Escape and Suspense!

Opening Night at Noir City X

Here at Escape and Suspense!, once a year we take a break from our normal schedule for the Noir City Film Festival, which runs for ten days at the end of January. We originally began attending the festival because some of these rarely-screened film noirs have well known old time radio stars in bit parts or co-starring roles, but also because radio noir is an important part of the Suspense catalog of work.
So, on a cold and rainy Friday night my copyeditor (a.k.a - Mom) and I  arrived at the Castro Theatre in plenty of time, but it was already so crowded that we had to hike up to the balcony for seats. There was a lovely reception on the mezzanine for festival pass holders, which gave me an opportunity to try a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky (hot!) and to have look at all of the people who came in 1940's clothing. I wasn't together enough to get a picture of all that--but below is a nice picture of the stage from our spot in the balcony and the organist who entertains the crowd before the show.

The festival began with Dark Passage (1947), which isn't a rarity, but it was a lot fun to see on the big screen. The film broke down a couple of times but that just added to the authenticity of the experience.

Of course, Bogart and Bacall are billed as the stars of Dark Passage, but old time radio fans know that the real star of that movie is "First Lady of Suspense" Agnes Moorehead.

Now, what I didn't like about the show was the people in the audience who hissed at the villains. Not to give away but the plot, but Agnes Moorehead was hissed at...and Agnes Moorehead must never be hissed at. Never ever ever.

So, the next film of the night was The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and before it started, noir expert and festival promoter, Eddie Muller filmed a short video message to the film's star Valentina Cortesa from the crowd of 1400 people in the theatre. (I don't remember the whole thing, but it was something like "Ciao Valentina, San Francisco loves you..." or something like that.)

Anyhow, The House of Telegraph Hill is not a rarity either, but a lot of fun to see in the theatre. I've only ever seen it on DVD, and that really doesn't do justice to the film.

For the Saturday matinee, there were two exceptionally good pre-code 1930's films. The first, Okay, America (1932) was based on the life and radio show of Walter Winchell.  The second matinee film was Afraid to Talk (1932), which also goes by the name Merry-Go-Round. There wasn't a dull moment in eithor of these films, that's all I can say. You can't go wrong with either one, but old time radio fans, will be more interested in Okay, America.

(Another film that was based on a radio show, that I wrote about back during Noir City 7, is Night Editor (1946), which was based on the radio series of the same name that ran from 1934 to 1948. If I didn't already mention this, it was released on dvd last year and can be found in the Bad Girls of Film Noir Collection. Night Editor is wonderfully trashy and still one of my favorites.)

Below is the trailer for Dark Passage.

Suspense - The Crowded Void

In "The Crowded Void," Bartlett Robinson stars as a commercial pilot who must make a decision between landing safely and risking the lives of his passengers to get there faster.

As the episode opens, a Pacific Central Airways flight is about to leave from San Francisco for Los Angeles. The pilot, Captain Sam Bradley, watches the passengers board the plane. 

He is worried. The airport in L.A. is fogged in, but what is really bothering him is that he has just received a telegram informing him that his wife has gone into labor.

The captain decides that despite the risks, the flight will go ahead as scheduled. As he boards the plane, the stewardess, Sally, advises him about Mrs. Gordon, the nervous passenger in seat 11.

The flight gets underway, but conditions in Los Angeles keep deteriorating. The captain wants to land as soon as he can, but the harder he tries to get there, the more impossible it seems. On top of it all, nervous Mrs. Gordon is upsetting the whole plane! Out of frustration, he decides to make a risky maneuver that jeoparidizes the lives of his passengers. Will he come to his senses in time?

"The Crowded Void" was written by Michael Frost, and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Bartlett Robinson starred. Also appearing were Ellen Morgan, Shirley Mitchell, Dee Tatum, John Dehner, Barney Phillips, and Sam Pierce. This episode aired on January 19, 1958.

. Download Suspense_1958-01-19_The_Crowded_Void_

(Image from Stock.xchng)

Noir City X

The tenth annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival begins tonight at the Castro Theatre and runs through January 29th!

The festival kicks off with Dark Passage and The House on Telegraph Hill, and you really can't ask for much more on a cold and rainy January night. 

To check out this year's line-up of films visit NoirCity.com.

Suspense - The Black Curtain

Suspense's "The Black Curtain" was based on the classic 1941 novel of the same name by Cornell Woolrich. Their version does not represent the book exactly as written, but whether or not the changes  are acceptable...is up to the listener. Suspense presented this story three times, twice as a half hour program and once as an hour-long episode.

