Escape and Suspense!

Escape - Up Periscope

Escape's "Up Periscope" was based on the short story by Alec Hudson, which was first published in the Saturday Evening Post, December 31, 1938. You can find it in the book Up Periscope & Other Stories by Alec Hudson (1992)

The short story is entertaining, even for those of us who don't find submarines interesting. Escape didn't change too much about the story when they adapted it for radio, but their presentation didn't turn out well. The main problem is the way in which the Chinese are depicted. There isn't anything demeaning about the Chinese in the original story, but the terrible acting in this episode gives that impression.

The story opens in Pearl Harbor in 1938, as Lieutenant Thomas J. Baker receives a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy. Soon afterward, Mr. Lee arrives with a business proposition from the Chinese government. They would like him to take command of a submarine for action against the Japanese invaders at the mouth of Yangtze River. They offer him a generous salary and an extra $50,000 for each major Japanese ship that he may sink.

Baker accepts their offer and hires two ex-shipmen to join him on his new assignment.  

When they arrive, they find a broken-down submarine circa 1918. They are concerned about the condition of their ship, but work to improve their situation. The problem causing the most concern are the old storage batteries that leak hydrogen. One spark could set off an explosion!

Neertheless, they take their position at the mouth of the Yangtze and soon encounter a Japanese fleet. In their first, and only, battle with the Japanese, the submarine and crew are pushed to the maximum...and then fall apart.

"Up Periscope" was adapted for radio by William Froug and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Hy Averback starred. Also appearing were Harry Bartell, Edgar Barrier, Lou Krugman, William Froug, Byron Kane and Charles Lung.

. Download Escape_1951-08-09_ Up Periscope

Escape - The Loup Garou

In Escape's "The Loup Garou" a newcomer to a Louisiana bayou village is accused of being a werewolf.

A young farmer, Mr. Zebb,  moves into a bayou community where he is not readily accepted by the locals. He gets involved with a young woman named Marie, and then his problems begin. One of the locals, Gus, doesn't like the attention that Mr. Zebb gets from Marie, so he spreads the word that Mr. Zebb is a "loup garou," responsible for the death of a baby and for missing animals. Gus manages to whip the superstitious villagers into such a frenzy for "swamp justice" that they storm off to get Mr. Zebb. Meanwhile, with the help of Marie and the preacher, Mr. Zebb escapes into the swamp. The villagers follow them, but are scared away by what they believe are swamp spirits. They leave, and Gus then gets into a knife fight with Mr. Zebb. Gus, the true bad spirit behind it all, is killed.

This episode is difficult to enjoy because the of the grunting and drawling Louisiana French accents that drag out the story. The acting, on the whole, is too loud and over the top, except for William Conrad, who plays the young farmer accused of being a monster.

"The Loup Garou" was written by William Froug and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad starred. Also appearing were John Dehner, Georgia Ellis, Forrest Lewis, Tom Tully, Lou Krugman, Jack Kruschen, and Don Diamond. This episode aired November 16, 1952.

. Download Escape_1952-11-16_The Loup-Garou

"The Loup Garou" may not be one of Escape's best episodes, but William Froug went on to bigger and better things. For a more interesting story, read his book How I Escaped from Gilligan's Island: And Other Misadventures of a Hollywood Writer-Producer (Ray and Pat Browne Book) In it, he talks about his days at CBS Radio and how he made the transition to television. He talks about E. Jack Neuman, Norman MacDonnell, Larry Thor, and other names that we know from CBS Radio. He also talks about his days producing numerous television shows, including The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island, and Bewitched. There are also some very interesting passages about working with Ida Lupino. 

It is clear from the book that Froug liked radio and disliked television. In his later career, he was rescued from producing tv shows by (former Escape announcer) Larry Thor, who offered him a position teaching screenwriting at UCLA.

(There is a brief passage in the book where William Froug reminisces about the time he and Rod Serling exchanged stories about the worst radio scripts they had ever written. One wonders if "The Loup Garou" entered that conversation.)

Escape - Misfortune's Isle

Escape's "Misfortune's Isle" was adapted from the short story of the same name by Richard Matthews Hallet, which can be found in the November 9, 1929 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. This episode  borders on self-parody, but if you read Hallet's story first, you'll know why. "Misfortune's Isle" is a confusing episode based on a short story that probably wasn't a good choice. The original story has no humor or romance but Escape threw some in.

