Month: January 2013

Telefilm Review: Hickory Dickory Dock

In Hickory Dickory Dock, the second episode of Poirot’s sixth season, Poirot becomes concerned when the usually infallible Miss Lemmon turns in some typed correspondence with three errors. It turns out that she’s concerned about her sister who works at a hostel for college students where many small thefts have been occurring. Poirot steps in to try and stop the thefts, and all appears to be well when the thief of most of the items admits her responsibility and returns the items.

However, matters take a more sinister turn when the thief is murdered. Poirot investigates and runs into intrigue and international crime. As usual, the recurring cast is top notch to Suchet with Philip Jackson turning in another strong performance as Chief Inspector Japp. However, the mystery itself is incredibly well-done. It’s complex but not convoluted  making this film a must-see for fans of classic mysteries.

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EP0847: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Bilked Baroness Matter

John Lund

 

Johnny looks for jewels stolen from a wealthy woman.

Original Air Date: May 18, 1954

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EP0846:Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez

Sherlock Holmes’ investigates the mysterious death of a scholar’s assistant.

Original Air Date: April 25, 1949

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EP0845: Let George Do It: The Violent Van Pattons

 Bob Bailey

A young woman fearing a violent reaction from her controlling uncle hires George to break the news of her marriage. George finds himself investigating a murder instead.

Original Air Date: June 9, 1952

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EP0844: A Life in Your Hands: Carl Fortune

Carlton Kadell
Carl Fortune was found dead in his car from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, indicating suicide. But was it really suicide?

Original: July 25, 1950

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EP0843: Frank Race: The Adventure of the Mormon Country

Paul Dubov

Race tracks a gang of kidnappers to Utah.

Original Air Date: August 27, 1949

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Radio’s Most Essential People Countdown: #26-#25

Previous Posts: 28-2730-2933-3136-3439-3742-4045-4348-4651-4954-5257-5560-5865-6170-66,  71-7576-8081-8586-9091-9596-100

26) Eddie Cantor

Eddie CantorEddie Cantor was a mainstay over radio for two decades, although favorable reviews of his radio appearance go back to 1922. He hosted many radio programs for a variety of sponsors including Chase and Sanborn, Camel Cigarettes, and Texaco among others. Cantor was one of the premiere comics and singers of the age. His style of entertainment had a decided vaudevillian edge to it, and Cantor’s boisterous showman personality made him a top draw on his program and many others throughout the golden age of radio as he came known as the Apostle Pep and Banjo Eyes. Cantor was remembered for his great characterization of a New York Taxi driver called Maxie the Taxi.  He also helped to bring, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” into the cultural mainstream when he chose to sing the song on his radio program. On a more serious note, Cantor was one of Hollywood’s earliest and most outspoken opponents of Adolf Hitler’s regime in Germany. Once the war started, he was tireless in entertaining allied troops and boosting the war effort.

25) Norman McDonnell

McDonnell produced and directed some of radio’s most outstanding productions.  He directed several episodes of Escape in 1948 before taking the helm of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe.  He continued to direct radio programs through the 1950s for episodes of Escape, Suspense, and Romance.  In comedy, he wasn’t quite as lucky as he direct the ill-fated Harold Peary show. However, it was in the Western genre that McDonnell would leave his greatest mark over radio. In 1952, he would co-create, produce and direct Gunsmoke over radio and it would become radio’s most enduring adult western. In addition to Gunsmoke, Macdonnell would also produce and direct Fort Laramie and the radio version of Have Gun Will Travel.  He would continue as a producer and occasional writer of Gunsmoke on Television and would also produce The Virginian. 

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EP0842: The Line Up: Hit and Run Murder

William Johnstone
On the surface, the death of two young women appear to be hit and runs, but Guthrie suspects murder.

Original Air Date: August 3, 1950

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Book Review: The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes was the character who would not die Sir Arthur Conan Doyle feared being stuck with Holmes and killed him off in “The Final Problem” published in 1893. Eight years later, he published another Holmes novel albeit one set before Holmes death. But in 1903, he relented and returned Holmes to life with the short story, “The Empty House.” The story was followed by twelve others which were collected in The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

Coming upon this collection, I was somewhat surprised. Many literary critics speak of later Holmes stories as weaker than the first. I actually found this collection to be, if anything stronger than the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Stories such as “The Empty House,” “The Norwood Builder,” “The Dancing Men,” and “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons” are pure classics. From the first story to the last, Holmes is at his best as the master of deduction.

