Cathy Lewis stars in an Antony Ellis story about a woman who was never arrested or never admitted to a crime, and allowed someone else be convicted of a man’s murder. The execution was very newsworthy, and news reports counted down the hours and the background of the events. The drama follows the woman through the day of the execution and the conversations she was having. Her conscience finally breaks, and leads her to admit it was a wrongful conviction, and that she was the one who committed the murder of that woman’s husband. The production does not build tension as much as it does impatience with Lewis’ character as she decides whether or not she will confess, and if that confession will be made in time to save the life of the dead man’s wife.
This surviving episode at this time was recorded from an Armed Forces Radio station many years ago. It is likely from the 1980s because it sounds like it is edited down from AFRTS Adventure Theater or a similar program something like that. The closing AFRTS music can be heard, briefly, at the end of the recording. The Murderess is missing from many “pioneer” style collections which is an indication that this recording was not available at the time those collections were assembled. It is hoped that an AFRS or AFRTS disc surfaces at some time that will replace this current recording with a much better copy that will allow appreciation of Cathy Lewis’ performance. The production tape was likely re-used by CBS.
There are similarities to 1955-02-22 Waiting which was also written by Ellis. That had three women together as they wait for an execution, and waited for a conscience give into telling the truth.
The production was recorded on Friday, March 23, 1956. The cast assembled at 12:00pm for the rehearsal, music and announcing joined at 3:00pm leading to a dress rehearsal. The recording began at 5:30pm.
Amanda Randolph makes the first of her two appearances on Suspense. She had a long radio career that was overshadowed by her film and television work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Randolph
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP560327
THE CAST
Cathy Lewis (Marian), John Dehner (Narrator), Peter Leeds (Second Man in bar), Charlotte Lawrence (Time Operator), Jack Kruschen (News headline / Sam), George Walsh (Radio Column voice / Suspense narrator), Amanda Randolph (Laura), Virginia Gregg (Mother), Byron Kane (Man on phone / Police Officer), Benny Rubin (Benny), Stanley Jones (Max), Richard Beals (Newsboy)
###
