Suspense: 06/21/51, episode 433
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project
James Mason and his wife Pamela Kellino star in this “actual events” episode. The Antony Ellis script is likely drawn from the exploits of Joseph Grizzard about whom Scotland Yard was well aware for many years but was never able to bring him to justice… until one last heist, referred to as “The Great Pearl Heist of 1913.” Grizzard was known for his debonair ways, which is probably why Ellis gave him the name “The Squire” and the last name “Marriott” in the story. “Marriott” sounds a lot more blue-blood than “Grizzard.” Ellis added other “facts” as needed, making this enterprise “loosely based” to make the story and the people more interesting, including changing the year to 1949 and adding the aftermath of a duel that ended the story. Perhaps the better description is that Ellis was “inspired” by the true story and then went his own way. Grizzard was arrested and found guilty with some compatriots and died in 1923.
This Suspense production is not as exciting as the typical “people in trouble storylines, which is one of the downsides of the “actual events” theme. It is still early in the process of developing the strategy.
The closing announcements of the broadcast include a tease for the forthcoming movie Lady Possessed. The film was released in January 1952 and starred Mason and June Havoc. The script was written by Pamela Kellino and Mason. It was based on her 1943 novel Del Palma. The film was directed by William Spier and Pamela’s ex-husband, Roy Kellino. Spier left Suspense to pursue his desire to work in film, but he did not achieve success there. His wife, June Havoc, was already an established film star. The film included Steve Dunne, who replaced Howard Duff in William Spier’s Sam Spade series. The film did not do well from a critical or financial perspective.
The sound quality is not full range for about the first two minutes and improves markedly after that. It is likely that there was some disc damage on the outer edge of the first disc.
The cast: JAMES MASON (Peter Marriott), Pamela Kellino (Ginny), Joe Kearns (Hyde / Signature Voice), Ben Wright (Man), Eileen Erskine (Joan), Raymond Lawrence (Detective / Waiter), Ted Osborne (Banbridge / Beggar)
COMMERCIAL: Bert Holland (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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