The cynical private eye from The Maltese Falcon was reimagined a a looser, wise-cracking detective for this radio show, which ran from July 12, 1946 to April 27, 1951, over three networks -- ABC (13 episodes), CBS (157 episodes), and NBC (75 episodes). Howard Duff played the saturnine detective through September 1950, and Steve Dunne took over the role in November 1950 for the final 24 episodes -- Duff had not been invited back to the show after his name was linked during the McCarthy Era Red Scare. Lurene Tuttle played Spade's secretary Effie throughout. Dick Joy was the announcer. This episode was directed by William Spear and penned by Bob Taliman and Gil Dow (Dowd? -- the recording is bit fuzzy).
Dan Starbuck is framed by a murder victim's dying words; the murder victim is Dan's brother Gordon and the death bed admission makes things look pretty bleak for Dan. It's up to Spade to prove him innocent in a case that takes Sam to San Francisco's seedy docks.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6GQgKZqkKA
Duff was much better as Spade.
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