Suspense: 02/18/52, episode 460
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project
Richard Widmark returns to Suspense as a two-fisted rancher trying to protect his herd from a vicious panther. It’s winter in Nevada, and the suspected presence of the panther is made larger by legend.
The hunt begins when Widmark’s character is awakened during the night by the bawling of cattle. He realizes they are stampeding in fear. This confirms reports he has heard that a huge panther has been killing cattle in that area. He rouses his brother and they set off in a blinding snowstorm to track down the big cat. Unfortunately, the brother is killed by the panther during the hunt. Infuriated by the awful turn of events, he decides he must continue alone. Darkness falls, he realizes that not only is he lost, but the panther now is hunting him! His swagger changes to confusion and fear. It’s an unexpectedly good story that does not start strong but builds its tension well, and includes another fine Widmark performance.
The original story was by Walter Van Tilburg Clark and adapted for Suspense by Silvia Richards. Clark was best known for his book 1940 book The Ox-Bow Incident. This episode is based on his 1949 novel. It became a film, Track of the Cat, in 1954. The film can be viewed at Internet Archive at archive.org/details/track-of-...
There are two surviving recordings, one network and the other from the Armed Forces Radio Service (#400). The network recording is the better of the two.
The cast:
RICHARD WIDMARK (Curt), Harry Bartell (Arthur), Lee Millar (Hal), Martha Wentworth (Ma), Sharon Douglas (Gwen), Parley Baer (Joe / Sam), Larry Thor (Narrator)
COMMERCIAL: Tyler McVey (Sam), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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