"The Life of Nellie James" was originally announced for this date. It was based on the well-known axe murders of Lizzie Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts. The script was broadcast the following week, but no recording exists. Nellie James was also one of the scripts considered for the Suspense premiere, with The Burning Court selected instead.
Wet Saturday was a popular short story by John Collier. He was a British writer and many of his short stories appeared in The New Yorker. This appeared in 1938. He lad a long writing career that included novels and screenplays. Wet Saturday was performed multiple times on Suspense. This script was adapted by Harold Medford. One of Collier’s other stories, Back for Christmas, was also a favorite of the series.
The story involves getting rid of a dead body to cover up the murder. That seems to happen a lot on Suspense and other mystery series of the era. The difference here is that it’s a family doing the cover-up and how calm the process seems to be.
The star is Clarence Derwent, who was “old” for Suspense at age 58, compared to one of the other actors, Joan Lorring. She was only 16!
Lorring worked under the name of “Dellie Ellis” as a teenager (her given name was Madeline Ellis) and was featured in the radio program A Date with Judy. Using her stage name in this performance was likely to keep her differentiated from her regular teenage role and to help her establish her adult career. She had a long career on stage, movies, television, and radio. She is one of five actors to appear in the inaugural summer season of Suspense and its final season in 1962.
LISTEN
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THE CAST
Clarence Derwent (Frederick Princey), Berry Kroeger (Sergeant Yancy / Constable Mountain), Joan Lorring (Millicent Princey), others unknown as Mrs. Princey, George Princey, Captain Smollett, Phone Operator; CBS Staff announcer: Ed Fleming
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