spier. Margo and Kent Smith starred. The names of the supporting actors aren't given. This episode aired on June 15, 1943.

. Download Suspense_1943-06-15_Last_Night

(Image of Margo from Wikipedia )

Suspense - The Lie

In "The Lie," Mickey Rooney stars as a young man who frames himself for murder in order to protect his father. This episode was adapted from the Cornell Woolrich short story of the same name, which was first published in Detective Fiction Weekly, October 9, 1937.

As the episode opens, Marty Delavan is on the train home after being kicked out of school for drinking--for the third time. He knows his father will try to cover up his son's disgrace, and that his stepmother will give him hell for wasting their money. Nevertheless, he heads for home.

When he does arrive at their house, he finds a completely different situation. His stepmother is in the bedroom with her neck broken! His father is nowhere to be found. Marty decides that if he can do nothing else for his dad, at least he can take the rap for the murder he has committed. His stepmother obviously drove him to it with her wayward behaviour! So, Marty calls the police and confesses.

Will Marty be able to succesfully take the blame for the murder of his slutty stepmother?

"The Lie" was adapted for radio by Herb Meadow and produced/directed by Anton M. Leader. Mickey Rooney starred. Also appearing were Ed Begley, William Johnstone, and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on April 28, 1949.

. Download Suspense_1949-04-28-The_Lie

Suspense - Dime a Dance

In "Dime a Dance," Lucille Ball plays a taxi dancer who becomes involved in the search for a murderer.

Cornell Woolrich's classic noir short story, "Dime a Dance" (Black Mask, February, 1938), is also known under its reprint title, "The Dancing Detective." The story was adapted for Suspense in 1944, not  long after Suspense had presented Woolrich's similar tale, "The White Rose Murders."  Woolrich wrote a number of stories with taxi dancer and dance hall themes, but the most famous of these is "Dime a Dance."

Ginger Allen is a taxi dancer at the Joyland Palace in New York City. As the episode opens, she arrives at work expecting to see her friend, Julie, but she isn't there. No one knows where Julie is or why she isn't at work. Later, Ginger is told that Julie has been murdered and the police want her help.

"Dime a Dance" was produced and directed by William Spier. Lucille Ball starred as Ginger Allen. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Patrick McGeehan, Jeannette Nolan, and Ian Wolfe. This episode aired on January 13, 1944.

.  Download Suspense_1944.01.13_Dime A Dance

(Image from The Dancing Detective: A Brilliant Collection of Macabre Mystery Stories, Popular Lbrary, 1951)

Suspense - The White Rose Murders

In the "White Rose Murders," Maureen O'Hara stars as society girl who attempts to catch a killer.

"The White Rose Murders" was adapted from the Cornell Woolrich story "The Death Rose" (Baffling Detective Mysteries March 1943). The story revolves around Ginny Trowbridge, a well-to-do debutante and her boyfriend, Terry, a homicide detective. He has been assigned to the case of the "White Rose Murderer," a case that the New York City police department is desperate to solve. If Terry doesn't solve the case, his job may be on the line. Ginny decides that the best way to help him is to secretly try to lure the murderer into a trap herself.

No writer is credited for Suspense's radio adaptation, but Francis M. Nevins, Jr., in his 1988 biography of Woolrich states that: "If the radio play was not written by Woolrich--and, as with "Last Night" no other writer is credited--then its author's ability to capture the Woolrich mood and feel is nothing short of miraculous. Not only is "The White Rose Murders" better constructed than the magazine tale, but with its noir implication that the world is full of lonely and twisted men who are ready, willing and able to kill women, it's much more disturbing."* 

"The White Rose Murders" was produced by William Spier and directed by Ted Bliss. This episode aired on July 6, 1943.

. Download Suspense_1943.07.06_White Rose Murders.mp3

* Quote take from Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die (pg. 493). Mysterious Press.

(Image from Stock.xchng)

Suspense - The Night Reveals

In "The Night Reveals," an insurance investigator suspects that his wife is a dangerous pyromaniac.

