This is the second time this story has been adapted for Suspense. The first was from 1945-03-08 with Humphrey Bogart. Details about the original story and the broadcasts are at:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/05/1945-03-08-loves-lovely-counterfeit.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP450308 which provides access to the network and AFRS recordings
The James M. Cain novel was originally adapted by Robert Richards for the 1945 broadcast that starred Humphrey Bogart. Using that as a base, Jo Eisinger (using the pseudonym “Jason James”) expanded the story with more details. This is one of the few 60-minute Suspense that used the expanded time well. It might the be best of the surviving broadcasts of this period. The additional characters and story background and plot development made this production better than the 1945 broadcast. The performance of Jimmy Cagney is quite good.
Montgomery has a summary of the “story so far” at the halfway point. In the half -hour format, any “summaries” were handled in a subtle, almost-hidden manner through first person narration or dialogue that fit the natural flow of the story. This separate recap implies that they were concerned about listeners drifting off or being interrupted or coming into the program late.
At the end of the program there is a “casual” scripted conversation between Cagney, Cain, Montgomery. It is stilted. You can understand that for author Cain who was rarely before the microphone, but not for the others. Perhaps it was easier for them to play characters… than to play themselves! One of the goals for the hour format, to create a better sense of connection with the authors and actors with the audience, and further widen the distinction between Suspense and other mystery series.
Some recordings of this broadcast have an obvious patch of the Suspense theme at the end and are missing some of the closing announcements and the network ID. This recording is complete.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP480117
THE CAST
JAMES CAGNEY (Ben Grace), Cathy Lewis (June Lyons / Operator), Wally Maher (Lefty Gauss), Sidney Miller (Sol Casper), Howard McNear (Yates), Bill Johnstone (Department of Justice man / Jansen), Lurene Tuttle (Mrs. Lyons / Nurse), Jack Kruschen (Joe Cantrell / Gang member), Ken Christy (Police Chief), Will Wright (District Attorney), Jerry Hausner (Johnny), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice / Archie / Doctor)
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