Suspense (American TV series)

Suspense is an American television anthology series that ran on CBS Television from 1949 to 1954. It was adapted from the radio program of the same name which ran from 1942 to 1962.

Series overview
The show was broadcast live from New York City to stations on CBS's eastern and midwestern networks. Kinescope recordings were made for transmission via KTTV in Hollywood. It was sponsored by the Auto-Lite corporation, and each episode was introduced by host Rex Marshall, who promoted Auto-Lite spark plugs, car batteries, headlights, and other car parts. Some of the early scripts were adapted from Suspense radio scripts, while others were original for television. Like the radio program, many scripts were adaptations of literary classics by well-known authors. Classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, and Charles Dickens all had stories adapted for the series, while contemporary authors such as Roald Dahl and Gore Vidal also contributed. Many notable actors appeared on the program, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Cloris Leachman, Brian Keith, Franchot Tone, Robert Emhardt, Leslie Nielsen, Felicia Montealgre Bernstein and Lloyd Bridges.

The ninety existing episodes are available today on three DVD box sets. Tubi is also streaming episodes of the show.

In 1949, Marvel Comics began publishing Suspense comics licensed from CBS; a box on the cover of the first eleven issues (out of 29 total issues) read "Based on gripping CBS radio - television series".

Critical response
A review in The New York Times of the program's premiere episode, "Revenge", commended the "great technical skill" of mixing filmed segments with live studio shots, a technique that the review labeled a "novel aspect". Beyond that, however, reviewer Jay Gould found little to like about the episode, which he wrote was "a badly contrived piece of trivia", described elsewhere in the review as having "a drab story and an inexcusably poor supporting cast". Even so, he wrote that with improvements "the mystery show should be a serviceable staple on video."

The trade publication Variety commented in a review of the same episode that "Suspense made an inauspicious debut" on television, comparing the episode to a B film. The reviewer blamed a "weakly motivated" adaptation for causing the direction and acting to suffer. Robert Stevens, who produced and directed, was cited for failing to add excitement to an already weak script.

Season 2 (1949-1950)

 * 6 Sep. 1949 - "Lunch Box"
 * 13 Sep. 1949 - "Collector's Item"
 * 20 Sep. 1949 - "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
 * 27 Sep. 1949 - "The Comic Strip Murder"
 * 4 Oct. 1949 - "Dr. Violet"
 * 11 Oct. 1949 - "A Cask of Amontillado" starring Bela Lugosi
 * 18 Oct. 1949 - "The Serpent Ring"
 * 25 Oct. 1949 - "The Murderer"
 * 1 Nov. 1949 - "Black Passage" based on the story "Olalla" by Robert Louis Stevenson
 * 8 Nov. 1949 - "Suspicion"
 * 15 Nov. 1949 - "The Thin Edge of Violence"
 * 22 Nov. 1949 - "The Third One"
 * 29 Nov. 1949 - "Man in the House"
 * 6 Dec. 1949 - "The Scar"
 * 13 Dec. 1949 - "The Gray Helmet"
 * 20 Dec. 1949 - "The Seeker and the Sought"
 * 27 Dec. 1949 - "The Case of Lady Sannox"
 * 3 Jan. 1950 - "Morning Boat to Africa"
 * 10 Jan. 1950 - "The Bomber Command"
 * 17 Jan. 1950 - "Summer Storm"
 * 24 Jan. 1950 - "The Horizontal Man"
 * 31 Jan. 1950 - "The Distant Island"
 * 7 Feb. 1950 - "Escape This Night"
 * 14 Feb. 1950 - "The Suicide Club" based on the stories by Robert Louis Stevenson
 * 21 Feb. 1950 - "Roman Holiday"
 * 28 Feb. 1950 - "The Man Who Talked in His Sleep"
 * 7 Mar. 1950 - "The Ledge"
 * 14 Mar. 1950 - "The Parcel"
 * 21 Mar. 1950 - "My Old Man's Badge"
 * 28 Mar. 1950 - "The Second Class Passenger"
 * 4 Apr. 1950 - "1000 To One"
 * 11 Apr. 1950 - "Steely, Steely Eyes"
 * 18 Apr. 1950 - "Murder at the Mardi Gras"
 * 25 Apr. 1950 - "The Gentleman from America"
 * 2 May 1950 - "Death of a Dummy"
 * 9 May 1950 - "Red Wine"
 * 16 May 1950 - "One and One's a Lonesome"
 * 23 May 1950 - "Photo Finish"
 * 30 May 1950 - "Listen, Listen" Mildred Natwick
 * 6 Jun. 1950 - "Black Bronze" Franchot Tone
 * 13 Jun. 1950 - "I'm No Hero"
 * 27 Jun. 1950 - "Wisteria Cottage" Conrad Janis, Marjorie Gateson

Season 3 (1950-1951)

