The Mask of Marius Melville

The Mask of Marius Melville is a 1946 Australian radio serial by Morris West.

Detils
This series, along with The Affairs of Harlequin, were among the most successful West ever wrote.

The Melbourne Advocate said the show "is packed with incident; some of the stock devices of thrillers are used, but they are handled with a freshness that prevents them from seeming too familiar. The writing is remarkably good; to one not accustomed to good and careful writing in radio scripts, particularly serials, this is a pleasant surprise. The impression gained from it is that considerable time and thought went to its writing; it has paid dividends, for actors with something worth saying will do a far better job than those entrusted with the same old cliches."

The Argus said it would "test the credulity of a seven-year-old who was beginning to doubt the authenticity of Father Christmas. Of all the fantastic nonsense ever radioed, Marius Melville takes the bun. This sinister figure looming up every Sunday night gives us none of the fearful emotions expected, but just a feeling of complete boredom."

The series was repeated again in 1956.

Premise
A journalist investigates the person behind a black market in food.

Cast

 * Walter Pym
 * Patricia Kennedy
 * John Morgan
 * Gordon Gow
 * Laon Maybanke
 * Robert Peach
 * Clive Walters
 * Douglas Kelly
 * Peter O’Shaughnessy

On the Danube
The serial led to a sequel, On the Danube, which appeared in 1948 and featured many of the same cast.