Episode 458 - Star of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Stars on Suspense – Episode 458: Star of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Podcast: Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)
Host: Mean Streets Podcasts
Episode: 458 – Star of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
Release Date: July 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode pays tribute to James Cagney, the Oscar-winning star of the beloved patriotic musical biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy. The host presents Cagney's rare and standout performances in the classic radio drama Suspense and concludes with a special radio adaptation of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Listeners are treated to two thrilling tales from the golden age of radio—"Love’s Lovely Counterfeit" and "No Escape"—before enjoying musical nostalgia with Cagney reprising his iconic film role as George M. Cohan.

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Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:00 – 00:50] Introduction: James Cagney defines “suspense”
• [00:50 – 02:33] Host’s Overview: Cagney’s Hollywood legacy & the episode’s lineup
• [04:28 – 59:00] Main Drama: "Love’s Lovely Counterfeit"
• [61:24 – 95:00] Second Drama: "No Escape"
• [96:40 – 124:45] Special Broadcast: "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (Screen Guild Players adaptation)
• [126:29 – End] Patriotic message from James Cagney

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Segment 1: James Cagney Defines Suspense [00:00–00:50]

• Cagney opens with a dictionary-like monologue on the nature of suspense.

  “Suspense. Meaning held in doubt, expressing doubt. The state of being uncertain, undecided or insecure. State of anxious expectation or waiting for information such as to keep one in suspense.”
  — James Cagney [00:00]

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Segment 2: Episode Lineup & James Cagney’s Hollywood Legacy [00:50–02:33]

• Host introduces Cagney as the star of iconic American cinema, especially for his role as George M. Cohan.
• Host outlines the rare occasions Cagney appeared on ‘Suspense’.
• Tonight’s features:
  • "Love’s Lovely Counterfeit" (Jan 17, 1948): Cagney stars as gangster Ben Grace.
  • "No Escape" (Dec 16, 1948): A cautionary tale of reckless driving.
  • "Yankee Doodle Dandy" radio adaptation from Screen Guild Theater (Oct 19, 1942).

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Segment 3: "Love’s Lovely Counterfeit"—A Study in Crime, Morality, and Corruption [04:28–59:00]

Plot & Setting

• Ben Grace (Cagney) narrates from his hospital bed, reflecting on his criminal past in Lake City—a town run by racketeer Sol Casper.
• Political machinations, crooked cops, and alliances are interwoven with a charged attraction to reform-minded June Lyons.

Key Characters

• Ben Grace: Tough, calculating but not all bad—“a chiseler…not crooked, not straight, just in between.” (Cagney, [24:20])
• June Lyons: “Brains of the campaign” for the clean-government side, with motivations both idealistic and personal.
• Sol Casper & Lefty Gauss: Crime boss and loyal, philosophical henchman.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On being a gangster and guns:

  “Funny thing about a gun. Nobody likes to have a gun pointed at him. And yet it gives you a sort of phony sense of power... The gun itself is cold steel. Its message is written in hot lead. And the death it brings is cold again.”
  — Cagney, as Ben Grace, [06:03]

• On political reform:

  “You can’t elect a reform ticket in a town like this. The machine’s too strong, Ben. Not unless you got some dirt. Some real dirty dirt that stinks so bad, people just can’t ignore it.”
  — Supporting Actor, [11:35]

• Ben’s cynical romance with June:

  “If you were one of those earnest kids handing out leaflets, I might believe you wanted to reform the world. But you’re not. You know that electing Johnson isn’t going to reform the world or even Lake City. It just doesn’t make that much difference.”
  — Cagney as Ben, [17:05]

• On morality and survival:

  “You know I never carry a rod.”
  — Ben Grace confronted by Sol Casper, [54:36]

• Impactful Sequence:

  • The Set-up & Double Cross: Ben tips off June about a bank robbery in hopes of bringing down Sol Casper (“Three punks from Chicago are sticking up the Castleton First National Bank…Sal Casper is hiding them out at his hotel, room 480. If there’s any shooting at the bank…you will have them for accessory to murder.” — Cagney, [18:11])

• Tragic Love:

  “Maybe your big mistake was falling in love with me, baby. Now there isn’t much you can do about it, is there?”
  — Ben to June, after her involvement leads to bloodshed, [54:06]

Dramatic Climax

• The attempted escape to Canada is cut short as Ben is fatally wounded. June is arrested; Ben arranges a hasty marriage to protect her legally (“I suppose you’ve heard that a man can’t testify against his wife, Mr. DA… By the way, do you mind if I kiss the bride? Go ahead, Ben.” [61:34])
• Final Farewell:

  “So long, missionary. Mrs. Missionary…”
  — Ben Grace, dying words, [62:42]

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Segment 4: "No Escape"—A Cautionary Tale of Road Recklessness [61:24–95:00]

Plot Overview

• James Cagney plays Harry Graham, a small-town man awarded “Safest Driver of the Year,” who becomes the cause of a fatal accident on a treacherous road.
• The narrative unfolds as Harry’s guilt weighs him down, and the cost of a moment’s carelessness is brought home with tragic irony.

Key Messages & Themes

• Personal Responsibility & Guilt: Harry rationalizes, “I’m not a devil or a mad dog. I’m just like the next guy.”
• Community Impact: The accident’s fallout is revealed—one of the victims was Harry’s own brother.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Self-Deception’s Risk:

  “I don’t care what you’ve heard or read about me. I’m not a devil or a mad dog… This… It happened to me sure, but it could have happened to anybody.”
  — Cagney as Harry, [67:36]

• On the Burden of Guilt:

  “No one can escape the responsibility of being his brother’s keeper.”
  — Cagney/Harry, conveying the moral lesson, [79:48]

• Discovery of Family Tragedy:

  “Take a look at this fourth body… Teddy…J.”
  — Chief to Harry, the story’s devastating twist, [88:00]

Notable Commentary

• Cagney, in a post-story message:

  “Any person who gets behind the wheel of a car assumes a great responsibility... That one moment of carelessness or recklessness or drunkenness can mean a lifetime of pain and misery for someone. And that may be you or me.”
  — James Cagney, [95:00]

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Segment 5: "Yankee Doodle Dandy"—Screen Guild Players Adaptation [96:40–124:45]

Overview

• Cagney re-creates key moments and songs from the film, portraying Broadway legend George M. Cohan.
• Broadcast as a musical celebration, blending patriotic pride with American history.

Highlights & Quotes

• On Cohan’s Legacy:

  “This is the story of a real Yankee Doodle Dandy. A man who told the world proudly, I am an American.”
  — Cagney as Cohan, [97:33]

• Iconic Songs Performed

  • “Give My Regards to Broadway” [105:25]
  • “Yankee Doodle Boy” [106:00]
  • “You’re a Grand Old Flag” [114:49]
  • “Over There” [118:09]

• Signature Cagney Farewell:

  “My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.”
  — James Cagney, closing the broadcast, [124:45]

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Segment 6: Patriotic Closing Message [126:29–End]

• Cagney delivers a heartfelt appeal for American unity at a time of crisis:

  “Ladies and gentlemen, the chief hope of our enemies is to divide the United States along racial and religious lines and thereby conquer us… Remind them that being good neighbors has helped make our country great and kept her free. Thank you.”
  —James Cagney, [126:29]

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Additional Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• Lefty on Morality:

  “A chisel is like this. He isn’t crooked. And he isn’t straight, either. He’s just in between. But above all, he doesn’t like trouble. Maybe he’s just smart. I don’t say he isn’t.”
  —Lefty to Ben, [24:25]

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Episode Takeaways

• Cagney’s performances are multi-layered, showing both his dramatic power and his ability to balance tough, cynical characters with moments of vulnerability and wit.
• The selected dramas explore the darkness and contradictions within the American dream—whether in crime or in patriotic celebration.
• The final adaptation of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is both a showcase for Cagney’s charm and an open-hearted salute to American resilience and unity.

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For Further Listening

• The host invites listeners to explore other episodes and an Old Time Radio Detective podcast, “Down These Mean Streets”.

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Summary

Episode 458 of Stars on Suspense is a rich tribute to James Cagney—a star whose roles as gangsters, idealists, and patriotic showmen each reflect a unique facet of American storytelling. Through riveting dramas and musical nostalgia, the episode is a poignant reminder of both personal and national responsibility, set against the high drama and heartfelt song that only the golden age of radio can deliver.