Suspense's radio play was based on the 1936 short story by Cornell Woolrich (William Irish), but it doesn't capture the intensity. Suspense changed the ending and gave the married couple at the center of the story a chance for future happiness. In Woolrich's version, the husband and wife do not live happily ever after.

Francis M. Nevins, Jr., in his biography of Cornell Woolrich, First You Dream, Then You Die (1988), states:

""The Night Reveals" (Story, April 1936) is the earliest example of that uniquely Woolrichian type of tale, the oscillation thriller, in which the protagonist is being eaten alive by the possibility, then the mild likelihood, then the probability, then the near certainty, then the total certainty that the person closest in the world to the protagonist--husband, wife, roommate, best friend, lover--has done or is doing or is about to do something unspeakable." (p.148)

In 1943, "The Night Reveals" became the first Woolrich story to be adapted by Suspense. According to Nevins, it was the first time Woolrich's work was presented to a national radio audience.

Suspense presented "The Night Reveals" four times between 1943 and 1949. Unfortunately, a recording of the first presentation, which starred Frederic March on March 2, 1943, is not available.

The fourth, and the best of the surviving versions, starred Frederic March and Jeanette Nolan and aired on May 26, 1949.

. Download Suspense_1949.05.26_The Night Reveals.mp3

The third presentation with Keenan Wynn and Cathy Lewis aired on April 18, 1946.

. Download Suspense_1946.04.18_The_Night_Reveals.mp3

The second presentation, with Robert Young and Margo, aired on December 9, 1943.

. Download Suspense_1943.12.09_ TheNightReveals.MP3

(Cover art from Six Times Death, a 1944 collection of six William Irish (Cornell Woolrich) stories which includes "The Night Reveals." This collection was originally pubished under the title After-Dinner Story.)

Suspense - The Black Path of Fear

In "The Black Path of Fear," a woman tries to escape her gangster husband by running away to Cuba with her new love. Before their first night in Havana is through, she is knifed and her lover is framed for the murder.  The story is taken from the 1944 Cornell Woolrich novel The Black Path of Fear, the fifth in Woolrich's Black series. 

As the episode opens, Bill Scott and Eve Spinelli are taking a carriage ride through Havana. They appear to be a couple of carefree tourists, but their happiness is shadowed by their fear of Eve's husband. It hadn't taken Mr. Spinelli long to find out where his wife and her chaffeur had gone.

The carriage driver deposits them at the entrance of a popular nightclub called "Sloppy Joe's," and they go in for a drink. When a photographer takes a souvenir photograph of them, Eve is stabbed from behind. The police blame Bill, but he is innocent. He tells the police that the murder weapon wasn't his knife, but the more Bill tries to prove that, the worse he makes it look for himself. How can Bill Scott prove to the police he was framed? With some unexpected help from a prostitute named Midnight, he may have a chance.

Suspense's version abbreviates the novel by leaving out the opium fiends, sinister Chinese smugglers, and violent ending, but it is still a good adaptation. The Black Path of Fear was also adapted for the premier episode of the Suspense television show in 1949, but unfortunately, that episode is not currently available.The television version aired under the title of "Revenge."

The 1946 film noir The Chase, starring Robert Cummings, was loosely-based on The Black Path of Fear.

"The Black Path of Fear" was adapted for Suspense by Robert Tallman and was produced/directed by William Spier. Brian Donlevy starred. Also appearing were Lurene Tuttle, Hans Conried, Wally Maher, and John McIntire. This episode aired on August 31, 1944.

. Download Suspense_1944.08.31_Black_Path_Of_Fear.mp3

Suspense presented this story again two years later with Cary Grant in the lead role. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis, and Wally Maher. William Spier produced/directed. This episode aired on March 7, 1946. (The sound quality of this episode is not the best.)

.  Download Suspense_1946.03.07_Black_Path_Of_Fear.mp3

(Image from 1946 Avon edition) 

Back from Noir City

The Noir City Film Festival is just about over, but I was able to catch Night Has a Thousand Eyes, D.O.A., and The Story of Molly X.

