This is the second performance of an excellent Carl V. Abrams script. The first performance was broadcast on 1950-09-07 and is missing. It starred Ida Lupino.
Lurene Tuttle gives a fine performance as an ill woman whose home is invaded by an armed man who has a grudge against her husband. He wants to kill him for revenge. The husband has gone to work and the man decides to wait, mentally torturing the woman while they wait for the work day to end. People in the neighborhood stop by to visit, including a door-to-door salesman, and they are all given a plausible excuse for not being able to see them at that time. There’s even a grocery delivery that ends up playing a big role in the plot. The story has a very good surprise ending.
The scripter was Carl V. Abrams, was a freelance writer for radio and television after his military service. He spent most of his career in as a creative director in advertising agencies such as McCann-Erickson. His freelance writing continued through that successful career, but was only occasional.
The title, though two words and six letters, has many dimensions. The obvious one is the tip for the young man delivering the groceries. That innocent act ripples through the story and becomes a tip, as in information, to someone that something is wrong. The hostage taker is cut with the tip of a knife. Also, throughout the story we are only learning about the tip of the relationship of the husband and wife, and not seeing the dangerous glacier below it. It’s not the best title to get attention (it can be confused with a gambling tip or an hot investment tip), but it is richer than originally thought.
The script was used on the Suspense television series and was broadcast on 1950-12-26. The video can be viewed at https://archive.org/details/The_Tip--Suspense It was adapted by Max Erlich.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
Internet Archive files need to be replaced https://archive.org/details/TSP540706
The proper files may be downloaded using this MediaFile link
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/0htq0wp3df9t5/Suspense_-_The_Tip
Stream the episode on YouTube beginning 9:00am US ET on October 28, 2024
https://youtu.be/od8ihlf7qJM
THE CAST
Lurene Tuttle (Elaine Stratton), Herb Butterfield (The Stranger), Hy Averback (George Stratton), Howard McNear (Mr. Raymond / Officer), Jerry Hausner (Salesman), Shep Menken (Balzac the phone repairman), Dick Beals (Michael Court), Eddy Fields (Dr. Court / Man), Larry Thor (Narrator)
###
