Thursday, January 9, 2020

OLD-TIME RADIO: THE HANDS OF MR. OTTERMOLE

Claude Rains and Vincent Price take you on a thrill ride with an adaptation of Thomas Burke's classic story "The Hands of Mr. Ottermole."  A strangler has killed five people in the London fog and shows no sign of slowing down.  This episode, which aired on Suspense on December 2, 1948, also features the talents of Verna Felton and Raymond E. Lawrence.

The original tale was first published in Burke's collection The Pleasantries of Old Quong in 1931.  A 1949 poll of critics named it the best mystery story of all time.  The story was also adapted for the television version of Suspense in 1949, featuring Ralph Bell,; again in 1950 with Royal Dano; and for a 1957 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with Theodore Bikel as Mr. Ottermole.

Veteran pulp and mystery author Kendall Foster Crossen adapted Burke's story for this episode.  Crossen had created The Green Llama for the pulps and (under the name "M. E. Chamber") wrote the Milo March mystery novels.  Suspense producer Anton M. Leader directed this episode.

Enjoy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpzovg6AxF4

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