Podcast Summary: "The Falcon: The Case of the Vanishing Visa"

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Falcon: The Case of the Vanishing Visa
Air Date: June 22, 1952 (Rebroadcast December 4, 2025)
Starring: Les Damon as Mike Waring, "The Falcon"
Summary Prepared By: Podcast Summarizer

Overview

In this taut, Cold War-era detective drama, private investigator Mike Waring—alias "The Falcon"—is called out of retirement for a covert mission in Vienna. His task: extract a young Austrian informant, Trudy Bronheim, before she falls prey to Soviet agents. Set amid the intrigue-laden backdrop of postwar Vienna, the episode churns with double-crosses, jealousy, and the deadly game of espionage, culminating in a murder mystery with threads leading from Vienna's smoky hotel bars to Soviet security offices.

Major Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. A Call to Vienna ([00:19]–[09:15])

• Mike Waring (The Falcon) is introduced, declining a date with a woman named Iris as he is off to Vienna.
• Setting the Scene ([01:08]–[03:44]):
  The story opens in the bar of Vienna’s Hotel Imperial where bartender Al Romano reconnects with Trudy Bronheim, an attractive blonde with a secret agenda. They discuss contacts, information, and pay-offs, indicating espionage beneath the cocktail chatter.
• Stephen Lorimer’s Fate ([03:54]–[05:29]):
  The deal goes sour; Trudy’s American friend, Stephen Lorimer, is tracked down by the sinister Robert Vaughan—Koslov’s right-hand man—resulting in Lorimer’s apparent suicide, though listeners sense there’s more to the story.

2. Undercover Assignments ([07:21]–[10:14])

• Leon Brill Recruits Waring:
  Leon Brill, a sharp U.S. operative, reactivates Mike Waring for a government mission to Vienna:
  • Contact Trudy at the Imperial Hotel and get her out of Austria.
  • Avoid Robert Vaughan at all costs ("the boy the Reds use as a troubleshooter").
• "Any way you want to work it is okay with us. Just get her to the embassy in Paris." — Leon Brill ([08:49])

3. First Contact: Waring and Trudy ([10:23]–[13:20])

• Mike and Trudy Meet ([10:47]–[12:15]):
  Mike uses the arranged code phrases to gain Trudy’s trust ("I’m from New York"; "I have a cousin in Milwaukee. That’s practically a suburb.").
• They quickly move to planning an escape, but Trudy is worried about authentication of forged documents.

4. Danger, Jealousy, and Murder ([13:20]–[17:04])

• Eric Hoffman's Jealousy:
  Trudy’s boyfriend, Eric, is suspicious—jealous of her ties to Stephen Lorimer and now, Mike Waring. He accuses her of running away with an American and physically threatens her ([14:46]–[15:09]).
• Robert Vaughan Confronts Waring:
  Vaughan appears, claiming Trudy has been murdered and the murder weapon—Mike’s own inscribed gun—was found at the scene ([15:13]–[16:20]).
  • "Trudy Bronheim was working for the American government, as you are." — Robert Vaughan ([17:26])

5. The Frame-Up and Waring’s Escape ([17:04]–[21:13])

• Framing the Falcon:
  Waring is driven around Vienna and accused of the murder, but boldly turns the tables by escaping with the gun (which is later revealed to be loaded with blanks).
• Cat-and-Mouse:
  Vaughan reveals the escape was intentional to trace Waring to other informants. The supposed escape route was a setup.
  • "You won't get hurt... They can only hang me once." — Mike Waring ([18:07])

6. The Break in the Case ([21:13]–[24:31])

• Eric’s Confession:
  Under pressure, Eric Hoffman admits to fighting with Trudy out of jealousy, saying he "choked her" to force the truth, but left her alive.
• Al Romano’s True Allegiance:
  Waring concludes that Al Romano, the bartender, is likely the Red agent who supplied Trudy’s whereabouts.

7. The Final Showdown ([24:31]–[28:31])

• Waring’s Plan and Alibi:
  Waring convinces Vaughan to bring Eric in for questioning, hoping to exploit inconsistencies and clear his name.
• The Real Killer Revealed:
  Waring astutely determines only someone with knowledge of his alias and weapon—i.e., Eric—could be the murderer. Caught in contradictions, Eric breaks under pressure and is taken away for the crime.

8. Epilogue: Out of Vienna ([28:31]–[29:45])

• Waring's Exoneration & Departure:
  With the real murderer caught, Waring is released. Vaughan arranges his prompt departure from Austria.
• Decompressing with Brill:
  Mike calls Brill in Paris, jovially reporting his escape and expressing hopes for a quieter assignment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "That's right, Vienna. City of wine, women and song. Now there's a combination that's bound to be murder."
  — Mike Waring ([00:19])

• "All you gotta do is get her out of Austria."
  — Leon Brill ([08:40])

• "You won't get hurt... They can only hang me once."
  — Mike Waring to Robert Vaughan ([18:07])

• "I'm afraid I owe you an apology, too."
  — Robert Vaughan, after realizing Waring was innocent ([28:05])

• "I can't believe it. Trudy was very careful. No one suspected her activities, not even I."
  — Eric Hoffman ([20:33])

Important Timestamps

• Introduction & Setup: [00:19] – [01:08]
• Vienna/Hotel Imperial & Espionage Exposition: [01:15] – [05:29]
• Lorimer's Death & Political Intrigue: [05:29] – [07:21]
• Assignment from Brill: [07:21] – [09:15]
• First Contact: Mike & Trudy: [10:23] – [12:15]
• Conflict: Eric's Jealousy: [13:20] – [15:09]
• Mike Framed & Interrogation: [15:13] – [17:04]
• Waring’s Escape: [18:00] – [19:01]
• Reveal: Al Romano and the Setup: [22:39] – [24:01]
• Climax: Eric Confronted: [25:25] – [28:31]
• Epilogue: Waring in Paris, Recap Call: [28:52] – [29:45]

Tone & Language

The dialogue blends wisecracks, noir slang, and hard-boiled banter with clipped, devious exchanges typical of Cold War espionage fiction. Waring, as the Falcon, is sardonic and world-weary; the supporting cast—particularly Trudy, Eric, Romano, and Vaughan—switch between desperation, duplicity, and menace.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a classic example of Cold War suspense wrapped in classic detective radio style: sharp-tongued heroes, shifting allegiances, and a plot hinging on jealousy as much as geopolitics. The resolution—wherein the least suspicious character (Eric) is unmasked as the killer—keeps the listener guessing until the end, while The Falcon barely lives to fight another day.

For Fans of Detective and Espionage Drama:

This is an engaging taste of "The Falcon"—balancing intrigue, romance, and classic noir wit in Vienna's clandestine circles. The episode is packed with memorable exchanges, dramatic twists, and a satisfying resolution.