As a follow-up to my post from last night celebrating the 75th anniversary of Suspense, "radio's outstanding theater of thrills," I present this list of the thirteen best performances given by the leading ladies of Old Hollywood on the program. Here then are more tales well-calculated to keep you in . . . Suspense!
1. Angela Lansbury - "A Thing of Beauty"
Angela Lansbury stars as a reclusive actress with a terrible, tragic secret. (You can listen to the original version, starring June Duprez, here.)
Angela Lansbury stars as a reclusive actress with a terrible, tragic secret. (You can listen to the original version, starring June Duprez, here.)
2. Joan Crawford - "Three Lethal Words"
Joan Crawford gives a memorable performance as a mentally unbalanced screenwriter out for revenge on the younger man who jilted her.
Joan Crawford gives a memorable performance as a mentally unbalanced screenwriter out for revenge on the younger man who jilted her.
3. Bette Davis - "Good Night, Mrs. Russell"
Bette Davis plays an office worker who finds herself at the mercy of a deranged, woman-hating short order cook in this unsettling episode.
Bette Davis plays an office worker who finds herself at the mercy of a deranged, woman-hating short order cook in this unsettling episode.
4. Judy Garland - "Drive-In"
Judy Garland stars as a car hop who finds herself in terrible danger after accepting a ride from a homicidal maniac. (You can listen to the original version, starring Nancy Kelly, here.)
Judy Garland stars as a car hop who finds herself in terrible danger after accepting a ride from a homicidal maniac. (You can listen to the original version, starring Nancy Kelly, here.)
5. Myrna Loy - "Library Book"
Myrna Loy plays a no-nonsense librarian who finds herself in the middle of a kidnap case when she investigates the mutilation of "Gone With the Wind" in this light-hearted episode.
Myrna Loy plays a no-nonsense librarian who finds herself in the middle of a kidnap case when she investigates the mutilation of "Gone With the Wind" in this light-hearted episode.
6. Gloria Swanson - "Murder By the Book"
The incomprobable Gloria Swanson stars as a famous mystery writer who gets called in to investigate the high-profile murder of her own doctor.
The incomprobable Gloria Swanson stars as a famous mystery writer who gets called in to investigate the high-profile murder of her own doctor.
7. Olivia de Havilland - "Voyage Through Darkness"
Olivia de Havilland plays a young woman escorting her late employer's body back to America by cruise ship. Unfortunately, by the cruise's end, there may be more than one corpse aboard ship...
Olivia de Havilland plays a young woman escorting her late employer's body back to America by cruise ship. Unfortunately, by the cruise's end, there may be more than one corpse aboard ship...
8. Joan Fontaine - "The Lovebirds"
Joan Fontaine here portrays a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, determined to do away with the man she loathes. Little does she know he has murderous plans of his own...
Joan Fontaine here portrays a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, determined to do away with the man she loathes. Little does she know he has murderous plans of his own...
9. Lana Turner - "Fear Paints a Picture"
Lana Turner stars as a young woman who will become a very wealthy heiress on her twenty-third birthday...provided she can manage to hold on to her sanity.
Lana Turner stars as a young woman who will become a very wealthy heiress on her twenty-third birthday...provided she can manage to hold on to her sanity.
10. Ginger Rogers- "Vamp Till Dead"
Ginger Roger appears here in the role of a woman determined to solve her sister's murder, even if it means marrying the man she suspects killed her: her sister's own husband!
Ginger Roger appears here in the role of a woman determined to solve her sister's murder, even if it means marrying the man she suspects killed her: her sister's own husband!
11. Ethel Merman- "Never Follow a Banjo Act"
Broadway legend Ethel Merman stars as a singer of "mature talents" in this surprisingly dark and twisted tale of greed and the music industry.
12. Lucille Ball - "A Shroud for Sarah"
Lucille Ball made six appearances on Suspense, in two of which she co-starred with real life husband Desi Arnaz. In "A Shroud for Sarah," she plays a woman who becomes the victim of her own ruthless ambition.
13. Rosalind Russell - "When the Bough Breaks"
Rosalind Russell stars as a woman with serious grandfather issues.