Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Young Man with Cream Tarts

Escape's "The Young Man with Cream Tarts" was adapted from the famous short story by Robert Louis Stevenson. First published in 1878, the story was one of a trilogy of fictional adventures about Prince Florizel of Bohemia and his companion, Major Geraldine. Together the three stories are titled The Suicide Club, although this story is often referred to by that title alone.

Set in Victorian London, Prince Florizel and Major Geraldine are dining at an oyster bar when they encounter an odd young man desperately giving away cream tarts. Seeking adventure, the prince and the major invite the young man to dinner but without revealing their true identities. The young man agrees to join them, and that evening, he explains his unusual behaviour and his present circumstances. The prince and the major lead the young man to believe that their circumstances are similar and that they have little hope for the future. So, the young man confides in them about "death's private door."

"The Young Man with Cream Tarts" was adapted for Escape by William N. Robson, who also produced and directed. Paul Frees played Prince Florizel and William Johnstone played Major Geraldine. Barton Yarborough played the young man. This episode aired on November 12, 1947.

. Download Escape_1947.11.12_Young Man with Cream Tarts.mp3

The story was presented on Suspense, the television show, on February 14, 1950, as "The Suicide Club." It is available on Disc 2 of Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection 1.

(Image from "The Suicide Club" on Suspense. Copyright 2007 CBS Worldwide Inc.)

Suspense - Love, Honor, or Murder

In "Love, Honor, or Murder," a taxi driver must choose between doing the right thing and doing what his wife wants.

Harry is a taxi driver for the Peerless Cab Company. One evening, he finds a wallet containing $12,000 in his cab and decides to take it home to show his wife. Harry knows that the wallet belongs to one of his regular customers, and he intends to return it right away. He only brought the wallet home because he thought his wife, Helen, would enjoy the novelty of seeing so much money.

Helen doesn't enjoy the novelty. She wants the money! Harry doesn't want to get into trouble, but Helen threatens to leave him if he returns the wallet. She tells him that she knows a way to keep the money and not get caught. He may not be good at taking chances, but she is. All Harry has to do is follow her instructions and everything will be fine.

"Love, Honor, or Murder" was written by Larry Marcus and produced/directed by Antony Ellis. Charlotte Lawrence and William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Barney Phillips, Helen Kleeb, Charles Seel, Jack Kruschen, and William Justine. This episode aired on August 9, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.08.09_Love, Honor, or Murder.mp3

Here also, is an earlier version of this story that starred Cathy Lewis and Elliott Lewis. William Spier produced and Antony Ellis directed. This episode aired on August 9, 1950.

. Download Suspense_1950.06.29_Love, Honor, or Murder.mp3

Rev. 7/20/08

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Suspense - Nobody Loves Me

Suspense's "Nobody Loves Me" stars Peter Lorre in a sad and disturbing episode about a man who expresses his own agony through murder.

As the episode opens, Joe Reece enters a busy police station and pulls out a gun. He is willing to surrender himself, and the whereabouts of a missing woman, but first the officers must listen to his life story.

The story of how he became a murderer began when...

"Nobody Loves Me" was written by Herbert Clyde Lewis and Silvia Richards. William Spier produced and directed. Peter Lorre, in the last of his six appearances on Suspense, starred as Joe Reece. Wally Maher and Joseph Kearns appeared as the police officers. This episode aired on August 30, 1945.

. Download Suspense_1945.08.30_Nobody_Loves_Me.mp3

Here also is an intriguing video of this Suspense broadcast that was created by adding a simple series of illustrations. At first, this video moves slowly, but give it a few minutes, and you wil be hooked into this story!

For more information about this YouTube video, "Peter Lorre: Nobody Loves Me Pt. 1," click here.

For Part Two of "Peter Lorre: Nobody Loves Me" click here.

For Part three of "Peter Lorre: Nobody Loves Me" click here.

(Image of Peter Lorre by Yousuf Karsh from Wikimedia Commons)

Escape - Jetsam

"Jetsam" was one of five short stories by John Russell that Escape dramatized for broadcast, and all five tales were taken from the now hard-to-find book The Red Mark: And Other Stories (1919). We've already covered the other four: "The Fourth Man," "The Red Mark," "The Adversary," and "The Price of the Head." So, with "Jetsam," we bring Escape's John Russell series to a close.

Junius Peabody is a man with a line of credit and love of drink. He had been in Australia since the end of the war, but with little to show for it except his drinking. When his father cables from England and cuts off his funds, Junius takes the credit he has left and travels around on an extended drunken spree.

One morning, he wakes up on a beach on the island of Fufuti with nothing to his name. On the beach with him is a beachcomber, who had been helping Junius enjoy his money, until it ran out. With nothing else to do, Junius takes a dip in the ocean for a morning bath. In the water he finds something remarkable, something that just may pay for his ticket off Fufuti, but the little beachcomber wants it, too.

"Jetsam" was directed and adapted for radio by Norman MacDonnell. Ben Wright starred as Junius Peabody. John Dehner played Bendemeer, Lawrence Dobkin played Sir John, and Charlie Lung played the Sydney Duck. Edgar Barrier narrated.

.  Download Escape_1953.02.08_Jetsam.mp3

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Suspense - A Good Neighbor

In "A Good Neighbor," a man is menaced by the helpfulness of the old lady who lives next door.

Andrew Burt is a thief who has stolen a fortune in diamonds from his employer. Having fled New York, he travels to Maine and the house on the coast where he intends to hide. Although the house is in an isolated area, he soon discovers that he has a neighbor nearby. Mrs. Poe is an elderly lady with vivid premonitions about the dangers that surround them, and she insists on discussing her visions with him.

Mr. Burt wants to be alone so he can execute the next stage of his get-a-way plan, but Mrs. Poe wants to share everything with her new neighbor. Will she kill him with her kindness, or will he kill her to keep her quiet?

"A Good Neighbor" was written by David Riehl and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jeff Chandler and Virginia Gregg starred. This episode aired on March 31, 1957.

.  Download Suspense_1957.03.31_AGoodNeighbor.mp3

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Suspense - Sight Unseen

In "Sight Unseen," a journalist is trailed by mysterious men in bowler hats.

As the episode opens, a Scotland Yard detective relates to his colleague the tale of an odd case from many years earlier. The story is about a man named Collin Farragut and the peculiar letter that he had written to the detective.

In his letter, Farragut described the day that two men in business suits and bowler hats began to follow him. Not only did they follow him, but they insisted that he accompany them! The more that Farragut refused, the more determined they became. Who were the men and what did they want?

"Sight Unseen" was written, produced, and directed by Antony Ellis. Terence de Marney starred as Farragut. Also appearing were: Betty Harford, John Dodsworth, Richard Peel, John Irving, Richard Ahern, Charlie Lung, Eric Snowden, and Ray Lawrence. This episode aired on April 26, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.04.26_Sight Unseen.mp3

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