Podcast Summary:

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Shadow: "The Death Triangle" (Original air date: 12/12/1937)
Podcast Air Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Choice Classic Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Shadow" called The Death Triangle delves into a suspenseful web of deception, vengeance, and psychological intrigue. Three men, once political prisoners on Devil’s Island, are confronted by a deadly threat that reaches across decades. As the Shadow investigates, questions of trust, betrayal, and morality surface, leading to a dramatic confrontation in an isolated country estate. The iconic invisible detective, The Shadow, uses his extraordinary methods to protect the innocent and reveal the guilty.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene: Past Sins Resurface (02:14–06:08)

• Devil’s Island Backstory:
  On December 22, 1913, Pierre Martin is subjected to brutal punishment—100 days of solitary confinement and 100 lashes for an attempted escape. He vows vengeance on an unknown betrayer.

• Newsflash Hook:
  A sensational broadcast claims The Shadow is gravely wounded and sought medical help from Dr. James Evans, but it is revealed (04:22) to be a hoax by Dr. Evans himself to get The Shadow’s attention.

  “The man you claim to have operated upon was a fake. The real Shadow has not been wounded.”
  — The Shadow, 04:22

2. Death Threats and an Old Acquaintance (04:41–07:27)

• Evans’ Plea for Help:
  Dr. Evans admits to issuing the false statement as bait, revealing that both he and financier Raymond Dubriel have received specific death threats—music boxes shaped as coffins, playing a tune used as a secret signal by the four escaped prisoners.

• Mysterious Fourth Man:
  The Shadow uncovers that the fourth escapee, Jacques Covet (Kove), was a murderer and previously betrayed. He escaped Devil’s Island again six months ago.

  “You were once a political prisoner on Devil’s Island… What about the fourth man who escaped with you?”
  — The Shadow, 05:25

• The Meeting Place:
  Plans are made for The Shadow to help protect the three men at Dubriel’s Long Island estate, where the next strike is expected.

3. Margot Lane’s Search and The Shadow’s Hidden Identity (07:27–10:37)

• Margot Lane’s Concern:
  Margot frantically searches for Lamont Cranston (The Shadow's alter ego), eventually following Dr. Evans to the estate.

  “What’s happening, Lamont? Are you trying to find out why he said he operated on the Shadow?”
  — Margot Lane, 09:48

• The Shadow’s Instructions:
  The Shadow instructs Margot to watch for a two-blink window signal as a call to notify police, showing the layered safety precautions in play.

4. Tension Among Survivors (10:50–14:00)

• Mutual Distrust:
  Dubriel, Martin, and Evans bicker, blaming each other for past betrayals on Devil’s Island and fearing the threats.

  “I wonder what it’s like to die. What do you think, Dubril? Or do you ever think of anything but your fat stomach and your money?”
  — Martin, 11:03

• Shadow Joins the Conversation:
  The Shadow reveals his presence, compelling the men to recount their history and the origin of Covet's hatred.

  “Allow me to convince him, Dr. Evans...”
  — The Shadow, 12:33

5. The Boat Ordeal & Birth of Hatred (14:32–16:20)

• Flashback:
  The prisoners, adrift in an open boat, face starvation and desperation. Kove, the navigator, accuses the others of withholding rations, vowing deadly revenge.

  “I’ll live to kill every one of you for this. You, Dubril, you, Martin, you, Evans!”
  — Covet, 15:13

6. Suspicion and Paranoia—Who Is The Killer? (16:20–18:22)

• Coffin Music Box and Threats:
  The group fixates on the music box, only the four escapees knowing its significance. Paranoia mounts, as The Shadow casts doubt—is the threat truly from Covet, or possibly one of the three survivors?

  “Are you sure it isn’t one of you?”
  — The Shadow, 18:03

• A Note Appears:
  A sinister note is discovered: “You are the first and you will die tonight. Raymond Dubriel.” (18:39)

7. Showdown: Betrayal and Death (20:28–24:34)

• Dubriel Confronted by Covet:
  In a dramatic confrontation, "Covet" (in disguise) and Dubriel accuse each other of betrayal. Dubriel tries to make a deal for his life, offering to help kill the others.

