A Cornell Woolrich short story provides another opportunity for a memorable Suspense broadcast. It was originally published under his pseudonym “William Irish.”
Dana Andrews plays one of a team of three circus trapeze artists, two men and a woman. She gleefully announces that she is freshly engaged to the other male performer. Andrews’ character is so jealous that he buys a gun to eliminate his romantic rival. He quickly realizes that plan won’t work. He “refines” his thinking to staging a performance accident that would ensure his innocence (with thousands of witnesses in the audience!) and ensure his best future opportunity for romance.
There’s a problem on the day of the plan. During the scheduled performance, she inadvertently causes a near accident with her fiancĂ©. He is able to stop himself from falling, but his hands are cut and injured in the near miss. To continue their exhibition, she changes positions with her fiancĂ© since she is the backup acrobat in case he could not perform. This means that she will be the one who will be swinging on the trapeze… what does he do now? His hands are smeared with the Vaseline that were meant to sabotage his rival’s grip and send him falling to the ground. But now, the object of his romantic desire will be the one reaching for his hand. The planned fatal accident was not designed to create her certain demise!
Radio and television veteran Larry Marcus adapted the Woolrich story.
Trouble is My Business by Raymond Chandler with Andrews as star was originally planned for this date. The script was never used on Suspense. It was part of the long range schedule for the hour-long series, but that quickly fell by the wayside once William Spier left and that format began its disintegration.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP490120
THE CAST
DANA ANDREWS (Joe), Peggy Webber (Fran / Patsy the circus fat lady), Tony Barrett (Tommy), Ted de Corsia (Ringmaster / Cop), unknown (Gun salesman), Paul Frees (Signature Voice)
COMMERCIAL: Bill Johnstone (Hap), Sylvia Simms (Operator), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer)
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