 * 29 August 1950 - "Poison"
 * 5 September 1950 - "A Pocketful of Murder"
 * 12 September 1950 - "Edge of Panic"
 * 19 September 1950 - "Dark Shadows"
 * 26 September 1950 - "Six to One"
 * 3 October 1950 - "The Monkey's Paw"
 * 10 October 1950 - "Criminals Mark" Catherine McLeod
 * 17 October 1950 - "The Man Who Would Be King" Francis L. Sullivan
 * 24 October 1950 - "Breakdown"
 * 31 October 1950 - "Halloween Hold-Up"
 * 7 November 1950 - "Nightmare"
 * 14 November 1950 - "The Brush Off" Leslie Nielsen, Mary Sinclair
 * 21 November 1950 - "The Death Cards"
 * 28 November 1950 - "The Hands of Mr. Ottermole"
 * 5 December 1950 - "The Guy from Nowhere"
 * 12 December 1950 - "The Mallet"
 * 19 December 1950 - "Dancing Dan's Christmas"
 * 26 December 1950 - "The Tip"
 * 2 January 1951 - "Death in a River"
 * 9 January 1951 - "Tough Cop"
 * 16 January 1951 - "The Fool's Heart"
 * 23 January 1951 - "Dead Fall"
 * 30 January 1951 - "The Rose Garden"
 * 6 February 1951 - "Night Break"
 * 13 February 1951 - "Double Entry"
 * 20 February 1951 - "The Victims"
 * 27 February 1951 - "Margin for Safety"
 * 6 March 1951 - "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
 * 13 March 1951 - "On a Country Road"
 * 20 March 1951 - "Telephone Call"
 * 27 March 1951 - "The Three of Silence"
 * 3 April 1951 - "Go Home Dead Man"
 * 10 April 1951 - "The Foggy Night Visitor"
 * 17 April 1951 - "The Juiceman" - Cloris Leachman, Robert Webber, Robert Emhardt
 * 24 April 1951 - "Murderers' Meeting"
 * 1 May 1951 - "No Friend Like an Old Friend"
 * 8 May 1951 - "Murder in the Ring"
 * 15 May 1951 - "Too Hot to Live"
 * 22 May 1951 - "Escape This Night"
 * 29 May 1951 - "Vamp Till Dead"
 * 5 June 1951 - "The Call"
 * 12 June 1951 - "De Mortuis"
 * 19 June 1951 - "A Killing in Abilene"
 * 26 June 1951 - "The Greatest Crime"
 * 3 July 1951 - "Blood on the Trumpet"
 * 10 July 1951 - "Tent on the Beach"
 * 17 July 1951 - "Wisteria Cottage"
 * 24 July 1951 - "The Incident at Story Point"
 * 31 July 1951 - "A Vision of Death"
 * 7 August 1951 - "Killers of the City"
 * 14 August 1951 - "Death Sabre"
 * 21 August 1951 - "This Is Your Confession: Part 1"
 * 28 August 1951 - "This Is Your Confession: Part 2"
 * 4 September 1951 - "This Way Out"
 * 11 September 1951 - "Strange for a Killer"

Season 4 (1951-1952)

 * 18 Sep. 1951 - "Merryman's Murder"
 * 25 Sep. 1951 - "Doctor Anonymous"
 * 2 Oct. 1951 - "Santa Fe Flight"
 * 9 Oct. 1951 - "High Street"
 * 16 Oct. 1951 - "The Fifth Dummy"
 * 23 Oct. 1951 - "The Train from Czechoslovakia"
 * 30 Oct. 1951 - "Court Day"
 * 6 Nov. 1951 - "Moonfleet: Part 1"
 * 13 Nov. 1951 - "Moonfleet: Part 2"
 * 20 Nov. 1951 - "Frisco Payoff"
 * 27 Nov. 1951 - "Mikki"
 * 4 Dec. 1951 - "The Far-Off House"
 * 11 Dec. 1951 - "Mediation in Mexico"
 * 18 Dec. 1951 - "Pier 17"
 * 25 Dec. 1951 - "The Lonely Place"
 * 1 Jan. 1952 - "Routine Patrol"
 * 8 Jan. 1952 - "Flare Week"
 * 15 Jan. 1952 - "The Spider"
 * 22 Jan. 1952 - "The Red Signal"
 * 29 Jan. 1952 - "Death Drum"
 * 5 Feb. 1952 - "Betrayal in Vienna"
 * 12 Feb. 1952 - "North of Shanghai"
 * 19 Feb. 1952 - "Summer Night"
 * 26 Feb. 1952 - "Night Drive"
 * 4 Mar. 1952 - "Day of Infamy"
 * 11 Mar. 1952 - "Four Days to Kill"
 * 18 Mar. 1952 - "The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Part 1"
 * 25 Mar. 1952 - "The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Part 2"
 * 8 Apr. 1952 - "Black Panther"
 * 15 Apr. 1952 - "Night of Evil"
 * 22 Apr. 1952 - "Alibi Me"
 * 29 Apr. 1952 - "The Purloined Letter"
 * 6 May 1952 - "The Mandarin Murders"
 * 13 May 1952 - "The Corsage"
 * 20 May 1952 - "Hunted Down"
 * 27 May 1952 - "The Debt"
 * 3 Jun. 1952 - "Murder of Necessity"
 * 10 Jun. 1952 - "House of Masks"
 * 17 Jun. 1952 - "Phantom of the Riveria"
 * 24 Jun. 1952 - "Night of Reckoning"
 * 1 Jul. 1952 - "Fifty Beautiful Girls"
 * 15 Jul. 1952 - "For the Love of Randi"
 * 29 Jul. 1952 - "The Crooked Frame"
 * 5 Aug. 1952 - "Death Cargo"
 * 12 Aug. 1952 - "Remember Me?"
 * 19 Aug. 1952 - "Her Last Adventure"
 * 26 Aug. 1952 - "Woman in Love"
 * 2 Sep. 1952 - "The Old Lady of Bayeux"
 * 9 Sep. 1952 - "Call from a Killer"
 * 16 Sep. 1952 - "The Return of Dr. Bourdette"
 * 23 Sep. 1952 - "Set-Up for Death"
 * 30 Sep. 1952 - "The Beach of Falesa"
 * 7 Oct. 1952 - "The Man in the Mirror"

