Harold’s Old Time Radio – “Best Plays: Angel Street”

Date: April 5, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Original Play: Patrick Hamilton’s “Angel Street” (Gaslight)
Stars: Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn, Melville Cooper

Overview

This episode of "Best Plays" presents Angel Street—a celebrated psychological thriller by Patrick Hamilton, adapted for radio with Vincent Price as the sinister Jack Manningham and Judith Evelyn as the tormented Bella Manningham. The setting is a murky, Victorian London house in the 1880s, where psychological manipulation, suspense, and secrets unfold, kept taut by stage critic John Chapman’s narration. This radio adaptation dramatizes gaslighting and emotional abuse, culminating in a gripping game of cat-and-mouse.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Developments

1. Introduction and Stage Setting

• John Chapman sets the tone, explaining “Angel Street” is far from a typical psychological melodrama—real stakes, taut suspense, and intelligent plot twists abound.

  “It was so psychological, in fact, that it kept my head whirling for hours. What a cunning and cruel devil that Mr. Manningham was.” (01:25)

• Setting: London, 1880—The Manningham’s living room, haunted by “terrifying darkness of the late afternoon.” (01:25)

2. Jack and Bella Manningham: Control and Manipulation

• Jack Manningham is immediately shown belittling and gaslighting his wife Bella, subtly accusing her of incompetence and theft while demanding obedience in domestic affairs.

  • Jack belittles Bella about the servants' wages:

    “That’s your extraordinary confusion of mind again.” (05:22)

  • Early emotional abuse and humiliation:

    “You’re mad, Bella, and you don’t know what you do. You unhappy wretch. You’re stark gibbering mad like your wretched mother before you.” (10:58)

  • Bella’s desperate plea:

    “If I commit these fantastic and meaningless mischiefs... then I am certainly going off my head. I must be treated kindly and gently so that I may get well.” (11:27)

• The missing picture incident: Jack claims Bella removed and hid a picture; Bella cannot recall doing so, deepening her self-doubt and anguish. (10:14-13:11)

3. Bella’s Isolation and the Appearance of Inspector Ruff

• Bella is further isolated by Jack, who departs after staging a scene over a lost grocery bill, locking her in fear and confusion. (13:35)
• The Inspector (Sergeant Ruff) arrives, exhibiting insight into Bella’s plight:
  • He reveals he has purposefully visited while Jack is out and begins prying into Bella’s experiences and the house’s history.

    “I’ve chosen this precise moment to call when I knew your husband was out... You’re the lady who’s going off your head, aren’t you?” (17:28, 17:43)

  • It’s disclosed that the house is the site of a 15-year-old, unsolved murder of Alice Barlow, the so-called “cabman’s friend,” and her missing rubies. (22:58-24:20)

4. Gaslighting and Unveiling the Truth

• Bella confides in Ruff: She hears footsteps on the top floor and observes the gaslight dimming inexplicably at night—symptoms Jack dismisses as madness, but which Ruff deems crucial evidence. (19:48-21:17)

• Ruff’s theory: Jack is the murderer, having returned to the house to methodically search for Alice Barlow’s rubies, using his marriage to Bella as cover to resume the quest.

  “You are not going out of your mind. You are slowly, methodically, systematically being driven out of your mind.” (27:08)

• Ruff searches Jack’s desk with Bella, finding her missing belongings and, ultimately, the Barlow rubies disguised as beads in her brooch—solving both the gaslight mystery and the murder case. (35:26-37:43)

  • Notable moment:

    “Madam, you are looking at the Barlow rubies. These beads are £12,000 worth of rubies. Take a good look at them before they go to Her Majesty the Queen.” (37:43)

5. Final Showdown: Bella’s Triumph and Jack’s Downfall

• Jack returns and, finding evidence of forced entry to his desk, tries to reassert psychological control over Bella—but she’s snapped into awareness.

• Inspector Ruff appears, openly accuses Jack (revealed as Sydney Charles Power) of murder, and calls in policemen to arrest him. (53:13-57:20)

  • Key exchange:

    “You killed one woman for these and you tried to drive another out of her mind. And all the time they lay on your own desk. And all they had brought you was a rope around your neck, Mr. Sydney Power.” (56:24)

• Bella requests to speak with Jack privately, using his old tactics against him—pretending to be “mad,” withholding his escape, and finally confronting him with the truth about her sanity and his cruelty.

  • Bella’s cathartic triumph:

    “If I were not mad, I could have helped you. If I were not mad, whatever you had done, I could have pitied and protected you. But because I’m mad, I’ve hated you. Because I’m mad, I’ve betrayed you. Because I’m mad, I’m rejoicing in my heart, without a shred of pity, without a shred of regret, watching you go with glory in my heart.” (59:29-60:57)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• John Chapman’s opening praise:

  “It was so psychological, in fact, that it kept my head whirling for hours. What a cunning and cruel devil that Mr. Manningham was.” (01:25)

• Bella’s despair:

  “I must be treated kindly and gently so that I may get well. You must bear with me, Jack. Bear with me.” (11:27)

• Inspector’s rallying cry:

  “You are not going out of your mind. You are slowly, methodically, systematically being driven out of your mind. And why? Because you’re married to a criminal maniac…” (27:08)

• Inspector reveals the rubies:

  “You are looking at the Barlow rubies. These beads are £12,000 worth of rubies.” (37:43)

• Bella’s final confrontation with Jack:

  “If I were not mad, I could have helped you… But because I’m mad, I’ve hated you… and I’m rejoicing in my heart, without a shred of pity…” (59:29-60:57)

• Closing solace:

  Inspector: “I gave you the most horrible evening of your life.”
  Bella: “The most wonderful. Far and away the most wonderful.” (61:18)

Important Timestamps

• 01:25 – John Chapman describes the original play and cast.
• 04:10 – Opening dialogue sets emotional tone.
• 10:58 – Jack gaslights Bella, claims she is like her “mad” mother.
• 17:28 – Inspector Ruff arrives, begins investigation.
• 19:48 – Bella describes the gaslight and footsteps.
• 22:58 – Inspector recounts Alice Barlow’s unsolved murder and the legend of the rubies.
• 27:08 – Inspector urges Bella to fight for her freedom.
• 35:26 – Inspector and Bella search Jack’s desk.
• 37:43 – The Barlow rubies are discovered.
• 53:13 – Inspector confronts Jack; ruse is ended.
• 56:24 – Inspector’s direct accusation.
• 59:29 – Bella’s triumphant assertion of her will.
• 61:18 – Emotional release, episode closes.

Episode Tone and Style

The adaptation maintains a high-tension, psychologically astute tone, laced with period detail and Victorian emotional repression. Dialogue is tightly written, unraveling the layers of deceit, fear, and eventual empowerment. The cast (notably Vincent Price and Judith Evelyn) bring intensity and energy reminiscent of classic radio’s “golden age.”

Conclusion

This radio play is a prime example of the psychological thriller: Angel Street is not just entertainment; it’s an opportunity to examine gaslighting, manipulation, and the reclamation of self. Through an immersive, suspenseful performance, it honors both radio drama artistry and the enduring relevance of its central themes.

Further Listening

Next episode: “The Hasty Heart” by John Patrick – a wartime drama with a comedic edge and sentiment.