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Transcript

[James Cagney]

Would you hand me that, please? Thank you. Now, let's see. Survey. Survive. Susanna. Suspect. Ah, here we are. Suspense. Meaning held in doubt, expressing doubt. The state of being uncertain, undecided or insecure. State of anxious expectation or waiting for information such as to keep one in suspense. Therefore delay acquainting him with what he is eager to know. Suspense.

[Podcast Host]

Hello and welcome to Stars on Suspense with more Hollywood legends and Random Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. This week we've got one star in his Oscar winning role. It's James Cagney, who took home the Oscar for playing George M. Cohan in the musical biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy. The story of the actor, singer, producer and director was a critical and box office success and it makes for fine fourth of July viewing today. With songs like Over There, you're a Grand Old Flag and the Yankee Doodle Boy, you can rent or buy Yankee Doodle Dandy digitally from your preferred retailers. You can also find it on disc, including a Blu Ray from the Warner archive of the film's stars. Only Mr. Cagney made a visit to suspense that is in episodes that still survive today. So we'll hear both of his performances, beginning with an hour long adaptation of James M. Cain's Love's lovely counterfeit from January 17, 1948. Then he stars in no Escape, a cautionary tale of the dangers of reckless driving from December 16, 1948. And finally, he recreates his role as George M. Cohan in a Screen Guild Theater radio adaptation of the film from October 19, 1942. He's a Yankee Doodle Dandy. But first he stars on Suspense. We'll hear James Cagney right after these messages.

[James Cagney]

And here's a word from RCA Victor. Last week the curtain went up on the 75th anniversary of the National Baseball League and the 50th anniversary of the American League. There's no better way to celebrate than by enjoying at firsthand the thrills and the clean sportsmanship of baseball today. Baseball today, it's the American way. Of course, the next best thing to a seat in the stands is a seat in front of a 19 inch RCA Victor television. RCA Victor's new Extra powerful picture pickup gives you the best possible reception everywhere. You know RCA Victor television is most in demand. But here's really important news. RCA Victor 19 inch television is available. It's on display now at dealer stores. So insist on the best. Insist on seeing 19 inch million proof television by RCA Victor. When you do, you'll agree, inch for inch, your best buy in Television is RCA Victor 19 inch. A word of advice for those of you who suffer from acid indigestion, heartburn or gas.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Neither. You know about the little white tablets in the little green pocket rol. Just a waiting for the moment when you need them to bring your acid indigestion under control. Tums are the little white tablets in the little green pocket. Road Tums for the tummy. T U M s bring relief quicker than you'd ever guess. Best for any kind of acid distress. Keep em handy in the pocket rol keep your tummy under tum control.

[James Cagney]

The modern Tums formula has never been surpassed for effectiveness. Always carry Toms 10 cents 3 roll pack a quarter or get the new 6 roll Tums pack with free metal carrier only 49 cents. Next time you bounce out of bed in the morning. Well you do bounce, don't you? Okay, let's say next time you get out of bed, head for the Wheaties. Sure enough, head for the Wheaties at 7am and see how they help. At 11am yes, they can make a difference at 11. And they can make a difference at the breakfast table. It's likely to be a pleasanter place with a bowl full of crisp little old Wheaties next to your spoon and napkin. The reason is of course, the whole hearted whole wheat taste of Wheaties. You're getting all that sweet as a nut whole wheat flavor in every Wheaties flake. Pour on the milk, put on the fruit and dig right in to one of the finest openings any morning ever had. And then see how much finer the morning itself goes when you've started with breakfast of champions. That full whole wheat really gives with vitality. You know there's a whole kernel of wheat in every flake of Wheaties. Now see if you don't notice the difference all morning long. Less of the mid morning slump, more of the up and atom punch, know what I mean? All right then you try it tomorrow. Next day for a good breakfast. For a good morning, start with Wheaties. See yourself how Wheaties at 7 can help at 11. And now a tale well calculated. To keep you in suspense. This is Robert Montgomery inviting you to join us for Love's lovely counterfeit. Tonight's study in suspense. An hour of suspense, a full 60 minutes at this time. And with the Distinguished Actor Director, Mr. Robert Montgomery as your host tonight, our star in one of his Rare radio appearances, Mr. James Cagney. Our author guest, Mr. James M. Kane. Our story, Mr. Kane's Love's Lovely Counterfeit, a suspense play, produced, edited and directed by William Spear. Mr. Montgomery, funny thing about a gun. Nobody likes to have a gun pointed at him. And yet it gives you sort of a phony sense of power to hold one in your hand to do the pointing. The gun itself is cold steel. Its message is written in hot lead. And the death it brings is cold again. I still don't know anyone who thinks a gun going off makes a pleasant sound. I suppose a lot depends on knowing why the guy who points it wants to fire it and what kind of a gun it is. Guns have personalities. A fat blue revolver is a lot different character from the first slim rifle you get. When you're a kid, you take a rifle like that, they look clean. They are clean. But did you ever take a good look at an automatic a.45? Nothing healthy looking about those babies. Uh, something very final about an automatic. They're for the tough boys. Probably you haven't known any tough boys personally, but you've read about them and heard about them. And high caliber actors like James Cagney have made them live for you on the screen. You want to know how it is to meet a tough boy, We've got one for you. Name's Ben Grace. And Jim Cagney's portrayal of him tonight reflects an important ingredient of suspense. Because of the character as James M. Came Drewitt, and because of the masterful interpretation you are about to hear a respected actor and my friend James Cagney as Ben Grace in Love's lovely counterfeit. I'm writing this lying in a nice clean bed with the sunlight coming in the window and nothing to do but look out at the people walking along the streets and the kids playing in the park. And any little thing I want, all I have to do is ask for it. To a lot of poor guys nowadays, that probably sounds like the softest spot in the world. But with me there are a couple of slight disabilities. I think you'll see what I mean, how I got here. And that begins when I went to work driving for Sal Casper. You haven't been in Lake City. Chances are you've never even heard of Sol Casper. But Sal is the kind of a boy who would have got plenty of headlines if he'd operated in the big city. He had the bookies, dope, gambling, everything. And he owned the best commercial hotel in town as a. The only trouble with Sol was he was mean and he was greedy. But I never had any real kick coming until that Friday morning last June that I'm going to tell you about. I'd gotten A call, and I went up to Sol's private office in the hotel. I knocked on the door. In a minute, the sloth opened up and it was Lefty Gauss looking out through the slot to give me the once over. Oh. Oh, it's you, huh? Hey, come on in. Saul here yet? No, no, not yet. He ought to be pretty soon, though. What's he got on his mind? I wouldn't know, Ben. This is supposed to be my day off. Well, I hope you didn't make any heavy dates. So you don't know a thing about it, huh? Not enough to tell you, Ben. Okay. Hey. Huh? What? What's that? Huh? Oh, that must be those poor suckers the Citizens League have in the political parade. Yeah. Ah, there they are. You can see them through the window just coming into Main Street. Say, that. That must be Jansen.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Huh?

[James Cagney]

The guy there running for mayor. Yeah, that's right. In the backseat of the big open packet. Oh. Who's the doll riding with him? What's the matter, Ben? Don't you read the papers? Sure, I read, Little Abner. Who's that, Daisy May? Her name is June Lyons. Jesus. New secretary or something? But everybody says she's the brains of his campaign. Yeah, I could use a little brains like that. My. No, no, not that kind, you couldn't. Not that missionary kind. What. What about this Jansen? Ah, not a chance. Putting out a lot of publicity. Must have some dough behind him. Ah, you can't elect a reform ticket in a town like this. The machine's too strong, Ben. Not unless you got some dirt. Some real dirty dirt that stinks so bad, people just can't ignore it. Then the machine boys can't put the press. But otherwise, everybody knows Sol is backing Maddox. Even brags about it in the papers. Sure, and who's gonna get anything on Saul? With half the police force on his payroll? Saul isn't even worried, huh? Why should he be? Saul puts up the dough, Maddox wins again, and Saul keeps on running the town. Yeah, that must be Saul now.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Hi, Lifty.

[James Cagney]

Hi, Benny. How's muscle bound?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

How are those big broad shoulders, eh?

