Christopher London: "Price Of Sugar" (1950-09-08)

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Air Date: September 8, 1950
Summary Episode Date: December 1, 2025
Starring: Glenn Ford
Created by: Earl Stanley Gardner

Overview

In this classic "Christopher London" radio drama, private investigator Christopher London is drawn into an international mystery surrounding a murder, a mysterious rival sugar company, and the dark secret enabling their success. The story unfolds across a luxurious ocean voyage from San Francisco to Manila and deep into the oppressive jungle plantations of the Philippines. The episode weaves intrigue, romance, betrayal, and social commentary on forced labor and freedom.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Setting the Stage: The Case Begins (00:32–03:15)

• Opening Crime:
  • A Filipino man dies, found with a knife in his back and the address of Mr. Anders, president of the San Francisco Sugar Company, raising suspicions (00:44).
• The Assignment:
  • Mr. Anders hires London ostensibly for the murder, but truly because mysterious competitor Southern Cross is underselling his company’s sugar (02:00).
• Accompanying Characters:
  • Linda Anders, Anders' niece, is to sail to Manila with London. She is presented as charming and quick-witted, with deep knowledge of the sugar business.

Christopher London: "You want me to find out how a company named Southern Cross is able to go on underselling your product, and that's all." (02:52)

The Voyage: Suspicion, Friendship, and Romance (03:29–11:34)

• Getting Acquainted:
  • Linda and London develop camaraderie, with playful banter and subtle flirtation. Linda admits her significant involvement in her uncle’s affairs (04:42).
• The Texan Interloper:
  • Jim Blake, a brash Texan and self-proclaimed investor in Southern Cross, joins the journey. His overbearing but affable persona both amuses and raises London’s suspicions (05:10).
• The Enigmatic Gift:
  • Linda entrusts London with a small, non-jewelry box, which he has X-rayed. It contains nothing, leading to a cryptic conversation where Linda admits it was a test of London’s cleverness (06:09–09:28).
• Mounting Tension:
  • London receives anonymous, threatening notes ("roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and you'll be a long time dead.") (09:28).

Linda Anders: "It was just a sort of a trial. My uncle and I wanted to be sure you were clever enough for this job. And you are clever, Christopher, really clever." (09:28)

Tragedy at Sea (11:34–13:04)

• Atmosphere Turns Ominous:
  • A dense fog descends. Linda’s coat is found abandoned at the rail, and it's feared she’s missing. It's revealed instead that her maid Maria (sent in Linda’s coat) is the victim—shot and thrown overboard.

Linda Anders: "Christopher, was it Maria?"
Christopher London: "I'm afraid so." (14:42–14:48)

In Manila: Motives Unravel (15:01–17:56)

• London Confronts Blake:
  • London probes Blake’s whereabouts and connections to the murder. Blake reveals his financial interest in Southern Cross and invites London and Linda to inspect their Negros Island plantation.
• True Allegiances Questioned:
  • London suspects Blake, believing Maria's death was intended for Linda. He warns Linda and insists she stay in Manila for safety, agreeing to visit the plantation with Blake alone (17:57).

Christopher London: "I think he's a killer. Yes. I think he tried to kill you and got Maria instead." (17:36)

The Southern Cross Plantation: Uncovering the Dark Secret (18:28–23:13)

• Plantation Tour:
  • London and Blake tour the sugar refinery, led by the cold Director, Juan Ibarra. It seems to be normal—until London witnesses the brutal whipping of a worker.
• Moral Outrage:
  • London challenges the plantation's use of violence, but his concerns are dismissed (19:46–19:54).
• Growing Suspicion:
  • The atmosphere grows oppressive, as the cruelty and rain intensify a sense of foreboding.

Christopher London: "Nobody could deserve punishment like that." (19:52)

The Web Tightens: Betrayals Revealed (21:10–26:44)

• Inside the Plantation House:
  • Dolores, a mysterious woman, tries to get close to London, presumably as a spy or honey-trap. Linda then unexpectedly arrives at the plantation, against London’s wishes.
• Direct Confrontation:
  • Linda reveals her uncle wants the investigation dropped, but London refuses to let the matter rest, knowing too much blood has been spilled.
• Discovery:
  • London sneaks out and finds a concentration-camp-like stockade filled with forced laborers—the secret to Southern Cross’s cheap sugar.

Christopher London: "Forced labor. Slavery. I returned to the house and cautiously opened the door." (24:48)

The Climax: Truth and Violence (24:51–28:33)

• Betrayal Unmasked:
  • Blake and Ibarra catch London. Blake drops his “Texas” persona, revealing the accent was a ruse and confirming his role in the murders.
• Confessions:
  • Linda admits to killing Maria to protect the conspiracy with Blake.
• Escape Attempt:
  • Amid a storm, London uses the chaos to escape with a broken arm and overpowers the guard at the labor camp, freeing the workers.
• Final Confrontations:
  • As the workers riot, Linda is killed by a gunshot—presumably by the freed laborers or in the chaos.

Christopher London: "Have you any idea how much actual slavery still exists in the world today? It's not a comforting thought, but one we can't afford not to think about. Freedom is still something to fight for." (28:43)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Being Tested:

  Linda Anders: "My uncle and I wanted to be sure you were clever enough for this job... You're the only man I ever met who's smarter than I. Christopher. Would you consider kissing me good night?" (09:28–09:51)

• On Intimidation:

  Threatening note left for London:
  "Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and you'll be a long time dead." (09:28)

• On Cruelty:

  Doctor/Narrator (Ibarra): "It is the only thing the bad ones understand, Senor London." (19:54)

• On Conspiracies:

  Blake (dropping accent): "With that twang, you can talk to anybody and get away with practically anything." (25:33)

• Moral of the Story:

  Christopher London: "Freedom is still something to fight for." (28:43)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Case Introduction & Assignment: 00:32–03:15
• Voyage & Linda’s Test: 03:29–09:28
• Rising Threats & Anonymous Notes: 09:28–10:49
• Maria's Death in the Fog: 11:34–14:48
• Confronting Blake in Manila: 15:01–17:56
• First Glimpse of Plantation Brutality: 18:28–19:54
• London Discovers the Labor Camp: 23:46–24:51
• Showdown & Final Escape: 24:51–28:33
• London’s Closing Reflection: 28:43

Memorable Moments

• The playful yet sharp flirtation between London and Linda, lending levity to the suspenseful plot.
• Blake’s transition from a bumbling, accented Texan to cold-blooded conspirator—"I guess I'm just a big ham at heart." (25:29)
• Linda’s gradual shift from witty companion to self-confessed accomplice in murder: "Well, I had to, Christopher. She caught Jim and me together and guessed how it was... so I had to." (26:32)
• The harrowing confrontation with the reality of forced labor—the true "price of sugar"—leaves a chilling impact.

Episode Tone & Style

The episode blends hard-boiled detective narration (staunch, reflective, and sardonic) with atmospheric suspense and noir-style dialogue. Social commentary on labor exploitation and freedom is delivered with gravitas but remains in character with the period’s pulp heroism.

Final Thoughts

"Price Of Sugar" delivers a gripping investigation threaded with international intrigue, moral dilemmas, and stark revelations about human exploitation. It's a classic tale where charming facades hide sinister realities, and the quest for truth comes at a very real human cost. The episode concludes with a sobering warning about slavery and a call to vigilance for justice—a message as meaningful now as it was then.