The flaws in this collection are minor. The ending to the “The Missing Three-Quarter” didn’t quite live up to the build up and “The Golden Pince-Nez” was a tad melodramatic. However, this doesn’t really subtract from the beauty of this selection. In the last story, “The Adventure of the Second Stain,” Doyle trials to end the Holmes story by having Holmes forbid Watson from publishing further adventures. However, after this book, there was no way that would last.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

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EP0841: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Dan Frank Matter

John Lund
Johnny investigates the murder of a police chief and finds his ice cold Widow and an open town full of corruption.

Original Air Date: May 4, 1954

 

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EP0840: Sherlock Holmes: The Elusive Agent, Part Three

The German Agents have captured Holmes and Watson to get information on the secret plans. Will Holmes and Watson survive and will they keep the plans out of the hands of the enemy agents.

Original Air Date: April 4, 1949

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EP0839: Let George Do It: It Happened on Friday

Bob Bailey

George heads to the Friday Islands to help a wife concerned about her husband who has joined a Communist group there.

Original Air Date: May 19, 1952

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EP0838: A Life In Your Hands: The Arson Case

Carlton Kadell

Jonathan Kegg tries to get to the bottom of the arson of a candy store in which a teenage boy is accused.

Original Air Date: July 18, 1950

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EP0837: Frank Race: The Adventure of the Diver’s Treasure

Paul Dubov

Frank Race investigates the death of a boy aboard a ship.

Original Air Date: August 20, 1949

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Radio’s Most Essential People Countdown: #28-#27

Previous Posts: 30-2933-3136-3439-3742-4045-4348-4651-4954-5257-5560-58,

65-6170-66,  71-7576-8081-8586-9091-9596-100

Gordon MacRae28 Gordon MacRae

As an up and coming singer, Macrae was featured in a couple of fifteen minute musical programs including CBS Skyline Roof from 1945-46, the Syndicated Gulf Spray program that aired in 1947. Then in 1948, he became host of the Texaco Star Theater, a program which had featured such luminaries as Ed Wynn and Fred Allen. His magnificent singing voice and chemistry with star Evelyn Knight led to his greatest radio job, star of the Railroad Hour. The program began over ABC as a 45 minute program which adapted major musicals to radio. The program would go to a more normal 30 minute length and switch networks but it would spend six seasons putting on big productions even while radio began to give way to television. McaRae brought audiences programs such as State Fair, Showboat, Brigadoon, and even performed roles he would later play on screen in Oklahoma and Carousel.

The program went beyond just musicals. The Railroad Hour produced Summer Specials recalling the great tunes of past years, created original musicals, as well as specials paying tribute to those who made the world’s musical heritage so rich. Throughout the show’s run, MacRae’s dynamic voice and his charisma were what made the show. He worked well and clicked with singer/actresses such as Marian Hutton, Francis Langford, Dinah Shore, and Margaret Truman, along with regulars like Lucille Norman, Dorothy Kirsten, and Dorothy Warenskjold.

27) Bud Collyer

Bud CollyerBud Collyer has more than 20,000 radio credits. Most of these were as announcers or as a game show host.  He announced on such a variety of programs as Jungle Jim, Cavalcade of America, the Road of Life, and The Guiding Light.  He also spent eleven years as host of TV’s Beat the Clock. 

However, all this pales when compared to his greatest radio great.  He was the 1940s most widely heard Superman. He played the role from 1940-50 over radio in addition to starring in the legendary Fleischer role. Superman, in many ways was one of the most challenging characters to bring to radio. His comic book exploits were fantastic. To convey that excitement in aural medium was a great challenge.  Collyer was the actor to pull it off. His delivery was exciting and  well-paced. He kept a distinct “Clark” and “Superman” voice that helped listeners know when he was in which identity.

Collyer’s creation of a successful and believable radio Superman makes him an indispensable part of radio’s golden age. While Collyer left the role in 1950, it was permanent. He’d return to voice Superman once again for the 1960s filmation cartoons.

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