Arriving early for Night Has a Thousand Eyes, it didn't appear that this Cornell Woolrich film was much of a draw, but the crowd quickly grew. One guy even cut in front of me in the line to get in! The movie is interesting enough, but different from the book. A lot of the screen time focuses on Gail Russell's hypnotic eyes. (For a half-hour radio version of this movie, go to the end of this post.)

D.O.A. was a crowd favorite, not only because it is noir classic, but because there are quite a few scenes that are impossible to watch without chuckling. It is a weird film with a complicated plot, but the crowd enjoyed it thoroughly. D.O.A. played on a double feature with The Story of Molly X. Though it was a cold and rainy Thursday night, more than 900 people attended!

For fans of Suspense, The Story of Molly X is a treat. June Havoc stars as Molly, the lady-boss of a gang of criminals. She is caught after a heist and sentenced to several years in a women's prison.  (Note: The correctional facility in this movie is more like a sorority house than a prison.) When Molly arrives at the prison, we come across some familiar voices... Sandra Gould, who can be heard in the commercials for U.S. Savings Bonds in Suspense episodes from the late 1950's, plays the inmate who welcomes Molly to prison life. Then, there is Suspense regular Cathy Lewis, who plays Molly's cell-mate! Other Suspense regulars who turn up in this film are Wally Maher and Elliott Lewis. One of the film's co-stars, Dorothy Hart,  made one appearance on the television show Suspense in the episode "Vacancy for Death."

The Story of Molly X is a short film, but a good one. Let's hope they put it out on DVD one of these days.

The Noir City Film Festival is held annually at the historic Castro Theatre.

If you are interested in the movie Night Has a Thousand Eyes, there is a half-hour radio version that was done for The Screen Director's Playhouse. It will give you the quick version of the movie's plot-line. Director John Farrow and two of the film's stars, Edward G. Robinson and William Demarest appeared. This episode aired on February 27, 1949. 

. Download sdph.1949.02.27_NightHasAThousandEyes.mp3 

Escape - Finger of Doom

Escape only presented two episodes based on Cornell Woolrich stories, the horror-voodoo classic "Papa Benjamin" and the thriller "Finger of Doom." Although Escape was an adventure series, the show was adept at handling Woolrich's noir material on radio. "Finger of Doom" was first published in Detective Fiction Weekly (June 22,1940).

As the episode opens, somewhere in New York City, we meet Kenny and Steffie. They are engaged, and their wedding is only thirteen days away. On this night, Kenny is picking Steffie up from work. They are on their way for an evening on the town, but first, Steffie has to run an errand. Her boss has asked her to drop off a package, and she convinces Kenny that it will just be a brief interruption in their plans. When they arrive at an old brownstone, Steffie goes upstairs to drop off the package but never returns. Kenny waits but then realizes that something has gone horribly wrong.

"Finger of Doom" was adapted for radio by John Brussell and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell.  Harry Bartell played Kenny and Ed Begley played Gilman. Also appearing were Joy Terry, Edgar Barrier, Louise Arthur, Peter Prauss, and Kay Miller. This episode aired on March 19, 1949.

.  Download Escape_1949.03.19_FingerofDoom.mp3   

Suspense had presented an adaptation of "Finger of Doom" under the title "I Won't Take a Minute" five years earlier. Their adaptation is a little different but just as good overall. Lee Bowman starred as Kenny. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher, and William Johnstone. This episode aired on December 6, 1945.

.  Download Suspense_1945.12.06_IWontTakeAMinute.mp3

(Image from Morguefile)

Noir City 6

Here in San Francisco, it is just about time for Noir City, the annual film festival  presented by the Film Noir Foundation. This year, the festival runs from January 25 to February 3rd. Even if you can't attend, a quick look at the Noir City program guide may be of interest. Ida Lupino, Van Heflin, June Havoc, and other familiar Suspense performers are all on the line-up.

Cornell Woolrich fans should take note that there will be a screening of a new 35 mm print of the film Night Has a Thousand Eyes on January 27th.