[James Cagney]

I have them built right into my suit. You ought to try that, Sol. Might make you look like a man.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What's that crack supposed to mean?

[James Cagney]

What's the matter, fellas? Can't you take a joke? Sure, I can take a joke.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

So can I. What you got on this afternoon, Benny?

[James Cagney]

I guess you forgot this is my day off.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I said, what you got on this afternoon?

[James Cagney]

Nothing that I can remember now. Why, little Job? What kind of a job? I got a tip.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Some friends of mine may be in a little trouble. Something about a bank.

[James Cagney]

Why don't you stick to the bookies and the gambling, Sal? You'll be safer.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Listen, Benny, anytime you think you're big enough to run this business, just let me know. I'll be glad to work something out for you.

[James Cagney]

What's the job?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

These kids are gonna crack the Castle

[James Cagney]

and First national just after closing time.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

It's loaded on Fridays. It ought to be a big hall. Hey, they got a. They got a room here in this hotel.

[James Cagney]

Room 480. They'll be back here about 3:30.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Now, you see, I own this hotel and I want you to go up and collect the room rent. I'm giving them pretty good protection, so I figure it'll come to about 20 grand.

[James Cagney]

Yeah? Well, figure on getting somebody else to collect it. What? I said, get somebody else. I don't like guns and I don't like Gonzals, and you know it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Listen.

[James Cagney]

Listen, you punk.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You think you're a big guy, don't you? A big guy with muscles, and I'm

[James Cagney]

just a little guy.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

That's what you think, isn't it? Isn't it? But if you try to cross me,

[James Cagney]

I'll have you crawling me on your hands and knees. When I get through with you, you'll beg me to use a gun on

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

you because you're yeller, aren't you? Aren't you?

[James Cagney]

What's the room number? 480. Come on, Lefty. Okay. That was lousy. Skip it. You're gonna do it, though, aren't you? Sure. I'll see you up there. 3:15. By the way, what did you say that dame's name was? What dame? That dame with Jansen, that brains of the opposition. You mean June Lyons? Yeah, that's it. Now. Now, wait a minute, Ben. Wait a minute. You know that's poison. Why, Saul even thought you had. You know, Lefty, Ms. Lyons interests me in more ways than. An election for mayor in a place like Lake City can be a pretty tight little situation. Particularly if the town has been run for years by a mobster like Sol Casper. And I knew that with me working for Sol, playing around with the opposition wasn't exactly the healthiest pastime in the world. But when I saw that June Lynes doll that was running their campaign, there was something about her that gave me an idea. That's why I phoned her and she said okay. I met her at an inset section a little Ways out from the main part of town. She described the car and given me the license number. And she drove up as though she had stopped for the light, just like I had told her. I got in and light changed. She drove on. For a minute we just sat there and nobody said anything. Then

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

the least I expected to was a blue chin and a broken nose.

[James Cagney]

Disappointed?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

A little. What's this hot tip you told me about over the phone? I don't have much time.

[James Cagney]

What's the matter? You worried?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Not particularly.

[James Cagney]

You don't have to be. I'm not interested in you.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Where are we going?

[James Cagney]

Just keep driving around, but keep out of the main part of town.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Is it as melodramatic as all that

[James Cagney]

could be for me?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Why do you want to see Jansen elected?

[James Cagney]

I don't. Oh.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, then why. Why did.

[James Cagney]

Suppose you let me ask the question. All right, I'll ask you the same one. Why are you working for Jansen?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, I'm just one of those crazy idealists, I guess.

[James Cagney]

Just a missionary, huh?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, Jansen may not be the best man in the world, but at least he isn't hooked up with a racketeer like Saul Casper, the way Maddox is.

[James Cagney]

June.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

It's June now, is it? What's your name?

[James Cagney]

Maybe I'll tell you that later. And maybe I won't Listen, June. If you were one of those earnest kids who stand around on street corners handing out leaflets, I might believe you wanted to reform the world. But you're not. I know that. You know that electing Johnson isn't going to reform the world or even reform Lake City. It just doesn't make that much a difference.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, well, it does to me.

[James Cagney]

Let me out of the next corner, will you?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Why?

[James Cagney]

Because if you're like that, I don't know how to deal with you. And if you're lying, I don't trust you.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But I'm not lying.

[James Cagney]

I'll get out here.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Wait a minute.

[James Cagney]

Why?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Listen, it's partly that, but there is something else, too.

[James Cagney]

Like what?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

If Jansen wins, of course, I'll get a city job out of it. A good one.

[James Cagney]

That's more like it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yeah, but I want to explain why I want it.

[James Cagney]

You don't have to explain anything.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But I want to. I'm a lawyer. At least I've got a degree from law school, and I want to be a good lawyer. If you start out on your own, it can take years, but. But with the right job at City hall, you can build up a practice in no time. The other's partly true, but. But this is.

[James Cagney]

This is about 90% of it. Okay. As long as it's the door you're thinking about, we can do business.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

It isn't just money.

[James Cagney]

I know, I know. Now listen. If I give some dirt on Sol Casper, that will send him up for 10 years or so. Johnson wins, right?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, if you can prove it, you're

[James Cagney]

going to prove it. Three punks from Chicago are sticking up the Castleton First National Bank. At about three this afternoon. Sal Casper is hiding them out at his hotel, room 480. If there's any shooting at the bank and anybody gets killed, it'll be that much better you will have them for accessory to murder. Have your people there at 4 o'. Clock. I'll take care of the rest.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You must have been to college too.

[James Cagney]

What?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

To think up one like that. In the first place, who's going to arrest Sol Casper in Lake City? The second place, if we come out with this and it can't be proved, it's criminal liable. And that's all Jensen needs to really lose.

[James Cagney]

So what do you think?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I think you're working for Maddox and Casper. Hmm.

[James Cagney]

That could be. But at least I know my law.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What law?

[James Cagney]

The Castleton bank is insured by the government. That makes the stick up a federal rap. If you want the number of the FBI, I'll give it to you.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh.

[James Cagney]

As for the second place, have you ever heard of a guy named Ben Grace?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben Grace? He's one of Sol Casper's gang, isn't he?

[James Cagney]

That's right. He's my driver's license with a picture on it. Not a very good one, but there. There is a resemblance. The name is Bennett J. Grace. Oh, you can turn left here.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right.

[James Cagney]

Does that make any difference?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What?

[James Cagney]

That I work for Sol Casper?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

No, it doesn't.

[James Cagney]

Well, it should. Because A, I've put myself on the spot giving you this but plenty, and B, I'm not a guy who was in a very good position to go around giving phony tips to the FBI. You can pull up right here.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Where is this?

[James Cagney]

This is where I live.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh.

[James Cagney]

Anything else?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes, just. Why are you doing this?

[James Cagney]

Because I just decided that Solly Casper is an old meanie and I don't like him. Is that enough?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

If you say so. Room 480 at 4 o'. Clock. Ben?

[James Cagney]

Yeah?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Will I see you afterwards?

[James Cagney]

