Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 31: Eddie Bracken!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Today's Suspense episode is "Nightmare" (March 13, 1948) starring Eddie Bracken! Eddie Bracken was briefly a big comedy film star in the 40s and also starred in radio's the Eddie Bracken Show (1945-1947). This episode is from the era when Suspense was a full-hour program! This was also the third and final appearance Bracken made on Suspense (I blogged about both of them before: "The Visitor" and "Elwood").

Vince Hardy has a terrible nightmare one night where he's in a room surrounded by mirrors and kills a man with a knife. When he wakes up, he begins to suspect it wasn't a dream. Before long, he stumbles across the murder scene!

You might recognize this story; it was written by Cornell Woolrich (as "And So to Death") and was made into the 1947 film Fear in the Night with DeForest Kelley (his film debut). But beyond that, the story visits familiar tropes found in many of Woolrich's stories, such as a central character who can't trust their own memory (you'll possibly be reminded of another Woolrich story on Suspense: "The Singing Walls").

Thank you for following my Halloween 2025 posts celebrating comedians heard on Suspense! I hope to feature a series of similar posts next Halloween!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 30: Ginger Rogers!

Today's Suspense episode is "Vamp 'Til Dead" (January 11, 1951) starring Ginger Rogers! Ginger Rogers is best-remembered for being Fred Astaire's most beloved dancing partner, but she had a healthy solo career with dozens of great comedy films and an Academy Award for the dramatic film Kitty Foyle (1940). If you only know her for her musical/dance films, check her out in films like Bachelor Mother (1939) or Tales of Manhattan (1942).

Amy Watkins (Ginger) is secretary to a writer whose wife passed away under mysterious circumstances. It turns out Amy is the sister of the dead woman and she's there to expose the killer! "Vamp 'Til Dead" was presented on Suspense again on September 29, 1957 but without Ginger.

Tomorrow: Eddie Bracken!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 29: Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard!

Today's Suspense episode is "Too Little to Live On" (December 26, 1947) starring the husband/wife duo of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard! This was the first of 3 Suspense episodes that starred Ozzie and Harriet. Ozzie and Harriet had been a bandleader and singer who made plenty of radio appearances together (most notably on the Red Skelton Show) then parlayed their success as bit players into headlining the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on radio (1944-1954), film (1952) and TV (1952-1966).

The O'Connors are sick of their invalid Uncle Ed, who constantly taunts them about writing them out of his will, knowing they're only caring for him in the hopes of inheriting his money. One day he goes too far and they decide to speed up matters.

"Too Little to Live On" had previously appeared on Suspense on February 7, 1946 but without Ozzie and Harriet. Obviously, it wasn't written for them, so that makes their success in these roles so much the better; later Suspense programs would cast them as their sitcom selves (seriously, in one of them-- "Mr. Diogenes"-- they were literally Ozzie and Harriet) but this episode proved they had a bit of dramatic range too.

Tomorrow: Ginger Rogers!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 28: Gene Kelly!

Today's Suspense episode is "Thieves Fall Out" (November 16, 1943) starring musical comedy film star Gene Kelly! This was the first of 4 Suspense episode starring Gene Kelly (I blogged about one of them before: "To Find Help").

Kelly portrays Art Kramer, "a gentleman of most uncertain scruples"; that is, a black marketeer. Art wants to advance in his criminal organization but he's got some gambling debts to take care of. He decides to eliminate his boss McPhail and his debtor George, but his scheme hits a little snag.

This is one of the earliest Suspense episodes I've featured this month (it was before the show had a sponsor).

Tomorrow: Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 27: Eve Arden!

Today's Suspense episode is "The Well-Dressed Corpse" (January 18, 1951) starring Eve Arden! Arden had a lengthy film career in mostly comedy roles but was also a side player in plenty of radio comedies; she finally hit her most famous role as Constance Brooks in Our Miss Brooks on radio (1948-1957), TV (1952-1956) and film (1956).

Eve Arden plays Ruth Franklin, a woman who was named one of the "best dressed" women in the country; she strikes up a relationship with one of the "best dressed" men but he's not interested in marrying her. Incensed, Ruth turns to murder.

Arden's a very good dramatic lead - she could've done film noir if she'd wanted to! "The Well-Dressed Corpse" also appeared on Suspense on October 13, 1957, but without Arden.

Tomorrow: Gene Kelly!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 26: Danny Kaye!

Today's Suspense episode is "The Too-Perfect Alibi" (January 13, 1949) starring Danny Kaye! This was the first of two appearances on Suspense by Kaye. Kaye had briefly been a radio comedy star in the Danny Kaye Show (1945-1946) but did better in comedy films.

Danny Kaye plays Sam Rogers, "a prince of guy," whose best friend is getting married to the woman Sam loves; he resolves to murder his friend and arrange an alibi, as he's certain to be suspected. As the title suggests, his scheme works a little too well!

When you hear how downright goofy Danny Kaye was in his radio series - or his records, or nearly all of his films - you might be surprised to find he had some dramatic skills too and was capable of restraining himself; the plot could have been done on the Mysterious Traveler without any changes, but Kaye's performance elevates it.

Tomorrow: Eve Arden!

Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 25: Phil Silvers!

Today's Suspense episode is "The Swift Rise of Eddie Albright" (April 3, 1947) starring Phil Silvers! At the time, Silvers was slowly making his name as a comedy relief player in various films (such as the 1945 movie A Thousand and One Nights where he played Aladdin's best friend, a man who claimed he was born 1200 years too soon and used 1940s slang); TV would later make Silvers a big name.

Eddie Albright (Silvers) is a hotel elevator operator who likes to embellish his role to impress women. When he takes an elevator ride with some mobsters he has some legitimate news to share-- but with a reputation for "crying wolf" who will listen?

I think Silvers is perfect as an elevator operator, less so as a protagonist in a tense crime drama - he's a bit too easygoing to think he's ever in any real danger.

Tomorrow: Danny Kaye!