Another film of interest is Dangerous Crossing, which was written by Suspense's John Dickson Carr.

The film Hangover Square features the music of Suspense composer Bernard Herrmann.

(If you can't make it to the festival, Dangerous Crossing and Hangover Square are available on DVD.)

For more information visit the websites for Noir City and the Film Noir Foundation.

Supense - Post Mortem

Suspense's "Post Mortem" was based on the Cornell Woolrich short story of the same name. It was first published in Black Mask magazine (April 1940) and it is currently available The Cornell Woolrich Omnibus.

The episode opens in the home of Josie and Stephen Archer as they go about their usual morning routine. After Stephen leaves for work, Josie is called from her bathtub by the clamoring of reporters at her front door. They inform her that she has just won $150,000 in the Irish Sweepstakes. Josie informs them that she didn't buy a ticket. So, how could she have won? 

Frances M. Nevins, Woolrich's biographer, singles this episode out for abuse as the "worst of all of Suspense's Woolrich based plays." In his book, First You Dream, Then You Die, he states: "As Woolrich wrote it, the story was an uncomfortable mix of serious and grotesquely comic elements, but it wasn't improved by the Suspense adapter's decision to play the whole show for laughs." (Pg. 497)

Suspense didn't do that badly. They just added their own flair to it. Their presentation, with all of its unique sound effects, has more originality than the lackluster version done for television by Alfred Hitchcock Presents twelve years later.

The Suspense television show adapted Woolrich's story in 1949, but that episode is not currently available.

"Post Mortem" starred Agnes Moorehead and Joseph Kearns. It was adapted for Suspense by Robert Tallman.

This episode aired on April 4, 1946.

.  Download suspense_1946.04.04_Post Mortem.mp3

See also: "Post Mortem" released last month on the Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Three collection.

(Image from stock.xchng)

Suspense - Angel Face

Suspense's "Angel Face" is a radio noir set in New York City and narrated in the first person by Jerry Wheeler, a girl with an angelic face and a hard life as a nightclub performer. She does it all for her kid brother, Chick, whom she wants to see rise above their circumstances.

Chick gets himself into a serious mess when he hooks up with Ruby Rose Reading, the girlfriend of a mobster named Milt Militis.  Over his sister's objections, Chick plans to go with Ruby on a trip to Chicago. When Ruby is murdered that evening, Chick takes the fall. Jerry knows her kid brother didn't commit the murder and she sets out, with the help of one of the detectives, to prove his innocence.  As Chick heads for the electric chair, she has to work fast to find the real killer.

This episode was based on Cornell Woolrich's short story "Face Work" which was first published in the October 1937 issue of Black Mask magazine.  Columbia Pictures bought the rights shortly after it was published and turned it into the 1938 B-movie Convicted starring Rita Hayworth.

Suspense's version of "Angel Face" retains portions of the original text in the dialogue but changes the story, particularly at the end. Their version does keep the quick pace and the basic plot, but it was reduced in a number of ways to accomodate a half-hour radio format. Not surprisingly, Suspense' s version skips over the scene where Jerry is branded on the hip with a hot poker by Milt Militis.

Although the announcer states that this episode was "an original play written for radio by Cornell Woolrich," it was not. It is generally believed that Woolrich did not write the adaptations of his stories that appeared on radio.

"Angel Face" stars "Queen of Film Noir" Claire Trevor and Joseph Kearns. It was produced, edited and probably adapted for radio by William Spier. (The obvious problem with this recording is that it seems to run a bit fast, particularly at the beginning. After checking a few other OTR repositories, a better recording was not to be found.)

This episode aired on May 18, 1950.

Download Suspense.1950.05.18.Angel_ Face.mp3

(Image by Clayton Lord from Word for Word Theater's current production of Angel Face in San Francisco. Pictured above are Paul Finochiarrio and Laura Lowry as Milt and Jerry. )

News from Escape and Suspense!

If you are a fan of Cornell Woolrich's stories on Suspense, then you may be interested in an upcoming theatrical production of one of his short stories.