Don't worry, baby. You'll see me. I was back at the hotel by 3:15. Things were going pretty good. The one thing I was afraid of, that she'd want to call in the federals before the stick up. She never even mentioned. I knew she was my kind the minute she began to talk about the DOE. When I got up to room 480, Lefty was already there, lying on the bed, reading the paper. Oh, hello, Ben. How you been? So this is room 480. Looks just like room 481. How are you, Lefty? Okay. Sit down. Want a bottle of beer? Nope. You. You didn't take it too hard, what Sally said, did you? I can't say I liked it. What time is it? A couple minutes. Four. Yeah. It's too bad about you, Ben. What's too bad? The way I got you figured, Ben, you're a chisel. Then what? That's all? Sounds like there might be more. Not unless you ask for it. Okay, I'm asking for it, Lefty. Well, Ben, a chisel is like this. He isn't crooked. And he isn't straight, either. He's. He's just in between. But above all, he doesn't like trouble. Maybe he's just smart. I don't say he isn't. Oh, he'll always make pretty good dough. And he'll die in a nice clean bed with a doctor's certificate instead of a coroner's. But he'll never be a big operator. No, a big operator. He runs it or he doesn't operate. And that means he doesn't mind a little trouble once in a while. I guess that's right. And that's too bad, Ben. Cause you got brains now. Me, well, I'm different. How's that? Because I. I don't mind the trouble, but I don't have the brains. Oh, I wouldn't. Who told you that? I know, I know. Ten years in stir, off and on, didn't help any. And I didn't have much to begin with. Did I ever tell you how I started, Ben? No, Ben, I was a preacher. A What do you expect? Me? Yes, a preacher. So help me, I was. By rights, I still am. Look here. I got the license right here in my ward. Yeah, it was one of those hillbilly outfits. And the bishop, as he called himself, he was so far away from where I was that he never even heard about me. I guess. Anyway, he never canceled the license. The Reverend Richard Jose Goss. Ha ha. That's one for the books, Lefty. Yeah, I was just a kid, but I got hooked up with one of those big time evangelists. And if I stuck with it, I could have hit the big time myself. And there's plenty of dough in that racket. But you know what I did? First time we really make a big take. I tie a handkerchief over my face and get me a rod and stick up the cash box and they caught me. Yeah. That's how I know I haven't got the brains. I wouldn't let it worry you, Lefty. That's not what's worrying me now, Ben. What is? What is? What's going to be happening in here in a couple of minutes. You ever sat in on a divvy before, Ben? No, and I wouldn't be now, except for the manpower shortage. These are three wild kids, Ben. Chances are they'll be coked to the ears and slobbering at the mouth with half being half scared to death and half crazy with excitement, thinking how much do they got and what big shot public enemies they are. And we, you and I, we gotta walk up and take 20 grand away from them. All right. They know that. Yeah. Knowing it's one thing, kicking in with it's another. And suppose Solly's double crossed us. How? Suppose he didn't tell the kids how much his cut was? Suppose he left it for us to break the news? They just come from maybe killing a couple of people for 40 grand. Maybe they just as soon kill a couple of more to keep the 20. Maybe so. Now we're going to find out. Come on, Marty, get him in here. Johnny. Don't leave me with you, Johnny. All right, get him over to. Who are you? I'm the man that collects the room rent. Yeah, stick him up. Frisk him, Marty. Okay, Johnny. I don't need a rod to handle punks like you. This guy's clean, Johnny. What about the other one? He's with me and he's got a gun. And don't try to take it away from him. Because it's an old family heirloom and he's very fond of it. Yeah? Oh, yeah. Okay. Stop acting like something you've seen in the movies and put that cannon away. You might drop it and break somebody's foot. What's the matter with your pal here? He got shot. Anybody else? No, the guard shot him when we were pulling out. Better get him over on the bed.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Johnny.

[James Cagney]

We're going too fast. Johnny, we're going. He's out of his head. Yeah. Did you get the dough? Did we get the dough? Look at this wise guy. 40 grand, maybe more. Look at it. Touch it. Taste it. Smell it. What about it, sucker? Did you ever see so much dough before in your life? Sure. I work in the Mint. Do you know how much this room is costing you? How much? 20 grand. 20 grand? That's right. I'll be back after a while to collect it. What are you gonna do with your pal there with the holes in him? I. I don't know.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Johnny.

[James Cagney]

Johnny. You know that's bad, don't you? Why? The kid's out of his head already. Suppose he makes trouble, start screaming or something? Well, you got doctors, haven't you? Sure. But that kind of a doctor, that's one more guy that'll have to get a cut. Pretty soon you guys won't have anything left but small change. Yeah, that's what you think. But of course, maybe the kid will die. Yeah. And then what do we do that's even worse? Oh, no, no. That. That'd be easy. Then we just take him out of here at night and dump him someplace. Oh, and if the kid was to die, that would be one less guy who had to get a cut, wouldn't it?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Huh? Yeah.

[James Cagney]

Well. Come on, Lefty. Okay. He'll be seeing you. Yeah. Yeah. I hope you know what you're doing, Ben. I don't know. What do you think? I think so. Come on. I got the room next door. You know you're just as good as sign that kid's death certificate warrant, don't you? That's right. The other two will knock them off now before we got time to get the.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Johnny.

[James Cagney]

Miss. Miss. Miss.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Johnny. No. No. No.

[James Cagney]

They did it. Yeah. Maybe we better call sa, huh? I hope you know what you're doing. Got to think.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Order, please.

[James Cagney]

Give me Mr. Casper's room. You sure he's dead?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yeah.

[James Cagney]

Who's this? Ben, you better come up to room 480 SOL. Why? They want to see you personally.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Why?

[James Cagney]

I said they want to see you personally. I still want to know why. Do you want your dough or don't you?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You're supposed to be the guy with the big muscles.

[James Cagney]

I'm not going to wrestle those punks for your purse. Okay, Charles Atlas.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I'll be right up and show you how it's done.

[James Cagney]

He'll be right up. Then what? What do you mean, then what? Well, don't get nervous, Ben. Yeah. If you got any little plans, you know I'm all for them, don't you? Sure. And you know I hope they come up, don't you? Sure. But if they don't come up, you know where I stand on that, too, don't you? I know. You stand right behind me. With a gun on my back. Just so you know, Ben, I can see how you'd have made a preacher, lefty. You've got a terrible streak of honesty in you. Just so you know.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What's going on here?

[James Cagney]

Listen, listen. There he is. I'm Sal Casper. What's going on here? Oh, Mr. Casper. It's been a little trouble, Mr. Casper.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What kind of trouble?

[James Cagney]

The arch here, he just died.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Died?

[James Cagney]

He was shot.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right, so we'll get him out of here tonight.

[James Cagney]

You got the dough? Sure. Sure, we got it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Let's see here.

[James Cagney]

All right, put up your hands. Watch this. Department of Justice. They're all under arrest. That's all, pal. Where you going? I got a date with a mission. In tonight's full hour of suspense, James Cagney is our star. Mr. Cagney appears as Ben Grace with Kathy Lewis as June Lyons and Wally Mayer as Lefty Gauss in William Spears production of Love's lovely counterfeit. Tonight's study in suspense. In. In just a moment, we will return with act two of suspense. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System. This is Robert Montgomery. Again. When such incompatible words as lovely and counterfeit found themselves together in the title of tonight's story by James Kane, they said a lot, not only about the story, but about the man, Ben Grace as well. Elements of both words crowded through him. On the one side, for example, was his dislike for meanness and greed. And on the other side, something forged, fictitious, false. That was a smooth operation he pulled. And he was going to get even smoother as he went along. But it never got Ben Grace anything but trouble. Because the smoother he got, the further he got away from the true Ben Grace. A real lost guy trying to find North. And maybe for him, June Lyons could be North. But Ben wouldn't stop long enough to take a reading. As James Cain described them in the novel. Whatever it was June needed in life, Ben had it for her. And when she was with him and she acted with that complete abandon of a novice having her first drink, constantly he watched her. He studied her as though he were trying to make up his mind about something or to figure out something into which she definitely fitted. Then he began to really look at her. It was the first time he had really studied this girl who had started such a chain of circumstances in his life. And he looked with lively interest. It was all the more lively since he was unable to connect this face with all that he had learned about its owner. It was, in anybody's contest, an extremely beautiful face. It was perfectly Chiseled in profile at least, its slightly droopy lines reminding him of pictures he had seen of ancient sculpture. There was some exquisite invitation about the mouth. It pursed a little with an expression of expectancy. The skin was soft, with just a brush of bloom on it. The figure was lovely too. Not too tall, but slender, soft and willowy. He had the dizzy, half nauseated feeling of a man who has been rocked to his heels by a woman and knows it. And so continues the history of Ben Grace in James M. Cain's love's lovely counterfeit, laid out for us by James Cagney in a narrative well calculated to keep you in suspense. After that, the action moved along just the way I'd seen the play. In my mind, Sol might have had a 62 and even chance beating the rap of having the tea loaded kids in the hotel. But when the guns were checked against the wounds in the stiff, the beef was murdered. And that was one beef Sol couldn't square. Jansen walked into the city hall on a red plush carpet. And June, she got the job she was after. Jansen's first day in the driver's seat was celebrated with of the cocktail party at June's house. All the loyal party workers were invited to receive the thanks of his honor. I called June on the phone when I heard about it. She hammed and pawed around a little. And then she finally asked me if I'd like to. Like to come. Didn't seem too anxious, but I wasn't going to miss this chance to meet the mayor. She told me I could bring a friend if I liked. I said I would. I suddenly realized that I didn't have any friends. I brought Lefty. It was a corny house, a depressing pile of wood and stucco with four tired walls leaning in against the sagging roof for support. June was nervous when she saw me. I introduced her to Lefty.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Hello. How do you do? I'm glad you could come.