Season 5 (1952-1953)

 * 14 October 1952 - "The Blue Panther" Phyllis Brooks, Michael Strong, Erik Rhodes, Gene Anton Jr., Bruce Gordon, Michael Garrett, Tom Avera, Gina Petrushka
 * 21 October 1952 - "The Man Who Had Seven Hours" Robert Sterling, Gaby Rodgers, Walter Kohler, Ludie Claire, Susan Caubet, Marcel Hillaire, MacLean Savage
 * 28 October 1952 - "All Hallow's Eve" - Franchot Tone, Francis Compton, Romney Brent, Patricia Byrd, Penny Hays, Douglas Jay, Bobby Catanio
 * 11 November 1952 - "The Moving Target" Jamie Smith, Irja Jensen, Joseph Anthony, Wolfe Barzell, Rudy Bond, Kalle Ruusumen, Jan DeRuth, Nina Hansen
 * 18 November 1952 - "Monsieur Vidocq"
 * 25 November 1952 - "The Whispering Killer"
 * 2 December 1952 - "A Time of Innocence"
 * 9 December 1952 - "The Girl Who Saw Tomorrow"
 * 16 December 1952 - "The Tortured Hand"
 * 23 December 1952 - "The Deadly Lamb"
 * 30 December 1952 - "The Invisible Killer"
 * 6 January 1953 - "Little Camorra"
 * 13 January 1953 - "Mr. Matches" Warren Stevens, Henry Jones, Eleanor Wilson
 * 20 January 1953 - "Vacancy for Death"
 * 27 January 1953 - "Career"
 * 3 February 1953 - "Mutiny Below"
 * 10 February 1953 - "A Study in Stone"
 * 17 February 1953 - "The Quarry"
 * 24 February 1953 - "They Haven't Killed Me Yet"
 * 3 March 1953 - "The Kiss-Off"
 * 10 March 1953 - "The Legend of Lizzie"
 * 17 March 1953 - "The Black Prophet"
 * 24 March 1953 - "Portrait of Constance"
 * 31 March 1953 - "Death in the Cave"
 * 14 April 1953 - "Kiss Me Again, Stranger"
 * 21 April 1953 - "The Duel"
 * 28 April 1953 - "F.O.B. Vienna"
 * 5 May 1953 - "The Suitor"
 * 12 May 1953 - "The Death of an Editor"
 * 19 May 1953 - "Come Into My Parlor"
 * 26 May 1953 - "The Adventure of the Black Baronet"
 * 2 June 1953 - "The Queen's Ring"
 * 9 June 1953 - "The Man Who Cried Wolf"
 * 16 June 1953 - "See No Evil"
 * 23 June 1953 - "The Signal Man"
 * 30 June 1953 - "The Fury of Señorita Gomez"
 * 7 July 1953 - "The Mascot"
 * 14 July 1953 - "The Dutch Schultz Story"
 * 21 July 1953 - "Pigeons in the Cave"
 * 28 July 1953 - "The Dance"
 * 4 August 1953 - "Vial of Death"
 * 11 August 1953 - "Point Blank"
 * 18 August 1953 - "Nightmare at Ground Zero" by Rod Serling with O.Z. Whitehead, Louise Larabee, Pat Hingle
 * 25 August 1953 - "Death in the Passing"
 * 1 September 1953 - "Paradise Junction"
 * 8 September 1953 - "Reign of Terror"
 * 15 September 1953 - "The Darkest Night"
 * 22 September 1953 - "The Riddle of Mayerling"