This episode is the second time that Robson presented his adaptation of the classic Ambrose Bierce story set in the Civil War. A Confederate man has been sentenced to hanging by the Union Army. He seems to escape his fate and flees. When he does so, he encounters people and places, interacts with them, even visiting his home. It ends with a jolt, and you realize it was a “life flashed before me” experience in the moment he died. The story was first published in 1890 and became a mainstay of short story anthologies and textbooks of American literature. Robson made appropriate adjustments to the storytelling for continuity and radio drama’s format. (So if you have to write a report on the story for school, be sure to read the actual story; you have been warned). It was presented on Escape with Harry Bartell in lead on 1947-12-10, and three times on Suspense. This particular production stars Victor Jory. The next two star Joseph Cotten (1957-12-15), and with Vincent Price in the lead for the final one (1959-07-19).
This production was recorded on Wednesday, December 5, 1956. Rehearsal began at 1:00pm and concluded at 6:30pm. Recording began at 6:30pm and was completed at 7:00pm.
The available recording has an in-studio volume issue that was likely fixed before broadcast. The volume level for some breaks was apparently off for one of the microphones, and the sound was picked up by a second microphone away from the speaker. Therefore, there are two recordings that have been created.
The recording with the volume differences that was from the studio tape is named
Suspense 1956-12-09 An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (broadcast recording)The recording that has been adjusted for those volume differences is named
Suspense 1956-12-09 An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (with volume adjustments)
It is important to note that this adjusted recording was done by this Project and is not the original broadcast recording.
The fact that Robson produced this drama four different times indicates how pleased he was with his script and the performances. It would only be repeated with such frequency when listener response was very positive. Many of the performers who appeared on Escape and Suspense enjoyed working with stories from classic English and American literature, of which this was one of the highest regarded ones.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP561209
THE CAST
Victor Jory (Paton Farquar / Narrator 1), Larry Thor (Narrator 2 / 2nd soldier), Roy Glenn (Jethro), Jack Kruschen (Sergeant), Lou Merrill (Captain), Chester Stratton (Lieutenant Saltonstall aka “The Corporal”), Julie Bennett (Paton’s Wife), George Walsh (Suspense Narrator)
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