Angel Face, presented by the Word for Word Performing Arts Theater Company, is a new stage presentation that will run from August 10th to September 2nd at the Project Artaud Theater in San Francisco.

The Word for Word Theater Company specializes in presenting short stories accurately and in the manner in which the author intended them. Now, we know that with a Woolrich story, that can't possibly mean a dull evening.

For more information about Angel Face and tickets contact The Z Space Studio.

Suspense - After Dinner Story

"After-Dinner Story" was one of many works by Cornell Woolrich adapted for radio. Suspense presented twenty-two of his stories on their program, but his works were also performed on Molle Mystery Theater and other radio shows. Suspense's "After Dinner Story" was based on the 1938 short story of the same name which Woolrich wrote under his pseudonym, William Irish.

Suspense's version altered the structure of the story a little, but otherwise retold the tale as it was intended. What was left out was the Depression-era setting, and so it lost some of its depth and meaning. The original short story is very tense and the description of the elevator crash is more frightening than on radio. Read Woolrich's story if you get the chance.

"After-Dinner Story" was adapted for radio by Robert L. Richards. Otto Kruger appeared as Mr. Hardecker. Also featured were Hans Conried, William Johnstone, and Lou Merrill. This story aired once on October 26, 1943. Although it never aired again on the Suspense radio program, the television show Suspense aired this story on April 12, 1949. Otto Kruger starred in the same role he had played in the radio version.

. Download Suspense.1943.10.26_After_Dinner_Story.mp3

(Image of elevator shaft from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Momentum

Suspense's "Momentum" was adapted from a Depression era short story by Cornell Woolrich published under the titles "Momentum" and also "Murder Always Gathers Momentum." According to Frances M.Nevins in his book Cornell Woolrich, First You Dream, Then You Die: "When it comes to putting us in the skin of a frightened little guy in a miserable little apartment with a hungry wife and children and no money and no job and fear of tomorrow eating him like a cancer, Woolrich has no peers. There is more of the anguish of the thirties in stories like "Goodbye, New York" (1937) and "Dusk to Dawn"(1937) and "Borrowed Crime" (1937) and "Murder Always Gathers Momentum" (1940) than in volumes of social history."*

Woolrich's short story opens with the main character, Richard Paine, arriving at the house of his former employer, Mr. Burroughs. Paine is desperate and has come hoping to collect back wages. Years earlier he had deferred half of his salary to help get his employer through hard times, but instead, Burroughs filed a suspicious bankruptcy cancelling his company's debts.  Paine's attempts to retrieve what is due to him set this fugitive-on-the-run story in motion.

Suspense's version skipped the Depression era setting and packaged the story differently, presumably for their contemporary audience. In this version Richard Paine's resentment towards his former employer is over a wrench that he claims to have invented. Paine, as he is portrayed here by Victor Mature, is hard to like and it doesn't appear that anyone does like him except his wife, though he doesn't treat her well.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aired "Momentum" in 1956 with Skip Homeier and Joanne Woodward. The teleplay kept the sadness and the frenzy of Woolrich's original story but was made clean and bloodless for television. As Paine rushes across town, dying of a gunshot wound, he does not have a speck of blood on his suit or hands.

Suspense's radioplay was written by E. Jack Neuman. This episode aired once on October 27, 1949 and starred Victor Mature and Lurene Tuttle.

. Download Suspense.1949.10.27.Momentum.mp3

The short story "Momentum" can be found in The Cornell Woolrich Omnibus.

(Image from Morguefile.com)

*Frances M Nevins, Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream,Then You Die (New York: The Mysterious Press. 1988) pg. 127 

Suspense - Deadline at Dawn

"Deadline at Dawn", the last of the 19 episodes of Suspense made in 1948 for an hour-long format, was based on the 1944 novel by William Irish (aka Cornell Woolrich). There is also a 1946 film noir of the same name, but the radio version and the movie differ. Francis M. Nevins, in his 1988 book Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die, described Suspense's adaptation of Woolrich's story this way: "Deadline at Dawn, as adapted by Irving Ravetch, stayed reasonably close to Woolrich's 1944 novel and avoided all resemblences to the eccentric 1946 movie version. ...It was a workmanlike episode, emphasizing romance rather than the noir coloration of the novel, and doesn't rank with the series finest Woolrich adaptations."