[James Cagney]

How you been? Nice house.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Thank you. You know everyone here, Ben.

[James Cagney]

Everyone I want to know.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, there's a bar in the alcove right over there.

[James Cagney]

You got any beer?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All you can drink, Mr. Goss.

[James Cagney]

You want to make book, Ben?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You'll excuse me while I speak.

[James Cagney]

Oh, sure, sure. You just go right ahead and host us like crazy. I'll just drift around.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Thank you, Ben. I'll see you later. Class.

[James Cagney]

Ben. Wheel class. Educated too. Ah, that she is, Lefty. That she is. Well, how about the suds, Benny? Then we'll go pay our irrespects to His Honor. How do you do?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I'm Mrs. Lyons, June's aunt.

[James Cagney]

How do you. How do you do, Mrs. Lyons? My name is Grace. This is Mr. Gauss.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I'm so glad you're here, Mr. My name is Gauss.

[James Cagney]

Lefty G. Oh, I'm sorry.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I don't hear very well.

[James Cagney]

Excuse me. You'll find me in the suds, Ben. Excuse me.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Have you met Mr. Johnson yet?

[James Cagney]

No, I. I'm looking forward to that.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, he's a wonderful. Just a wonderful man. Nice and settled and with a wonderful future. Don't you think so?

[James Cagney]

I think I'll be able to tell more about his future after I've talked to him.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Exactly my very words to June. I can see things like that.

[James Cagney]

I beg your pardon?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Then you agree with me? Oh, of course you do. You look like a very intelligent young man.

[James Cagney]

Mrs. Lyons, you don't make much sense.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Exactly what I've been telling you, Junie. But she just says. Oh, be quiet. Oh, for heaven's sake, Auntie, be quiet.

[James Cagney]

I can understand that.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, if you really would encourage her, Mr. Grace. You see, she never tells me a thing, never thinks I'm dumb, treats me as though I don't have good sense. But I see things. I can tell you why he's so crazy about her that all she'd have to do is lift her little finger to marry him. Just Mary.

[James Cagney]

Marry who?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes. Anna will be such a fine match for Junie. Mrs. Olaf Jansen, wife of the mayor. Oh, goodness, I. I get dizzy when I just think of it.

[James Cagney]

Yeah, and I know what you mean there, too.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh. Oh, there, there. It's. Oh, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Jansen.

[James Cagney]

Well, how are you, Mrs. Lyons?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Mr. Jansen, this is Mr. Mr.

[James Cagney]

The name is Grace. Ben. Grace. Ben Grace, eh? That's right, Your Honor. June, Ms. Lyons tells me that you've been very. May I congratulate you, your Honor. Thank you. I was about to say that Ms. Lyons tells me that you work to help make my election possible.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

How very clever of you, Mr. Jansen.

[James Cagney]

I did what I could, your Honor. Please accept my sincere thanks, Mr. Grace. Highly encouraging to find young men fighting for good, clean government. Good, clean government is my hobby, your Honor. Really? And if I might make a suggestion. Of course. This town needs a cleaning from attic to cellar. There we agree, Mr. Grace. And you'll need the right man and chief of police to help you do that. Are you ambitious for a police career now? Oh, no, no, no, you, Honor. Myself, I have no ambitions. But I think I can suggest the man you need Cantrell. Joseph Cantrell. Cantrell. That's the man. But I've just thrown him out. He was one of Saul Casper's rats. I. I'm sorry to use words like that. You worked for Sol yourself, didn't you? Mr. Grace, you. You mustn't get emotional about these things. Your Honor. I'm sorry, sir, but I fail to follow your reasoning or your emotions. You said you wanted to clean up this town. You'll have to appoint the best available man to do that for you. If you go through the list, you'll find that Cantrell is the best officer on the force. He's got more copper in him than a ton of pennies. It wasn't his fault that a crook got elected and he had to play along. Give him half a break. And he's the best law enforcement officer in the country. And a good office is what you'll have to have if you're going to deliver what you promised the voters. You can't deliver with jerks and thugs. Now let me tell you something, silly man. Let me make this very clear, Mr. Grace. When the people of Lake City voted for me, I promised them that I would clean up breath. Your Honor, I heard all your campaign speeches. Mrs. Lyons, may I take you to the bar for a ginger ale?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Are they really Mr. Jansen?

[James Cagney]

Yes. We've been waiting a long time for man. Oh, you're right. You're so right.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben. Ben, you're leaving so soon?

[James Cagney]

Now that you mention it, I. I guess I am.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh. Well, have you met Mr. Jansen?

[James Cagney]

I met him.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What do you think of him?

[James Cagney]

I think he's a very educated gentleman. But he'll learn. He'll learn. And you know what? I think I'm in love with you.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I think I love you, too.

[James Cagney]

For the next couple of weeks, while Casper was waiting trial, I let everything coast. Everything, that is, but June. There I kept the motor running. And finally the night arrived when it was time for me to step on the gas. Pretty. Very pretty.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

My secret vice, the piano. And.

[James Cagney]

And you. Less keys to punch on me.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Less keys, but more music.

[James Cagney]

Junie.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Uh huh.

[James Cagney]

He's stuck on you, isn't he?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Who?

[James Cagney]

Jansen. Jansen, that's the man's name. His honor, the mayor. Sure you don't generate little amperage for him?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, you. You can ask that.

[James Cagney]

Fix me another drink.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right.

[James Cagney]

Yes. Nice little apartment you have here. Makes that home you lived in before the election look like a fleabag.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, I burn a little Better I live a little better, sure. Then.

[James Cagney]

Yeah.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Why'd you ask me that?

[James Cagney]

Ask you what?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

About Jansen.

[James Cagney]

Skip it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

No, no, Ben, I want to know.

[James Cagney]

Oh, I kind of got that notion from the way he always shows up here after I bring you home at night and stays for a while.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You're wrong, Ben.

[James Cagney]

Don't give me a razzle dazzle, angel. I've clocked him in and out.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You know me better than that, Ben. He has no personal interest in me. Honestly, it's just business. It's things we have to talk over.

[James Cagney]

Not enough hours in the City hall day, huh?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

He gets lonely sometimes in the evening. You know, his wife just died and he.

[James Cagney]

That's what I mean.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right, then. He likes me and I. I just feel sorry for him. Honest. He's so grateful if I just let him come in and just sit for an hour and talk.

[James Cagney]

Grateful?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, please.

[James Cagney]

You probably got him jumping through hoops.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I'd rather have you jumping through hoops.

[James Cagney]

You know, when I was a kid, my old man used to say, Ben, he'd say, don't ever jump through a hoop. Of course, from the hoop, it's only a hop to the halter. And then you drop the H and what are you left with? The altar.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, man, where'd you hear that?

[James Cagney]

Jansen coming here again tonight?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, not if you object.

[James Cagney]

Oh, I don't object.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

That's better, Ben. There's nothing to be jealous of.

[James Cagney]

You. You could ask him a favor, though, Junie.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right, anything you say.

[James Cagney]

Ask him to appoint Cantrell chief of police.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

A point, Cantor. Whom did you say?

[James Cagney]

You heard me.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben, what on earth are you talking about?

[James Cagney]

Cantrell?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But he's a crook. Well, he was hand in glove with Sol Casper. How could Jansen appoint Cantrell? It'd make a laughing stock of the whole campaign. Oh, Ben, he can't appoint Cantrell.

[James Cagney]

Okay.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben. Ben, where are you going?

[James Cagney]

Home to bed. I gotta make an early train in the morning.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

The train? Where to?

[James Cagney]

New York.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You're going away, Ben.

[James Cagney]

Guy's got to think about his future. Nothing for me in this town.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

That's the way you played it. Get rid of Sol Casper and go after me. And then when you found out that Jansen's in love with me, you. You thought you had him. That through me, you could make him do whatever you want, get Cantrell made the chief. And then you. You can run this town just the way Caspar did. Well, you won't.

