Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – Private Files of Rex Saunders: "Game with Death" (51-05-23)

Aired: December 7, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Private Files of Rex Saunders 51-05-23 (04) Game with Death

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners back to the thrilling Golden Age of Radio, featuring The Private Files of Rex Saunders in a suspense-laden mystery titled "Game with Death." Set against the backdrop of an offshore gambling ship, this noir detective story follows the sharp-witted Rex Saunders as he’s drawn into a vortex of deceit, murder, and betrayal after being asked to prevent a killing on the high seas. With its atmospheric dialogue and period drama, the episode showcases the intrigue of classic radio crime tales.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Case Begins: Gambling with Death

• [01:05] Rex Saunders sets the tone:

  "A roulette wheel has no conscience, so you are bound to pick an unlucky number when you play the game with death." — Rex Saunders [01:05]

• Rex Saunders recounts a tense night aboard an offshore gambling ship, the "S.S. Lucky," notorious for its shady dealings beyond the reach of law.

2. Tension on the Gambling Ship

• [01:54] Suspicious activity and heated exchanges among Tony Marco (the gambler), Helen Connell (the worried sister), and her stepbrother Jerry set the scene for danger.
• Jerry, heavily in debt and distraught by Helen’s involvement with Marco, is forcibly removed, hinting at deeper conflicts and motives for murder.

3. A Stolen Briefcase and a Desperate Plea

• [04:27] Saunders’ briefcase is stolen in a railway station by a mysterious woman, later revealed to be Helen Connell, as a ruse to delay his trip and secure his detective skills.
• [08:08] Helen’s panicked request:

  "I want your help... To save a man's life—my stepbrother, Jerry. I've got to find him before he's murdered." — Helen Connell [08:09]

• Helen explains someone attempted to shoot Jerry the night before, leaving him terrified and in hiding.

4. The Investigation Unfolds

• Saunders and Alec search for Jerry, following leads to a rooming house, where clues point back to the gambling ship:

  "These chips are just out of place... They're marked 'S.S. Lucky'." — Rex Saunders [13:30]

• The team realizes the depth of the conspiracy and prepares for a dangerous confrontation on Marco’s ship.

5. Murder at Sea: The Attempt on Jerry’s Life

• [15:03] Jerry is taken out on a boat under the pretense of being delivered to safety, only to be forced overboard—unable to swim and left to drown. It's a chilling echo of the title's "Game with Death."

  "This is where you go for a swim. All right. Over the top side." — Rocky [15:05] "I can't swim." — Jerry/Rex Saunders [15:41]

6. Shifting Allegiances and a Fatal Clue

• [17:59] After Jerry's body is found, Marco confronts his partner Vera about being set up. Vera, in her dying moments, tries to write a message in lipstick on a car windshield:

  "This lip rouge on the windshield... R O, C ... It's the K. R, o, C, K rock." — Tony Marco & Rex Saunders [21:25–21:46]

• The clue "ROCK" points to Rocky, Marco's henchman.

7. The Final Confrontation: Truths Revealed

• [24:04] Saunders presses Marco about the meaning of "rock," and Marco finally admits his secret marriage to Helen, stirring the tangled relationships further.
• [25:38] Saunders, in close conversation with Rocky, realizes the henchman is the real killer. Rocky attempts to murder Saunders using the same method as Jerry, but Saunders survives thanks to Alec and the police.

8. Justice Served

• [28:07] Saunders turns up alive, confronting Helen (the true mastermind) with Rocky's confession.

  "You rotten little killer. You had it done to Vera and your stepbrother... You were setting me up for a murder rap so you could cash in on me." — Tony Marco [27:55] "The shock you receive at seeing me alive is nothing compared to the shock the state has in store for you." — Rex Saunders [28:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Opening Noir Wisdom:

  "A roulette wheel has no conscience, so you are bound to pick an unlucky number when you play the game with death." — Rex Saunders [01:05]

• Helen’s Desperation:

  "Wouldn't you? To save a man's life?" — Helen Connell [08:26]

• Chilling Threat at Sea:

  "This is where you go for a swim. All right. Over the top side." — Rocky [15:05] "I can't swim." — Jerry/Rex Saunders [15:41]

• Climactic Accusation:

  "You rotten little killer. You had it done to Vera and your stepbrother. You did." — Tony Marco [27:55] "They're not just ideas, they're the facts Rocky included in his confession." — Rex Saunders [28:21]

• Saunders’ Final Zinger:

  "The shock you receive at seeing me alive is nothing compared to the shock the state has in store for you." — Rex Saunders [28:42]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – Opening Theme & Rex Saunders’ Introduction
• [04:27] – Theft of Briefcase at the Train Station
• [08:09] – Helen’s Plea for Help
• [13:30] – Discovery of Gambling Chips “S.S. Lucky”
• [15:03–15:50] – Jerry’s Murder at Sea
• [17:59–18:49] – Aftermath of Jerry’s Death & Marco/Vera Exchange
• [21:25–21:46] – Dying Clue: "ROCK" on Windshield
• [24:04–24:43] – Confrontation About Rocky and Revelations
• [27:55–28:29] – Final Confrontation, Helen Unmasked
• [28:42] – Saunders’ Closing Warning

Summary & Tone

The episode is a classic hard-boiled detective drama brimming with suspense and sharp dialogue, characteristic of radio’s golden era. The interplay between Rex Saunders and the various suspects is taut with mistrust and double-crossing. As the truth unravels—through coded clues, tense confrontations, and surprises—the melodrama and period flavor shine, culminating in a satisfying, just conclusion.

Fans of classic mystery radio dramas and noir detective tales will appreciate the twists, emotional stakes, and moral clarity that define "Game with Death," making it a memorable entry in the Private Files of Rex Saunders.