An elderly woman’s son pays an unexpected visit, and needs money to get out of trouble. She refuses. When he learns that her border has no relatives but has a life insurance policy, he hatches a plan to murder the lodger and take the proceeds. This is an original play by Robert Tallman. Dane Clark plays the “no-good” son.
Only the west coast network recording has survived, and is dated as 1944-02-21.
The story also appeared in Suspense Magazine #4, and can be downloaded from the same page as the episode recording.
These are the first Suspense appearances for Faye Bainter and Ralph Morgan. Bainter would appear three times, and this is Morgan’s sole appearance.
Fay Bainter started in regional and traveling theater in 1908 and found her way to Broadway. She started her Hollywood career in 1936 and had a successful long run movies through the late 1940s. Actor Bob Bailey’s parents were in vaudeville and traveling theater with Fay, and their friendship is why Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar star Bob Bailey’s middle name was Bainter.
Ralph Morgan started on stage and silent movies and had a fine and long career on Broadway and movies. He was a founder of the Screen Actors Guild. His younger brother, Frank, was a bit more famous, in the end, but it was Ralph who encouraged him along the way. Ralph’s daughter was actress Claudia Morgan who also had a successful career, and also appeared on Suspense in 1960.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP440217
THE CAST
FAY BAINTER (Mrs. Bates), DANE CLARK (Walter Bates), RALPH MORGAN (Mr. Chalmers), John McIntire (Officer), Joe Kearns (Man in Black / Joe the newsboy), Hans Conried (Plumber), Bill Johnstone (Officer Flanagan)
###
