June Havoc stars as a second level actor whose resemblance to a movie star has her as a stand-in. Her main purpose in the movie shoot is to set up lighting and be used in “long shots” so the big star does not have to be on the set all of the time. That resemblance becomes a key part of the actress’ new (and already disgruntled) husband’s plan to do away with her and run away with the stand-in and live happily ever after. They almost do it. The film and audio on the cutting room floor are examined by the police and they eventually catch the couple before “ever after” comes. It’s an interesting plot with many intricacies in the timetable of the plan. It shows how much can be done in the 24 minutes of drama of a Suspense episode. The script is by Pamela Wilcox and adapted by Robert L. Richards.
Both east and west network recordings have survived. The east broadcast includes the tease for The FBI in Peace and War. The east recording is the better of the two.
So much is happening behind the Suspense scenes. Pamela Wilcox and Bob Richards are heading toward matrimony. Kay Thompson and Bill Spier have filed for divorce and Bill and June Havoc started a romance that will lead to marriage. Kay is about to establish residence in Las Vegas to satisfy divorce requirements needed for the official split with Bill. While she is there, she is being paid a handsome sum to create what would become the model for Las Vegas entertainment shows for decades to come.
In the spirit of Suspense “it just so happens” plotlines, June headed to Connecticut after this broadcast. She would be appearing at the regionally well-known Westport Playhouse in Girl of the Golden West with Robert Stack opening on June 30.
“It just so happens” that Bill, Howard Duff, Sam Spade, and Suspense were headed east, too! They’re all going to New York. Spade is by produced Spier so the program had to follow Duff to New York for the shooting of Mark Hellinger’s famous police procedural The Naked City. He was still able to do the Spade show while he was there. (Unfortunately, none of those episodes have been found). On those quiet evenings, Bill can visit Connecticut, where he has family ties, and also visit June.
The Suspense show was mainly staffed by New York actors, and it is marvelous to hear Ken Roberts doing the Roma commercials. Spier will miss the next Hollywood Suspense and creator Charles Vanda will fill in next week while he is gone. Keith Scott notes that Lud Gluskin made the trip to New York as well. It is likely Spier was meeting with CBS executives about what to do with Suspense and its sponsorship if Roma did not renew again. More details in upcoming posts.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP47-06-12
THE CAST
JUNE HAVOC (Diana Burke), Elliott Lewis (Dennis O’Brien), Hans Conried (Director), Wally Maher (Assistant director / Gate Guard), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice / Crew member), Jerry Hausner (Photographer / Studio guard), Elliott Reid (Jensen / Lieutenant Malone), Henry Blair (Boy), Cathy Lewis (Madame Maggie), Frank Albertson (Michael)
###