The episode opens in Manila in the 1790's, as Captain Arad sails into port. He learns that a band of pirates attacked the city the night before, and though they got away, his first mate knows who they were. Captain Arad talks to the Spanish captain-general, Don Narciso, into letting them go after the pirates hiding on Misfortune's Isle. The King has offered a large reward to anyone who can rid the islands of pirates, but Arad only wants to get to the island to take advantage of the natural resources, like antimony and edible bird's nests (for bird's nest soup).

They set sail and run into a typhoon. Then, Captain Arad finds that Don Narciso's wife has stowed away. 

When Captain Arad and his crew reach the Misfortune's Isle they find the pirates' stockade, but also discover that their ship is stuck in the mud, their cannons don't work, their gun powder is wet, and help is two days away. On the beach, a tribe of Dyaks waits to attack them using poison from the sacred but deadly upas tree.

Can they escape Misfortunes' Isle?

"Misfortune's Isle" was adapted by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Paul Frees played Captain Arad, Virginia Gregg played Dona Delfina, William Conrad played Jean Paul, Berry Kroeger played Don Narciso, and Tony Barrett as Mike O'Cane. This episode aired on March 21, 1948.

. Download Escape_03-21-1948_ Misfortune's Isle

(Image of upus tree leaf from Wikipedia)

Escape - The Golden Snake

We are down to seven episodes. I've been putting off posting "Golden Snake" for a long time because I've never been too confident that I understand it completely.

The episode opens in Merida, Mexico.  Dr. Conrad, archaeologist, wants to visit an ancient Mayan temple hidden in the Yucatan jungle, so he hires a helicopter pilot named Steve to fly him there. Dr. Conrad's real purpose is to violate their most sacred shrine and steal an object precious to the Mayan people. 

In the dark of night, an ancient Mayan appears in Steve's room. He warns Steve not to visit the temple, and makes it clear that the "plumed serpent of gold" must lie hidden for 5000 years--and the time is not yet. To alter the time is to die!"  

Dr. Conrad has a similar visit and dies from fright. Are the Mayan legends that surround the temple true?  Steven and Dr. Conrad's sexy assistant, Gail, discuss going to the temple on their own. They want to get the artifact and sell it on their own for about two million.

Steve then delivers this epic bit of dialogue:

"Look, Honey, look...I've got a helicopter out there at the edge of town. Within 200 miles there is fortune for the taking. Baby, I've been broke too much of my life to back down for a few pipe dreams and heart attack. How about it, Baby, huh?"

Gail agrees and they hop in the helicopter and fly out to the temple...and I can't explain the rest of what happens.

"Golden Snake" was produced/directed by William N. Robson. Les Crutchfield adapted for radio from an original story by Paul Pierce. Featured in the cast were Tony Barrett as Steve Lane, Jeannette Nolan as Gail Barry and John Hoyt as Dr. Conrad. Also appearing were Rick Valen, Harry Bartell and Paul Frees. This episode aired on April 14, 1950. 

. Download Escape_1950-04-14_ Golden Snake

(Image from Wikipedia)  

Escape - Eye of Evil / Benchillina and the Fisherman

We are down to just twelve episodes of Escape...and that brings us to some of the episodes that I have been avoiding.

I don't like the episodes referenced below and can't bring myself to describe them in detail.  These were not adapted from written works. They were written for Escape. They aren't good.

I just want to check these two episodes off of my list. So, here they are:

"Eye of Evil"--This is a story written by Kathleen Hite. What is it about? A man goes into the jungle to find his lost colleague...and after that there is a lot of dialogue. Don't make me listen to this episode again. "Eye of Evil" aired on July 17, 1954.

Download Escape_1954-7-17_Eye of Evil

"Benchillina and the Fisherman"--This is a story written by John Dehner. What is it about? A man goes fishing in the moors of Northern Ireland and meets a gypsy woman named Benchillina. Soon afterward, they run away to escape her brutal fiance. They travel across the moors in a horse cart, but her fiance soon catches up to them. He mutilates Benchillina's face and then she is accidentally shot. Her fiance is killed by the fisherman. Then, he is alone with two dead gypsies. That's the end of the story. "Benchillina and the Fisherman" aired on June 10, 1954.

Download Escape_1954-6-10_ Benchillina&Fisherman

That's as much as I'm going to say about these two episodes. Let's move on.

(Image of Evil Eye bead from Stock.xchng)

Escape - A Rough Shoot

Escape's "A Rough Shoot" was adapted from the 1951 suspense novel of the same name by Geoffrey Household, but it is quite different. Household's novel should have a made a perfect Escape episode, but the adaptation is a disappointment. Escape went way off the mark with this one. If you get the chance, read the book.