[James Cagney]

Goodbye, angel. Don't forget to Dust in the corners. Lock your door at night and peek under the bed.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben. Yes, Ben. Close the door, Ben. From the inside.

[James Cagney]

It was a question of who would break first, June or Ben Grace. And she broke maybe seconds before. I would have turned back to her with all my hard boiled off. The arm toughness melted away in little pools at her feet. But that was something I couldn't ever let her know. The next morning I found Lefty in the blue bottle, blowing the head off his glass of breakfast. Hi, Ben. Sit, Lefty. How much did Sol pay you? The truth, Ben. 35. What a week. So go ahead, laugh. Let's see you laugh for all I did gambling my neck every other day. 35 or week. And I took it. Hey, that's the funny part. I. I took it. You can start tomorrow at 50, huh? Who for? From now on, I'm running it. Aha. So it was you all the way down the line. You with the tipster. So what? Nothing, Ben, nothing. What is it, Lefty? What is it? Only this, Benny. You see, I call you Benny. That's cause I like you. Yeah, I like you. And that's maybe why your great success makes me a little sad. Listen, Reverend Jose. The only revival I'm interested in is reviving the fortunes of Ben Grace. You got anything else to say? Not a thing. I got not a word to say. Pals. Two beers, Ben, and they're on you. So I took over where Sol Casper dropped out. We moved things around a little to make it look respectable. But the bookies and the gambling joints and so on kept right on in business. And I collected. Wasn't hay. Things were fine, just fine. My evenings were filled with June and my days with putting the automatic pump on the town. Like the day I finally got around to the office of Bleecker and Yates, the lawyers. Oliver Bleecker had been elected District attorney along with Jansen. So it was Mr. Yates, the junior partner, that I wanted to see. And what do you want with me? You know anything about pinball, Mr. Yates? Why, I played the machines once in a while. I guess I mean the hookup. Well, not exactly. You reform guys, you don't know much, do you? Is it important? Listen closely, Mr. Yates, because I'm only going around once. There are 5,000 pinball machines in Lake City and they're owned by a few hundred scrimy jerks. You know what those machines take in a month? More than $100,000. I beg your pardon? That's what I said, $100,000. They're still going strong. But what happened to them in the very near future depends on your partner, Mr. Bleecker, the new D.A. i can't tell you what he's going to do. Well, I got a flash for you. I say that as far as Lake City is concerned, pinball is finished. Why? Because it's gambling and it's wrong. But to the extent that it's a game of skill, it's good, clean recreation, and that's not against the law. I'm going to bring a new kind of machine into Lake City if, as and when the old ones are tossed out. But this much I've got to know before I bring 5,000 machines in. Will mine be legal? No gambling, no payoff. Only a certificate if you make a home run. Now, you know Bleecker, and you can put a certain legal question to him. No. Well, I. The next thing. The next thing is to protect the interests of the little storekeepers who use my machines, I'm going to organize an association. The association will need an attorney. The attorney will get a very respectable retainer by the year. Yep, those machines will do $100,000 a month. And I want you to be the lawyer for the association. Well, there's a little question of ethics here. I figure the attorney should get, oh, 5% of the take. You see, mister, I'm Bleecker's partner. Maybe even as much as 10%. But you see, the ethics of the situation. Well, if you're busy, you're busy studying ethics. Maybe you wouldn't have time to handle this job, Mr. Yates. No hard feelings. I'll just look for another man. No, no, no, just a minute. I would like to think it over a bit. Sure. Perhaps to talk to Mr. Bleeker about it, See what he thinks of the propriety of my accepting Mr.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Chair.

[James Cagney]

No, I get it. Well, shall we meet again, say, next week? Next week is fine. And next week was fine. Joey Cantrell was appointed Chief of police. The D A listened to the legal advice of his partner, Mr. Yates, and decided it was for the good of the community to yank all those hard, nasty pinball machines and save the citizen from the temptations of gambling. Chief Cantle's first official job was to supervise the smashing of the machines which had been condemned. I went around to see how he was getting on before he could smash too many. Corrupt the hips, kill ball machines.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Okay, Chief.

[James Cagney]

Come on, you among these, Lay those hammers into those machines. And don't forget, if any nickels roll out, they belong to the city. May I have A word with you, Chief Cantrell.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Huh?

[James Cagney]

Oh, well, what snow. Ben. Hey, tell him to hold up a minute, will you? Oh, yeah. Hey, you guys, quit it, will ya? Hold up there, will you? There's too much noise. Come on. Hold up the condemnation o's machines a minute. Okay. Joe, you ever been abroad? No. Neither have I, but I have been to Mexico. Mexico? South of the Rio Grande. Juarez. Across the river from El Paso. Well, when. When I came back, I thought I'd bring in some perfume. Yeah? So what? So this. On some of that perfume, they got a rule that the customs officer has to destroy the label before it's brought in. You got that? Still listening. You know how he destroyed it? No, but I'm dying to hear. He drew a blue pencil across it. He made one blue mark, and that legally destroyed it. The man put a blue pencil right through it. If one blue mark will destroy a label, why won't it destroy a pinball machine? Oh, say, you sure do think of things, don't you? I do my best. You mean destroy it legally? Legally. Legally. Got a blue pencil? I could try. I just happen to have one with me. Then we'll see. Look at that. I just destroyed it. See? Now, another thing, Joe. Yeah? You'll want those trucks again, huh? To haul the destroyed machines over to the reservoir street dump. Well, I guess they gotta be put someplace, right? I'll have them here tonight. Funny how a blue pencil ruins stuff, isn't it? Oh, and another thing.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yeah?

[James Cagney]

Just one sign. Those vouchers. For what? For the trucks. The trucks. I furnished the city yesterday to haul these various gambling devices from various and sundry addresses here to the 9th street police warehouse. 3,000 bucks in all. Hey, slow up, boy. Slow up. Costs money to clean up a town, Joe. Okay, but don't run a good thing to death. It's the people's will. Huh? You forgot that Mandate to cleanliness sign. And that's the way it went. And with a little remodeling, those pinball machines were back at their old stands. But now they were working for Ben Grace. Yep. Whatever I touched turned green with pictures of presidents on it. Things were going so good, I started to worry. But I knew that the real worry was going to be June. I knew she was going to spring in on me sooner or later. And it was. It was last night when I was out at her new place that she decided to get it off her chest.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben?

[James Cagney]

Yep.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben, I want to talk to you.

[James Cagney]

What about?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Don't you know?

[James Cagney]

Yeah, I guess maybe I do.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

We can't go on like this, Ben. It isn't right. It isn't fair to Jansen. It isn't fair to. It isn't fair to me.

[James Cagney]

What? What's so unfair about it?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, you know what's unfair about it. Mr. Jansen promised the people of Lake City that if he got elected, he'd clean up the town.

[James Cagney]

Huh? All right. Why doesn't he do it? He's had six months.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Because he doesn't even know what's going on.

[James Cagney]

Great. Then watch the beat.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I know what's going on. The horse racing places, the gambling places. All the other places are just as open as they ever were.

[James Cagney]

Mm.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And I know who's keeping them open.

[James Cagney]

Of course you do. I am. Listen, honey, if I wasn't bossing the organization, someone else would be. People like to bet. People like to gamble.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, don't you see? I'm a city official. I have an obligation to the people of this community, to the people who elected Janssen, because they believe that.

[James Cagney]

That he still a missionary, huh?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, I'm not a racketeer.

[James Cagney]

Maybe not, but you're the next thing to it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What do you mean?

[James Cagney]

Where do you think the dough came from for that car I got you? And the fur coat and this place?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

You never told me.

[James Cagney]

Did I have to? You knew I didn't get it. My long lost uncle. Why don't you admit it, baby? You're a chiseler.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Am I?

[James Cagney]

Sure. Just like me. Only I'm honest about it. You're not.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Then I will be. I will be. Starting now. Starting right tonight.

[James Cagney]

What are you gonna do? Turn me in?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben.

[James Cagney]

Maybe your big mistake was falling in love with me. Baby. Now there isn't much you can do about it, is there?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, quit it. Get out of it, please. For my sake. Just because I don't like it. Just because I hate it.

[James Cagney]

Maybe I don't like it either. It's all I know how to do.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben, what was it? Hiya, Benny. So, surprise.

