This is the second broadcast of an exceptional Arthur Ross script, superbly cast with Charlotte Lawrence and William Conrad. He was in the original broadcast and “stole the show” there, but in this broadcast, Lawrence and Conrad are extraordinary together. This is not one of the episodes that you suggest to a first-time Suspense listener. It is challenging to the actors and listeners need time to absorb it all. This is not one of those episodes where you can listen in the background and catch all of its subtleties. Conrad’s acting range may be surprising since he is so often cast in strong roles on Gunsmoke and his TV series, or sinister roles on Escape, The Whistler, and other series. This episode is about the mental illness of a husband, and we hear his condition deteriorate with almost every minute, all through the script, and Conrad’s portrayal. We suffer along with his wife, who after only two years or marriage has to come to terms with his need for psychiatric care. The time of being happy newlyweds was incredibly and tragically brief.
Background about the story and the recordings of the first broadcast are available at these links:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/06/1951-10-01-case-study-of-murderer.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP511001 is where the recordings can be downloaded or streamed
The story had multiple titles. In the broadcast of 1951-10-01, the title was Case Study of a Murderer. The prior week of this broadcast, it was announced as “The Case History of a Murderer.” The script for this 1955 has the title “Study of a Murder.” It was changed once more prior to this broadcast.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP550120
THE CAST
Charlotte Lawrence (Beth), William Conrad (Hank), Herb Butterfield (Doctor), Larry Thor (Radio Commentator / Narrator)
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