This is the second broadcast of the James Poe story that has an actor shoot his director, whom he hates, then faking insanity to get away with it. The first broadcast starred Milton Berle, but this one is a much better performance with the superbly talented radio veteran Hans Conried. He was in radio, movies, television, and the stage. One of the radio’s busiest actors, his Suspense appearances were quite notable for their versatility. This is a perfect role for him.
His appearance in 1947-02-27 Three Faces at Midnight is thankfully preserved. In the east coast production, the sound effects gun did not fire, and Conried continued to act, ad libbing to buy time for the technician to get the backup gun and execute the effect. The west coast version is a clean reading, with no effect problem. It is interesting to compare the two scenes and how smooth Conried was when the scene was in trouble.
He was also in 1946-12-05 The House in Cypress Canyon and in addition to acting performed the scary sounds heard in the house. Many baby boomers know him best for his recurring television role with Danny Thomas as his “Uncle Tonouse” and his hilarious appearance in I Love Lucy as speech teacher “Percy Livermore” (Lucy Hires an English Tutor, aired on 1952-12-29). Conried could purposely overact when situations called for it; other radio cast members would have difficulty containing their laughter.
The initial broadcast and background information about it can be found at:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/04/1950-10-12-rave-notice.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP501012 has the recordings for download.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP541021
THE CAST
Hans Conried (Sam), Larry Dobkin (Norman / Judge), Parley Baer (Man / First Doctor), Howard McNear (Gun shopkeeper), Jack Kruschen (Guard 1), James Nusser (Guard 2), Edgar Barrier (Lawyer), John Stephenson (Head Doctor), Eleanor Tanin (Ad Lib scream), Larry Thor (Narrator)
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