  “So you would betray Dr. Evans to save yourself, Dubriel?”
  — The Shadow, 21:52

• Deadly Double-Cross:
  In the chaos, "Covet" and Dubriel struggle—knives are thrown, a gun is fired. Dubriel is mortally wounded.

• The Big Reveal:
  The Shadow instructs Evans to remove a wig and beard, exposing that the assailant wasn’t Covet, but Pierre Martin in disguise.

  “Wig… Beard… It’s Martin!”
  — Dr. Evans, 23:50

• Motives Unveiled:
  Martin’s dying words reveal deep-seated jealousy and resentment for past betrayals and perceived injustices.

  “I hated Dubriel because he betrayed me… I hated you, Evans, because you have got the things I always wanted. Success, fame, glory.”
  — Pierre Martin, 24:05

8. The Shadow Explains All and Resolves Tensions (24:34–25:55)

• The Real Fate of Covet:
  The Shadow confirms the logical chain is complete: Covet could not be the killer—his skeleton had been found months before.

  “Three months ago, a bleached skeleton was found on a deserted beach at Trinidad. It has just been identified as the body of Kove.”
  — The Shadow, 25:30

• Justice and Closure:
  The Shadow’s methods allowed the true dangers to reveal themselves, ensuring Evans' future safety.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows.”
  — The Shadow, 28:16 (iconic closing line)

• “No man has ever seen him. But he’ll be here.”
  — Dr. James Evans, 12:09

• “You overestimate my importance, Shadow. But will you help?”
  — Dr. James Evans, 06:18

• “If I am to help you, you will all sit down… there is little time to lose. I must know the whole story, the truth, if I am to help you.”
  — The Shadow, 12:53

• “Are you sure it’s not one of you?”
  — The Shadow, 18:03

• “It was I sent the musical coffin. The warning note. I knew you’d think it was Kobe.”
  — Pierre Martin (as he’s dying), 24:05

Key Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---------|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Opening Devil's Island flashback & vow of vengeance | 02:14–02:43 | | False news flash: The Shadow's supposed wounding revealed as a hoax | 03:20–04:41 | | Dr. Evans’ plea and confession of past (Devil’s Island) | 04:55–05:52 | | Music box death threats and gathering at the estate | 06:33–07:27 | | Margot Lane’s search for Lamont Cranston | 07:27–10:37 | | Tense gathering: suspicions & the arrival of The Shadow | 10:50–12:33 | | Flashback to boat ordeal; Kove's curse | 14:32–16:20 | | Allegiance cracks, murder threats, paranoia | 16:20–18:22 | | Death note: “You will die tonight, Raymond Dubriel.” | 18:39 | | Final confrontation, disguises revealed, Martin’s confession | 20:28–24:34 | | The Shadow reveals Covet’s death and closes the case | 24:34–25:55 | | Iconic closing warning: “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit…” | 28:16 |

Tone and Style Summary

• Atmospheric, tense, and psychological:
  Interpersonal suspicion, chest-thumping bravado, and existential dread fill the estate’s air, punctuated by The Shadow’s calm, unnerving presence.
• Classic detective noir language:
  Witty, clipped retorts bounce between suspects; The Shadow remains clinical and composed in his deduction.
• Dramatic flourishes:
  Lightning-quick reversals, dramatic confessions, and audible tension bring this golden-age classic to life.

For Listeners New and Old

"The Death Triangle" exemplifies the blend of suspense and moral consequence that made The Shadow a radio icon. Rather than rescue through direct intervention, The Shadow’s strategy lays bare the true character of each man present, letting past betrayals surface and justice enact itself. For contemporary listeners, this episode is a window into both the storytelling style and the psychological themes that defined Golden Age radio dramas.