Suspense - The Too Perfect Alibi (#322)
Channel: Old Time Radio Researchers
Date: 2024-01-02

Suspense: 01/13/49, episode 322
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

Danny Kaye stars in a complex story written by Martin Stern and adapted by Ken Crossen. It’s a very good script and a very good performance. It is possible to miss some of the important elements of the scheme, so it’s worth paying close attention. Knowing a little New York City geography can help imagine the story and its logistics. 

Kaye’s character, Sam, is generous to the point of annoying people. His sights are set on a young woman, Catherine. She is newly engaged to Jack. Her fiance is upset that the gifts and generosity are meant to embarrass him for his lower social status and the implication that he can’t give her the life she deserves. Jack is right in questioning his motives, but Sam wants more than that. He wants to eliminate Jack and figures his record of generosity will divert the attention of police when they investigate Sam for the murder. Sam also agrees to be the best man for their wedding, which adds to an alibi. He arranges a $20,000 a year job that he arranges for the engaged man, which is more than $250,000 in 2023$US inflation-adjusted terms. How could anyone ever believe that Sam could hold any ill will toward Jack? Then Sam starts to carry out his nasty plan.

Sam tells Jack to drive in from his home in Staten Island to meet him in Manhattan. Sam is attending a big party among wealthy friends and arranged a time for Jack to meet him outside on the sidewalk. Jack arrives and Sam lures him into a quiet place, murders him, and hides the body in Jack’s own car. Sam returns to the party until it ends, building his alibi at every opportunity. He makes a point of meeting or saying goodbye to every possible guest. After the event ends, Sam drives the car to the Staten Island Ferry. Earlier in the day, he had purchased a ferry ticket to avoid the chance a nighttime ticket agent might be able to identify him. He drives onto the ferry, parks the car, and walks up to the deck. He drops the knife used to commit the murder into the harbor waters. When the ferry docks, Sam drives to Jack’s house nearby and leaves the car there. He walks back to the ferry dock for the trip back to Manhattan as a passenger.

In the end, his cover-up is so airtight that the bride-to-be is accused and convicted of the crime! She had argued with Jack earlier in the day. After the conviction, Sam’s guilt gets to him… but no matter whom he tells that he is the real murderer, including the innocent woman, they are all so struck by his past generosity that no one believes he could commit such an act. An innocent woman is executed, and his life is changed forever.

The story is by Martin Stern and adapted by Ken Crossen. It seems the author is better known as Richard Martin Stern, mystery writer. His book, The Tower, was one of two novels that were combined to become the highly successful 1973 movie, The Towering Inferno. He wrote under the names Richard Stern, Martin Stern, and his full name. His Wikipedia profile is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Martin_Stern 

The title of the play is “The Too-Perfect Alibi.” Coming out of the mid-show commercial, Paul Frees says “A Too-Perfect Alibi.”

The April 1949 Radio Mirror announced that Suspense won its award for the best radio mystery series. That issue had pictures from the rehearsal for this episode. Kaye and all of the players and effects staff can be seen in photos. (Bill Johnstone is misidentified as John Johnson). 

The cast: DANNY KAYE (Sam Rogers), John McIntire (Inspector Vanelli), Hal March (Jack Stewart), Mary Shipp (Catherine Gilpin), Ted Von Eltz (D. A.), Paul Frees (Simon Blade / Signature Voice), Johnny Jacobs, Charles LaTorre, Fred Campbell, Bud Widom

COMMERCIAL: Bill Johnstone (Hap), Sylvia Simms (Operator), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer)

For more information visit https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/01/1949-01-13-too-perfect-alibi.html