Joan Lorring plays a librarian in this episode in a fine performance, but it’s Joe Kearns who steals the show as a cold-hearted home invader who just won’t go away. The young librarian lives at home and cares for her elderly invalid mother. If the home invasion and squatting didn’t supply enough terror, the insults and indignities that Kearns’ character hurls in their direction are unsettling and very disturbing. It’s almost a surprise they weren’t toned down for the airwaves. The words imply a constant threat of violence and are designed to rip the fabric of family devotion and obligation. Though Lorring’s character is allowed to leave the home, her mother is always his hostage, his guarantee that she will return. When they are both there, they are clearly his prisoners. It is riveting listening with a surprise and satisfying ending touched with tragedy.
"A man in the house" was a common phrase meant to imply that there was someone of responsibility and protection in a home who provided for the stable well-being of a family. Listeners would understand an obvious sense of irony an paradox between the title and plotline. The phrase has fallen out of use in this meaning over the decades.
Kearns was one of the most broadly talented radio performers, at home in drama and comedic roles, but rarely starring or headlining. As one listens to Suspense episode by episode one’s appreciation for his skills and timing only grows. He’s often doubling and tripling in his roles and assignments. He even does so in this episode even though he is in a leading role as he still says “Suspense!” as needed. Bill Johnstone handles the signature voice with Kearns in this week’s rare spotlight for him.
Leslie Edgley was a British-born American mystery writer whose career included radio, film, and television writing. and screenwriter. He also wrote under the name Robert Bloomfield. Works collaborated with his wife used the name Brook Hastings. Works for television included Perry Mason and Mannix. This is his only Suspense script, but he authored several episodes of The Whistler.
There are two surviving network recordings. One has a 19 second time to network ID “(19s)” and the other is direct to the ID “(dirID).” The “(dirID)” recording is the better of the two but has some minor flaws while the other as narrow range.
This was also presented on the Suspense television series on 1949-11-29 with some changes. It can be viewed at https://archive.org/details/Suspense--Man_in_the_House
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP450802
THE CAST
JOAN LORRING (Emily Barrett), Joe Kearns (The Man), Ruth Perrott (Mrs. Barrett / 2nd library voice), Elliott Lewis (Dr. Ted Roper / 3rd library voice), Bill Johnstone (Signature Voice / Neighbor / 1st library voice)
Ted Meyers is the Roma spokesman this week only, subbing for the absent Truman Bradley, likely on vacation. Meyers was a veteran radio announcer but did not have wide recognition or association with a major series.
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