"Deadline at Dawn" was one of four Woolrich stories that were expanded into hour-long episodes in 1948. It may or may not be one of Suspense's finest, but once the story gets going it is worth the time.

This episode, Suspense's last one-hour show, aired on May 15, 1948. It stars Helen Walker as Bricky and John Beal as Quinn. Also appearing are Lillian Buyeff, William Johnstone, Buddy Gray, Edith Tackner, and Rye Billsbury.

Download deadline_at_dawn.5.15.1948. (last 1 hour show).mp3

Suspense -Three O'Clock

"Three O'Clock" is a Suspense episode adapted from a 1938 short story by Cornell Woolrich. A man named Paul believes that his wife, Francie, is cheating on him. He takes revenge by planting a bomb in the basement of their house, but when he returns upstairs, he finds two burglars. Unaware of the bomb, they tie up Paul and leave him in the basement. He is then trapped, alone and helpless, with the ticking bomb that he had set for his wife.

In the short story, Paul is gagged and can't make any sound. On radio this isn't obvious because we are hearing what he is thinking. There aren't any special sound effects for his thoughts. Suspense's adaptation is close to Woolrich's original work, but the ending is slightly changed. The radioplay was written by Walter Brown Newman, who later went to have three of his screenplays nominated for Academy Awards.

"Three O'Clock" was also done for television in 1949 for an episode of Actor's Studio. It aired on Suspense only once, on March 10, 1949 and starred Van Heflin as Paul.

Download Suspense.1949.03.10.ThreeOClock.mp3

The radio program Sleep No More performed "Three O'Clock" on December 12, 1956. It is different in that it is a dramatic reading of the story performed by Nelson Olmsted.

Download SleepNM.1956.12.12_Three_OClock.mp3

(Photo from Morguefile.com)

Rev. 5/22/07

Suspense - Library Book

In honor of National Library Week, here is the Suspense episode "Library Book." This episode stars Myrna Loy as Prudence, a public librarian who stops at nothing to discover who vandalized the library's copy of Gone With the Wind. She is the stereotypical librarian - until she takes off her glasses. Then, for reasons she can't understand, men call her "toots." Of course, the audience understands because Prudence is really Myrna Loy, the sexy star of The Thin Man movies. In her heyday in the 1930's, she was voted "The Queen of Hollywood" by fans.

"Library Book" was based on the 1939 short story "The Book That Squealed" by Cornell Woolrich and was adapted for Suspense by William Spier. The dialogue is witty and the story is entertaining for anyone who has worked in a library. Conrad Binyon, Cathy Lewis and Wally Maher also appear. 

This episode was broadcast on September 20, 1945.

Download Suspense.1945.09.20_Library_Book.mp3

Escape - Papa Benjamin

Escape's episode "Papa Benjamin" is based on the short story by William Irish (aka Cornell Woolrich). It is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans where a struggling bandleader named Eddie uses a sacred voodoo chant as a gimmick to help save his failing nightclub act. Unfortunately, Eddie doesn't take the threat of a voodoo curse too seriously.

This is an interesting story that will keep your attention. There is a moral here about what can go wrong when an artist steals a sacred work from its creators. In this case, Eddie steals then exploits a sacred voodoo chant that he does not fully understand and can not control. In the end, it all kind of backfires on Eddie.

The sound effects are good and the music is more impressive than the average episode of Escape. There do not seem to be any actual African-Americans performing in this episode but that is typical of the era in which it was made. This show was broadcast on January 24, 1948.

"Papa Benjamin" was also an episode of the television series Thriller in 1961. The short story also appears under the titles "Dark Melody of Madness" and "Music from the Dark". The 1965 horror movie anthology Dr. Terror's House of Horrors used this story as well.

Download Escape.1948.01.24_Papa_Benjamin.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)