James Mason and wife Pamela Kellino star in this “actual events” episode. The Antony Ellis script is likely drawn from the exploits of Joseph Grizzard about whom Scotland Yard was well-aware for many years but were never able to bring him to justice… until one last heist which is referred to as “The Great Pearl Heist of 1913.” Grizzard was known for his debonair ways, which is probably why Ellis gave him the name of “The Squire” and the last name “Marriott” in the story. “Marriott” sounds a lot more blue-blood than “Grizzard.” Ellis added other “facts” as needed, making this enterprise “loosely based” to make the story and the people more interesting, including changing the year to 1949 and adding the aftermath of a duel that ended the story. Perhaps the better description is that Ellis was “inspired” by the true story and then went his own way. Grizzard was arrested and found guilty with some compatriots, and died in 1923.
This Suspense production is not as exciting as the typical “people in trouble” storylines, which is one of the downsides of the “actual events” theme. It is still early in the process of developing the strategy.
Details about the robbery, including historical information at the Lloyd’s of London website, are at
https://www.lloyds.com/about-lloyds/history/catastophes-and-claims/great-pearl-robbery
https://crystalgemstoneshop.com/blogs/stones/the-great-pearl-caper
The closing announcements of the broadcast include a tease for the forthcoming movie Lady Possessed. The film was released in January 1952 and starred Mason and June Havoc. The script was written by Pamela Kellino and Mason. It was based on her 1943 novel Del Palma. The film was directed by William Spier and Pamela’s ex-husband, Roy Kellino. Spier left Suspense to pursue his desire to work in film, but he did not achieve success there. His wife, June Havoc, was already an established film star. The film included Steve Dunne, who replaced Howard Duff in William Spier’s Sam Spade series. The film did not do well from a critical or financial perspective. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Possessed
The sound quality is not full range for about the first two minutes and improves markedly after that. It is likely that there was some disc damage on the outer edge of the first disc.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP510621
THE CAST
JAMES MASON (Peter Marriott), Pamela Kellino (Ginny), Joe Kearns (Hyde / Signature Voice), Ben Wright (Man), Eileen Erskine (Joan), Raymond Lawrence (Detective / Waiter), Ted Osborne (Banbridge / Beggar)
COMMERCIAL: Bert Holland (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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