The episode begins as Roger Taine returns home after an evening of shooting on his leased game preserve. He confesses to his wife, Cecily, that he has accidentally killed a man and buried the body. There were two other men there, but they turned and ran away. What Roger can't understand is why they would leave. Obviously, they had a greater fear of their activities being discovered than concern for their companion. Were they poachers? Or, something more sinister.

When Roger returns to the scene of the crime, he finds even more trouble...

"A Rough Shoot" was adapted for radio by screenwriter Arthur Ross and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Ben Wright starred. Also appearing were John Dehner, Sam Waxman, Mary Lansing, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on August 15, 1951.

. Download Escape_1951-08-15_Rough Shoot

Escape - The Gladiator

Escape's "The Gladiator" was written by screenwriter Millard Kaufman, and while it isn't bad, it isn't particularly good either. It is a generic Escape episode that is easy to follow, but a let-down because there aren't any battles. There is only one gladiator in this episode and he gets knocked out in one blow. 

The story opens in London, where Joe Scoletti has just finished his last fight as a professional boxer. Afterward, in Joe's dressing room, two strangers enter to offer their congratulations, Julius Verinias and his niece, Lucretia. Joe and his manager are about to catch a plane for Rome, but Julius offers them passage on his ship. Joe accepts the offer because he is smitten with Lucretia.

Once onboard, Joe and his manager realize that the ship is not on its way to Rome but to North Africa. When they question Julius about the change in course, he tells them that he has other plans. They will be traveling to his ancestral Roman estate where Joe will prove himself in a fight to the death...

"The Gladiator" was written by Millard Kaufman and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Lillian Buyeff, Lou Krugman, Ted Osborne, Byron Kane. Paul Frees played Kriksus the gladiator. This episode aired on August 1, 1951.

. Download Escape_1951.08.01_The Gladiator

(Image from Wikipedia )

Escape - Orient Express

Escape's "Orient Express" was loosely adapted from the 1932 novel Stamboul Train by Graham Greene. (The book was later retitled Orient Express when it was released in the United States.) Stamboul Train was also adapted into a film called Orient Express in 1939.

There is little resemblance between Greene's novel and the plot of Escape's episode. So much so, that using the title and the author's name seems misleading. Most of Escape's adaptations for radio are to be admired, but that isn't the case with this episode. They left out ALL of the good stuff, and then made a story out of some other stuff.

It might have had something to do with the novel being too long for a half hour drama, or that most of it is too adult for a family show.  

The episode begins in 1932, with businessman Gregory Myatt boarding the Orient Express in Ostend, Belgium. Shortly after his journey begins, he encounters a strange man in his compartment. That is his first warning that something isn't right, but there is more intrigue to come as they travel towards Instanbul.

Escape's "Orient Express" is a cute romp on a train, but if you get the chance, read the book.

"The Orient Express" was adapted by television writer Sheldon Stark and screenwriter Walter Newman. Norman MacDonnell produced/directed.  William Conrad played Gregory Myatt. Also appearing were Edgar Barrier, Hans Conried, Gloria Grant, Harry Bartell, Ann Morrison, Jack Kruschen, and John Dehner.

. Download Escape_1949-02-19_Orient Express

(Image from the 1955 edition of Orient Express from Bantam Books.)

Worst of Escape?

When I started this blog, I knew that I would run out of Escape episodes long before I ran out of Suspense episodes, and that time is approaching.

This morning, when I was browsing through potential  Escape episodes, I realized that I only had fifteen left on my "Best of Escape" list.

Meanwhile, my "Worst of Escape" list has over twenty-five episodes and keeps growing. My intent with this site was to showcase Escape in its best light; I do not want to post episodes that are boring or badly done. Instead, I will post "A List of Episodes to Avoid." We've already done this over at Suspense Television because we wanted to focus on the good stuff... and some of those Suspense television episodes are truly awful.

Aside from my current lists of "best" and "worst," there are about forty episodes that are not yet in either category. There is still a lot of material to consider. 

While I am doing that, please feel free to send me your picks for the worst episodes of Escape. You can either post them as a comment below or e-mail them to me.  Perhaps we can come up with a clear winner for the worst. For some time, my top pick has been "The Loup-Garou," but the self-parody of "Misfortune's Isle" runs a close second. "Sire de Maletroit's Door," "The Fugitive," "Benchilllina and the Fisherman," plus Escape's dull adaptation of "Pollack and The Porrah Man" also rank high among  my picks for their worst.

In the meantime, on with the show...

-Christine