[James Cagney]

Kind of. Did you break out? Yeah.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yeah, just to see you. Benny, put up your hands.

[James Cagney]

You know I never carry a rod.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yeah, Maybe you sort of wish you

[James Cagney]

did now, huh, muscles?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Not that you have a chance to use it. What are you gonna do? I'm gonna kill your boyfriend, sweetheart. No. When I've done that, I think I'll think of something real nice to do to you. Ben, you sit right there where you are, sweetheart. Benny, you start backing up to that door slow. It's a bathroom, isn't It?

[James Cagney]

Yeah.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I think I'll kill you in the bathtub, Benny. That way it'll be nice and quiet

[James Cagney]

and there won't be so much mess.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Now, reach behind you real careful and open the door. And when I tell you to start backing in, you back in. All right? Start. June. Is he. Is he dead?

[James Cagney]

Yeah. Since when have you been carrying a gun?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Just lately. Ben, Are you all right?

[James Cagney]

I just want to sit down a minute.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben.

[James Cagney]

We gotta get out of here, baby.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, yes. Ben will go away. We'll get out of the country. We'll go to Canada. Sure. And we can get married there. You do want to marry me, don't you, Ben?

[James Cagney]

You know I do, baby.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And you can get work up there. Ben, I'll do something too. And we'll do something decent with our lives. Darling, I know it's been partly my fault. I know I've just been weak. But it isn't too late to begin again, is it? Is it?

[James Cagney]

Maybe not. But your aim on that second shot wasn't too good, baby.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben.

[James Cagney]

So there's just one thing that's stopping us, Ben.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What?

[James Cagney]

The bullet hole in my belly. So that's how I came to wake up in this nice, clean, with nothing to do. Would look out the window at the kids playing in the park. It's a hospital. And there was a big cop here with me with his chair tilted up against the wall, reading the paper. Hey, flat foot. Why, hello, big shot. You've been in the land of nod, haven't you? What are you doing here? Reading the funny papers. Can't you tell? Why can't you read them at home? Because there's been a little thing that went. We policemen call murder big shot. And you're what we call a material witness. Where's June? June Lyons. She's in a nice cozy cell, big shot. When she comes to trial, your statement will probably send her up for five or 10 years to another nice cozy cell. What statement? Oh, you'll talk. Yeah. You know what you got, big shot? Mm. I got ventilated with a lead slug. But that's not all, big shot. You got peritonitis. I have. So what? So I've seen guys with peritonitis before. You know what happens? First they start getting a fever. Then they get kind of light headed. Then they get thirsty, terribly thirsty. And after a while they get so you can make them talk without they hardly know that they're talking. Oh, you'll talk, all right. You think so? I know so. Get Chief Cantrill. On the phone. Chief Cantril ain't chief anymore. As a result of these unfortunate series of events, seems Mayor Jansen began to wonder about him. Where's Lefty Gauss? You mean your faithful servant? Right outside. Can I talk to him alone? Sure, why not? How. How. How is he, nurse?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

It's hard to say. Yes?

[James Cagney]

Hey, buddy. Knows your boss wants to see you. Thanks. You funny, funny fella. Hi, Benny. How you feeling? Not too good. Well, it just goes to show you, don't it? They're all alike.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Who are all alike?

[James Cagney]

These big shots. They make a lot of dough for a while and then bingo. What good's it done?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

He seems like a nice man, though.

[James Cagney]

Who, Ben? Sure, he's nice enough, I guess. I got nothing against him. I just say it's a sucker's racket, that's all. Me, I want to live to be a grandfather.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, my grandfather. You got to start by being a father, you know.

[James Cagney]

I know. My daddy told me all about that just the other day. Well, I'm going back in. Have you got it all, Lefty? Hello, flatfoot. What do you have now, Big son. You say the DA Wants me to talk, huh? Maybe he was just pretending. Well, suppose I had. I suppose I had some conditions. Like what? Oh, like I only talk in the apartment where it happened. June Lyons apartment. And June Lyons has got to be there. And Lefty here. Lefty here, too, to back up some things that I might say that might be arranged. Fine. Now, you think the. You think the DA might forget a couple of those little things he's been holding against me if I talk? That'd be the general idea. All right. You can close the door as you go out and tell the DA to be around in about an hour. I'll talk. That cop was right. I'm beginning to feel a little wacky already. But the DA Said he'd do it. They're going to take me out there in an ambulance tonight. If June only catches on. But she's smart. She's a lawyer. This may be the last chance I'll have to write. But don't worry, whichever way it comes out, you can read all about it in the papers. Well, now, all I'm saying is that I won't be responsible. Dragging a man in his condition way out here in an ambulance, lugging him up three flights of stairs on a stretcher. Doc, that's the way he wanted, and that's the way it's going to be now. All right. All right. Everybody here, Miss Lyon?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes.

[James Cagney]

Yes, Mr. G. Yes. Yes. All right. How is he, Doctor? I've already told you. But he can talk. Stop Worrying about me, Mr. D.A. you're breaking my heart. Are you ready to start, Ben? Yes, I'm ready. Do you, Ben, take this woman, June, to be thy lawful wedded wife. To love and to cherish, for better, for worse, till death do you part? I do it. Hey.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What?

[James Cagney]

Do you. Do you, June, take this man, Ben, to be thy lawful wedded husband. To love and to cherish, for better, for worse, till death do you part.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I do.

[James Cagney]

I pronounce. No, you don't. Oh, yes, I do. I'm a licensed preacher. And this apartment is outside the city jurisdiction. It's in the county. And this marriage license was taken out at the county courthouse one minute before they closed today. And when I sign it, brother, it's legal. I pronounce you man and wife. I. I suppose you've heard that a man can't testify against his wife, Mr. D.A. yeah, I know. By the way, do you. Do you mind if I kiss the bride? Go ahead, Ben.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, honey, that was the finest thing. Shh.

[James Cagney]

That was nice.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Oh, Ben, your face is so hot. Yeah.

[James Cagney]

I thought maybe I was gonna make it, baby. But I guess I'm not.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Ben. Ben. Dr. Quick. Dr. Quick.

[James Cagney]

So long, missionary. Mrs. Missionary.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

No. Bam.

[James Cagney]

