The first time this script was used Gene Kelly had the lead role in this outlandish and entertaining story by Emile C. Tepperman. The background of the story and its first broadcast can be found at:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/04/1944-09-28-man-who-couldnt-lose.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP440928 which is where the recordings can be accessed.
Dan Duryea has the lead role this time, and is superb in the part. He was referred to as the “heel with sex appeal,” a description the kinds of movie roles he often had. It suits his demeanor, voice, and speech patterns fit it perfectly. He delivers an excellent performance as a hate-able character that you can’t stop listening to just to be sure he gets the justice he deserves. Some Suspense fans include this particular performance in their top ten lists for the series.
The story caught some attention after the first broadcast. This is from the 1945-12-09 Radio Life:
Although Gene Kelly played the title role in the CBS Suspense drama, The Man Who Couldn’t Lose, when it was aired, several months ago, Robert Montgomery, another Suspense guest star has engaged author Steve Fisher to write the radio drama into a screen play in which Montgomery will play the starring role.
A Man Who Couldn't Lose movie never happened. Fisher was a big-time screenwriter. He wrote one of Montgomery’s more curious films, The Lady in the Lake.
At the end of the episode, Boris Karloff is teased as the guest star for the following week. The script selected was another performance of Wet Saturday. The episode is missing, but the recording has a curious backstory https://sites.google.com/view/1947-wet-saturday/karloff-on-suspense
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP471212
THE CAST
DAN DURYEA (Leonard Snell) , Lucille Meredith (Celia Snell), Cathy Lewis (Nurse), Jeanette Nolan (Mrs. Mossley / Waitress / Frantic woman), John McIntire (Police Lieutenant / Man), Elliott Lewis (Conductor / Debt collector / Bystander), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice / Old Man Mossley / Photographer / Waiter), Jerry Hausner (Floyd Heustis / Bar patron), Frank Albertson (Police Officer), Jack Kruschen (Officer Maloney / Bystander), Dick Ryan (Man in diner), Hans Conried (Charlie the bartender / Syndicate man), Edwin Max (2nd debt collector) , Frank Goss (Radio newsreader), Jack Webb (Bus passenger)
###
