Podcast Summary: The Falcon – "The Case of the Broken Key" (07/27/1952)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Falcon: The Case of the Broken Key
Air Date: January 8, 2026 (Rebroadcast; Original: July 27, 1952)
Summary Prepared By: Choice Classic Radio Summarizer

Episode Overview

This episode of The Falcon transports listeners to Casablanca, a city filled with "romance and intrigue" (01:17), where American private detective Mike Waring, a.k.a. "The Falcon," becomes embroiled in the secrets of Communist Party operatives, hidden motives, and a deadly crime spurred by jealousy and betrayal. The case uncovers political tensions, personal disillusionment, and the devastating consequences of a misunderstanding in a foreign land.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Setting the Stage: Espionage in Casablanca

• Mike Waring is recruited for an intelligence mission and travels to Casablanca, the famous North African seaport, under Army Intelligence orders (00:18).
• The episode quickly paints Casablanca as a web of personal and political intrigue, filled with agents, double-crosses, and cross-cultural tension.

Character Introductions and Motivations

• Mulai Hafid meets with Helene Grant, revealing both as Communist (Comintern) operatives on a mission to locate and "reason with" Robert Foch, a disaffected Party member wishing to escape the movement (02:18).

  • Mulai Hafid: “I would like to disaffiliate myself from the Party.” (03:15)
  • Helene’s dismissive response highlights ideological rigidity and personal conflicts within the Party.

• Robert Foch is introduced as a former valued Party member “gone native” after fleeing France, now traveling with Moroccan woman Yasmin Marin (02:58).

The Emotional Fuse: Betrayal, Jealousy, and Suspicion

• Mulai Hafid, after expressing disillusionment, sows suspicion by contacting Yasmin, telling her that Robert is abandoning her for Helene Grant and that she may not know the truth about his loyalties (07:01).
• The confrontation between Yasmin and Robert becomes heated upon discovery of his packed suitcases, which confirms her suspicions (08:24).
  • Robert: “You are planning to leave me.”
  • Yasmin: “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you both.” (08:57–09:02)
• Yasmin’s impulsive reaction foreshadows the violence to come, setting the emotional context for the central crime.

The Murder and the Web of Alibis

• Helene Grant is murdered in her hotel room—a pivotal, offscreen event that shifts the story from a tale of espionage to a murder mystery.

• Inspector Henri Boulanger confronts Mike Waring at the scene, quickly making him a suspect due to circumstantial evidence (13:49–15:07).

  • Mike: "If you think I had anything to do with her murder—"
  • Boulanger: "Why, monsieur, it would never occur to me. I'm a most unsuspicious type." (14:37)

• Multiple character alibis are explored:

  • Robert Foch claims he was with Yasmin during the murder; Yasmin confirms this, but suspicion remains about the veracity of their story (16:12–19:25).
  • Mulai Hafid is proven to have an alibi as well: “9 o’clock last night, he was stationed in the lobby of the Hotel Splendid, accompanied by one of my men.” (23:53)

The Twist: Unraveling the True Killer

• Mike Waring’s detective work uncovers that both Foch and Hafid's alibis check out, redirecting focus onto Yasmin. Mike deduces that Robert and Yasmin coordinated their stories but couldn’t have been together, as witnesses would have seen Robert.*
  • Mike: “That alibi was strictly a phony... She couldn’t have been with him.”
  • Yasmin: “Then where was I?”
  • Mike: “Over at the Bonaparte, killing the woman you thought was your rival.” (27:22–27:55)
• Yasmin’s breakdown and desperate denial culminate in her being restrained by the Inspector, confirming her as the killer, driven by jealousy and emotional turmoil.

Resolution and Reflection

• Inspector Boulanger muses, “Well, it merely goes to prove, Waring, the poets knew what they were talking about: ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’” (28:23)
• Mike Waring wryly closes on a humorous note, requesting help tracking down a postcard peddler rather than seeking vengeance, underscoring the show's light noir tone even amidst tragedy.
  • Mike: “I promised to mail these to Grandma... and better get a set for Grandpa, too.” (29:07)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Mike Waring’s witty narration:

  • “Well, that's Casablanca for you. Not a bad place if you want to live it up, but a horrible spot if you've got to die. But then what place isn’t?” (13:14)

• Mulai Hafid’s idealism:

  • “I joined the Party hoping it would improve the lot of my countrymen.” (03:35)

• Helene Grant’s blunt party loyalty:

  • “A Comintern agent takes nothing for granted.” (02:18)

• Inspector Boulanger’s dry approach:

  • “Why, monsieur, it would never occur to me. I'm a most unsuspicious type.” (14:38)
  • “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” (28:23)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:18: Falcon receives his assignment; Casablanca mission begins.
• 01:17–04:21: Helene and Mulai Hafid discuss Robert Foch’s defection.
• 06:41–09:40: Yasmin confronts Robert, intense emotional escalation.
• 13:14–15:36: Mike Waring discovers Helene Grant’s body; Inspector Boulanger interrogates.
• 19:07–19:25: Yasmin and Mike discuss their movements for the alibi.
• 23:53–24:09: Inspector confirms Hafid’s alibi; suspects dwindle.
• 27:22–27:56: Mike uncovers Yasmin as the killer.
• 28:23–28:46: Boulanger and Waring reflect on the crime’s motive.
• 29:06: Mike ends on a light-hearted note, postcard subplot.

Tone and Style

The script’s dialogue balances noir-style seriousness with tongue-in-cheek humor, especially through Mike Waring's internal monologue and repartee with Inspector Boulanger. The mannered style and political intrigue are classic of mid-century detective radio, with sharp, emotionally charged exchanges and brooding atmosphere punctuated by light, self-aware commentary.

Conclusion

“The Case of the Broken Key” is a quintessential detective drama, blending Cold War-era espionage with a heated, jealousy-fueled murder. Michael Waring, The Falcon, unravels a web of lies anchored by ideological disillusionment and personal relationships gone awry. The final twist centers on Yasmin, whose lethal act is propelled not by politics, but by love and misunderstanding—illustrating, as the Inspector notes, the universal theme that "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

For fans of classic radio and detective fiction, this episode showcases all the genre’s best—snappy dialogue, international intrigue, flawed heroes, and a tragic crime of passion.