In the biography, Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, then You Die, author Francis M Nevins, Jr. gives Suspense's adaptation high praise for capturing the essence of Woolrich's particular brand of bleakness and for improving upon the final scenes. As he states on page 494:

"Cary Grant gave a magnificent performance as Townsend and Lurene Tuttle was superb as Ruth in this play which was at once so different from its source novel and to true to its dark spirit that I'm almost convinced it was adapted by Woolrich himself..."

Suspense's version more closely remembles novel's 1942 film adaptation, Street of Chance, which starred Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor. 

As the episode opens, Frank Townsend awakens from an accident to discover that he is unable to remember the last three years of his life. His only clue is his hat, which is mongrammed with the initials "D.N." Soon, however, Frank realizes that he is being followed by someone who does know. Someone with a gun... 

"The Black Curtain" was presented the first time on December 2, 1943. William Spier produced and directed. Cary Grant starred as Frank Townsend. Lurene Tuttle played Ruth. Also appearing were Bea Benaderet, Hans Conried, William Johnstone, Harry Lang, and Walter Tetley. 

. Download Suspense_1943-12-02_The_Black_Curtain_

The second presentation was on November 30, 1944. Cary Grant and Lurene Tuttle again played the roles of Frank and Ruth.

. Download Suspense_1944-11-30_The Black Curtain_

Suspense presented this story a third time in an hour long episode on January 3, 1948. William Spier again produced and directed. This time, Robert Montgomery played the role of Frank Townsend. Lurene Tuttle again played Ruth. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Jeannette Nolan, Sidney Miller, Conrad Binyon, Jack Kruschen, William Conrad, Jerry Hausner, Paul Frees, Ira Grosell (a.k.a Jeff Chandler (in the role of Franklin)) Junius Matthews, Harry Lang, and Joseph Kearns .

. Download Suspense_1948-01-03_Black Curtain_

Street of Chance is not currently available on DVD, but hopefully, it will be restored someday soon and released again. 

Watch Street of Chance (1942) in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Suspense - Two Platinum Capsules

In "Two Platinum Capsules," a small amount of radioactive material disappears from a hospital and causes panic in a small town. According to the introduction, this radio play is based on a true story.

As the episode opens, George Murphy, part-time uranium prospector, has just come home from a trip into the desert with his geiger counter. Johnny, his son, is excited to see him, but George is worn out from his trip, so Johnny then goes out to play with his friend, Pete. After discussing possible places to go, Johhny and Pete settle on going down to have a look at the new dump.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Nurse Webster, is discussing her new duties at the hospital with the administrator. Part of her job involves working with the contents of room 222, the dangerous area where the radioactive materials are stored.

Later that morning, two radium capsules are reported missing from room 222!  Hoping to find them as quickly as possible, the hospital asks George Murphy to use his geiger counter to locate their lost radioactive material .

But, as it turns out, the missing radium has already been found...

"Two Platinum Capsules" was producted and directed by Antony Ellis. Edgar Barrier, Dick Beals, and Stacy Harris starred. Also appearing were This episode aired on January 10, 1956.

. Download Suspense_1956-01-10_Two_Platinum_Capsules_

 (Image of Edgar Barrier)

Suspense - Firing Run

In "Firing Run," two children sneak on board a drone plane that is scheduled for destruction as a missile target.

The episode opens on an Air Force base in the desert. Captain Mark Stacey, a decorated and talented fighter pilot, is scheduled to test a missile that morning...

At the breakfast table, his two small sons, Hap and Petey, ask if they can watch the missile test, but he tells them no. Hap's mother then reminds him about the school bus that will arrive in twenty minutes. 

Then, Hap's friend Cathy, the colonel's daughter, shows up and they go outside to play. Ignoring everything his parents just said, Hap convinces Cathy to head over to see the drone plane. Petey tags along, but they soon tell him to go back home because he is a little boy and a big fibber.

Captain Stacey then leaves for work, and his wife starts the dishes.

Meanwhile... Cathy and Hap are already poking around the drone, and soon they realize that it is about to take off!

That leaves Petey, the known fibber, to alert the adults that Hap and Cathy are in danger....

"Firing Run" was written for Suspense by Michael Frost, and was produced/directed by William N. Robson. Ruth Hussey starred. Also appearing were Dawn Bender, Dick Beals, Eddie Firestone, Sam Pierce, and Ken Christy. This episode aired on November 3, 1957.

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