Suspense: Wet Saturday (June 24, 1942)

Setting: A contemporary (1942) English country estate, likely in a rural area, with scenes in a drawing room, a barn, and surrounding grounds during a rainy day. The episode uses sound effects like pouring rain, thunder, creaking doors, and footsteps in mud to create a claustrophobic, tense atmosphere, emphasizing the dark humor and moral decay of the story.
Plot:
Introduction: The episode opens with the Suspense theme, Bernard Herrmann’s ominous score, followed by announcer John Tillman introducing the series as “radio’s outstanding theater of thrills.” The narrator, possibly Berry Kroeger, sets the stage for “Wet Saturday,” a tale of a dysfunctional family covering up a murder on a rainy afternoon, adapted from John Collier’s darkly comedic short story.

The Premise: The story centers on Mr. Princey (Clarence Derwent), a patriarch of a wealthy but morally bankrupt English family, who faces a crisis when his daughter, Millicent, commits a murder. The victim is likely a local man—perhaps a suitor, tutor, or neighbor—killed in a fit of rage or to protect the family’s reputation. The murder occurs in the barn or stables, and with a storm raging outside, the family must act quickly to conceal the crime before guests or authorities arrive. The narrative, rooted in Collier’s sardonic tone, portrays the Princeys as cold, calculating, and comically self-serving.

Escalating Suspense: Mr. Princey takes charge, orchestrating a cover-up with his wife, son, and possibly a loyal servant. The family’s efforts involve hiding the body, cleaning bloodstains, and crafting alibis, all while bickering and revealing their selfishness. Key scenes include a tense moment in the barn where the body is stashed, a near-discovery when a visitor (perhaps a friend or constable) arrives, and a darkly humorous exchange where the family debates disposing of evidence in the rain-soaked grounds. Sound effects like thunder, dripping water, and scraping shovels heighten the urgency, while the family’s callous banter—Millicent’s petulance, the son’s apathy—adds a grim comedic edge. The suspense lies in whether their scheme will unravel under scrutiny.

Climax and Resolution: The climax likely occurs when a suspicious visitor or unexpected clue threatens to expose the murder, forcing Mr. Princey to improvise a final deception—perhaps framing someone else or staging an accident. The family succeeds in covering up the crime, but the resolution, per Collier’s style, is morally ambiguous, with no justice served. The episode closes with Tillman reflecting on the story’s chilling amorality, praising Derwent’s performance, and teasing next week’s Suspense episode, leaving listeners unsettled by the family’s unpunished evil. The 30-minute runtime ensures a tight, twist-filled narrative.

Themes: The corruption of privilege, the absurdity of moral decay, and the tension of maintaining appearances under pressure. The episode blends Suspense’s thriller format with dark comedy, setting it apart from straightforward mysteries like “The Burning Court.”

Cast and Roles:
Mr. Princey: Played by Clarence Derwent, a British stage actor, voicing the cunning, domineering patriarch with a polished, sardonic tone, balancing authority and dark humor as he orchestrates the cover-up.

Millicent Princey: Played by an unnamed actress, likely Lurene Tuttle or Irene Winston, portraying the volatile, spoiled daughter with a mix of petulance and guilt, her murder driving the plot.

Mrs. Princey: Played by an unnamed actress, voicing the complicit, aloof wife with detached pragmatism, aiding the scheme with minimal fuss.

Son (Possibly George): Played by an unnamed actor, possibly Ted Osborne, voicing the apathetic or sly heir with casual indifference, contributing to the family’s amorality.

Supporting Characters: Unnamed actors, including:
Visitor/Constable: Voiced with curiosity or authority, threatening the cover-up, possibly by Joseph Kearns or Ted de Corsia.

Servant: Voiced with loyalty or fear, assisting the family’s efforts.

Minor Roles: Guests or locals, adding to the estate’s atmosphere.

Announcer: John Tillman, delivering opening and closing remarks with a professional, suspenseful tone, framing the series’ thrilling mission.

Narrator: Possibly Berry Kroeger, providing brief narration to set scenes or bridge transitions, with a foreboding tone.

Note on Cast: Suspense relied on a talented radio ensemble, with Derwent’s stage experience lending gravitas to the darkly comedic lead. Supporting roles were filled by radio veterans, ensuring polished performances under Vanda’s direction. Exact casting beyond Derwent is unlisted, per radio logs.

Production Details:
Music: Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful orchestral score opens and closes the episode, with stings accentuating tense moments, enhancing the rainy, claustrophobic mood.

Writer: Harold Medford, adapting John Collier’s 1931 short story, preserving its dark humor and moral ambiguity while fitting Suspense’s thriller format, per the Suspense Project.

Director: Charles Vanda, ensuring tight pacing and effective sound design, balancing comedy and suspense in the 30-minute broadcast.

Sound Effects: Critical to the episode, including pouring rain, thunder, creaking doors, footsteps in mud, and scraping shovels, creating a vivid, storm-soaked soundscape. The barn scenes might feature rustling hay or dripping water.

Sponsor: None, as Suspense was initially unsponsored in June 1942, airing Wednesday nights at 10 PM Eastern, supported by CBS to build its audience, per radio logs.

Source Note: Details are confirmed via archive.org, oldtimeradiodownloads.com, and the Suspense Project, with a preserved recording available. The episode’s runtime is approximately 30 minutes, per radio logs.

World and National Events Around June 24, 1942:
To provide context for the broadcast, here are key world and national events occurring in late June 1942, reflecting the wartime climate that shaped listeners’ perspectives:
World Events:
World War II – European Theater: The Battle of the Atlantic raged, with German U-boats sinking Allied ships. Radio news reported heavy losses, while the Second Battle of El Alamein loomed (October 1942), heightening fears of Axis advances, resonating with the episode’s theme of hidden evil.

Pacific Theater: The Battle of Midway (June 4–7, 1942) secured a U.S. victory, crippling Japan’s navy. By June 24, radio broadcasts celebrated this turning point, boosting morale but underscoring war’s toll, paralleling the episode’s moral tension.

Holocaust Escalation: Nazi deportations to death camps like Auschwitz intensified, with limited U.S. awareness via radio and newspapers. The episode’s dark amorality echoed wartime anxieties about human cruelty.

Eastern Front: Germany’s Operation Blue (launched June 28, 1942) targeted Soviet oil fields, with radio covering the escalating Stalingrad campaign, amplifying global stakes.

National Events:
War Mobilization: The U.S. war effort was in full swing, with rationing of gas, sugar, and rubber enforced. War bond drives, promoted on radio, urged civilian sacrifice, contrasting with the Princey family’s selfishness in the story.

Japanese American Incarceration: Over 100,000 Japanese Americans were interned in camps like Manzanar under Executive Order 9066 (February 1942). Radio debates fueled wartime paranoia, aligning with the episode’s theme of concealed guilt.

Economic Mobilization: Defense production boomed, reducing unemployment to 4.7%. Radio ads promoted war industries, reflecting a mobilized nation, unlike the episode’s idle, corrupt family.

Entertainment and Morale: Hollywood and radio boosted morale, with films like Yankee Doodle Dandy (May 1942) and radio shows like The Bob Hope Show mixing patriotism with humor. Suspense offered a thrilling contrast, appealing to listeners seeking wartime escapism.