Lord, we pray thee to receive the spirit of our dearly departed. And to forgive him his trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Suspense Mr. Montgomery, I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that it has been completely wonderful to hear a performance like the one we've just heard. I say, like the one we've just heard. But that's a futile phrase because there's no one like Jim Cagney. For the benefit of late comers, our star tonight on Suspense was the one and only Mr. Cagney. Our deepest appreciation. Jim. Thank you, Bob. It's a great part. I enjoyed doing it. Which brings us properly and with gratitude to the author who conceived it, Mr. James M. Kane. Who does us further honor by appearing here with us now. And who wishes he had a fresh choice of superlatives handy. Bob, briefly, I thought it was excellent. Of course, it isn't exactly startling to learn all over again that Jim Cagney is a splendid dramatic actor. You know, Bob, I can tell you what I think is the particular element that makes Caine the most powerful writer of true suspense fiction in America. You interest me, Jim. He's always got a man and a woman. The crime, the Violence, Murder is an inevitable climax. An explosion of the energy that his two people generate from being in love. Boy meets girl, boy wants girl, Boy kills on account of it, if he has to, eh? Well, any author hates to think he is a formula man, no matter how good the formula is. But I suppose, broadly speaking, my crimes are crimes of passion. And successful suspenseful stories, all of them. The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, Serenade. Not to mention Love's lovely counterfeit. Or rather to mention it again long enough for me to applaud two fine performances by Kathy Lewis, who played June tonight. And Wally Mayer was lefty to the supporting players. My thanks. You're a great company. And a special bow in the direction of Bill Speer, your producer director deluxe. You beat me to the draw, Jim. But my congratulations too, to all concerned. And may I ask who did the writing of the radio play adapted from my novel? Two of radio's finest writers, Robert Richards and Jason James. I think the adaptation was excellent. In just a moment, Auto Light presents Suspense with Jimmy Cagney. Hello. Tonight I understand we have an Autolite suspense special. Every bit as special as your star performance as the Autolite Resistor spark plug Maestro. Is that a plug for me or for my favorites Auto Light Resistor spark plugs have. With no offense to either, Harlow, it's neither. Tonight, Jimmy Cagney in Autolite and suspense are dramatizing one of our great American tragedies. It's so tremendous a problem it warrants our entire nation warring against its grimness and the Grim Reaper who is its symbol. Tonight's suspense story will remind you to drive carefully behind Autolyte Resistor spark plugs or any other huddle. Then let's join the Autolite audience and listen. Suspense, Autolite and its 60,000 dealers and service stations bring you radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Starting tonight, Mr. James Cagney in Anton Leaders production of no Is Escape. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. The only thing I can do now is tell you how it happened without any bunk. I don't care what you've heard or read about me. I'm not a devil or a mad dog. I don't know what people think happens to a fella. Do they think all of a sudden I turned into stone? I'm no different than anybody else. If I don't eat, I get hungry. If I cut myself shaving, I bleed. I'm just like the next guy. And that's the whole idea. This. This. It happened to be sure, but it would have happened to anybody. It could have happened to you. It was supposed to have been one of them days you circle on the calendar with a red pencil. You see, with a little town like ours, 23 miles from the big city, right on the main highway, we get the speed artists going both ways. And every couple of days they manage to leave something behind to remember them by. Like a kid with a broken back or. Well. Well, you get the idea. So a couple of years ago, the Chamber of Commerce started a safety campaign to name the safest driver of the year. Something to kind of keep the guys in their toes. And this year, the fellow they chose for the award was yours truly. And tonight was the Big Doings. With a few well chosen words from me, a lady who was a public speaker, was a wonderful bus driver. Got to the house a little after six. Teddy, my kid brother, were just leaving. Hi, you big shot. Hello. Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner, the world's champion driver. That's me, all right. Hey, that's a swell picture of you in the paper. You don't look so bad for an older man. Right, or I'll beat your ears in. Say, you've called to say you should wear your blue suit and title a human that I would like to see. Me too. Sorry, I can't wait, though. I'm late for a date. I'll see you in the morning and you can tell me how you slayed. All right, Ted. So long. I gave myself the works. Shower, shave, the blue suit like the lady said. Eve looked after me like I was at least five years old. I didn't mind a bit. Ever since ma died in 42. I kept the house going for Teddy because a kid needs something like that. But was getting out of school in June, and then maybe Eve and I. Well, it was nice thinking about it. So nice that I guess I forgot all about the time that was passing. Yeah.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Look, slow motion. You should be halfway over here by now.

[James Cagney]

Okay. Eve, honey, got the speech ready?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes, but if you don't get moving, you'll be making that speech to a bunch of empty chairs and dirty plates.

[James Cagney]

Yes, Mama. Be right over. Eve lived outside of town. I'd really have to step on it to pick her up and spend some time rehearsing the speech. I then get to the high school auditorium by 8. I got into the car and I decided to take the canyon road through the hills where there wasn't any traffic. I could make better time that way. Now, wait, wait, wait just a second. Let me get My thoughts together. I gotta get this part exactly right. You've gotta see it just like it happens. Or else it's all a waste of time. All right. I was on the canyon road that wound up through the steep hills. The wall of the mountain on one side of the road and the deep canyon on the other. About. About 10 to 7, but already dark. Nobody on the road but me, so I stuck pretty close to the middle. And every time, at every turn, the scream of the tires. But I wasn't worried about that. Four brand new tires. How do we go? And good brakes. I never take chances with things like that. Going about. About 50 miles an hour, maybe a little bit better. But I was all alone on the road, so what difference did it make? I was maybe two thirds of the way up to the top, right where the road makes a wide curve. I remember I. I put a cigarette in my mouth and I pushed the dashboard lighter in. I heard the lighter click and I started reaching for it. And then a pair of headlights blazing out of nowhere. And then I started. Screeching horn A car coming the other way. I felt my inside double up like a fist. I slammed my foot on the brake, swung the steering wheel to the right. Didn't feel anything hit. And I thought, oh, God. It's going to be okay. I jammed on the emergency, jerked the door open. Now look. The road was empty. I still hide the horn though, but far away. And another sound too. Like a bunch of empty crates topping over and over. And at first it didn't register with me. For maybe half a second. I just stood there, wondering what happened. Then I saw the reflection of the flame lighting up the whole canyon. I went to the side of the road and looked down. The car was about 500ft below, burning. And the horn still blasting away like the driver's body had fallen against it. I started down the canyon. It was almost. Almost straight down. I fell and I rolled and I came to my feet again.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Why take.

[James Cagney]

Why didn't that horn stop? Why didn't it stop?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And then.

[James Cagney]

Then it did stop. And I realized that I had stopped. I had stopped too. What was I waiting for? To get my wind, that's all. I went down another few feet. And then I stopped again, holding myself against the tree. Come on. Come on, Harry. Get. Get going. No. No. What good would it do to go down there? I couldn't help it. While I was in that car, it was too late. Nobody could help. Far down the road, I saw another pair of headlights starting the long climb. I went back to my car. I told myself I was going for help. I drove on to the top of the hill. There was a little gas station that laid up a phone. I was almost there. An old fellow in white overalls was putting around the cross. I started slowing down. My whole life was about to be smashed. I'd have to tell them the truth. What good would it do? What about Eve? What about my kid brother Teddy? What's more important than a man's own family? I'd reached the gravel driveway, the gas station. The old guy heard me coming, Started straightening up. Now?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Now.

[James Cagney]

I swung back onto the highway and pushed the accelerator to the floor. Got to Eve's house a little before 7:30. It was funny. I thought I was okay until I reached for the door handle and then my fingers seemed to go dead and my heart stopped. Started going a mile a minute.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Harry, is that you?

[James Cagney]

That's me. Sorry I'm late.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Eve, where in heaven name have you been? Honestly, if you aren't the most aggravate. Harry Graham. What? Look at you. You look like you've been run through a threshing machine. Yeah, I know.

[James Cagney]

Let's go in and out. I'll clean up a little.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, what in the world happened?

[James Cagney]

I had a flat tire. Had to change it on the road.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Flat tire. Oh, fine. All right. Wait right here. I'll get the whisk room. Of all things that happen tonight.

[James Cagney]

All right, all right. Happen. Lay off, will you, Harry? Oh, I'm sorry.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, don't just stand there while I'm doing this. Take your comb out and start combing your hair.

[James Cagney]

Took my comb out and turned toward the hall mirror. Honey, I didn't look any different than yesterday or the day before that. I was still Harry Graham. After he finished with me, we went back to the car. Get in.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I tell you what, you're so upset anyhow, why you let me drive into town.

[James Cagney]

Okay, if you want to see.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Now, I turn left at the next block, don't I? For the Canyon Road.

[James Cagney]

Canyon Road?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes. We can save some time going that way. No, no, huh?

[James Cagney]

No, no, I. I don't want to go to tag tent Canyon Road. I want you to go the regular way.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But we're going to be late.

[James Cagney]

Do what I tell you. I'll drive the car myself.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But Harry, we always do what I tell you. E. All right. I'll have to bite my head off. What have you got against Canyon Road?

[James Cagney]

It's. It's too dangerous at night.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All I've got to say is that when they Picked you for the safest driver of the year. Harry Graham. They really hit the jackpot.

[James Cagney]

To the high school auditorium. Just a couple of minutes late. But it turned out we weren't the only ones late. We got to the main table. I saw that the chair next to mine was empty. Police Chief Blake, who was supposed to introduce me to my speech, hadn't showed up yet. And they. Then when the dinner was ended, Chief Blake came through the door and he looked awful. He went over to the chairman of the meeting and whispered something pointing at me. And then. Then he started for me. And I. I thought my heart would quit beating. I was looking for a way to escape. Maybe when. Hello, Harry. Oh, hello Chief. Hello. Folks. Folks, please. I'm sorry I'm so late. I've just come from Canyon Road. Another terrible accident. Car went over the canyon. Four people killed and burned. We still haven't gotten them out of the wreckage. It looks like they were forced off the road. Another dirty hit and run case. My boys are up there now looking for traces of this other car. I don't have to tell you that we're going to keep on looking till we find out who it was. That's why I had one of my boys bring me back to town here to this meeting tonight. Because now it's even more important to let a fellow like our friend Harry Graham here know we appreciate his good work. And wish to the saints there were more like him. As after what I just saw in Canyon Road, I'm really proud of Harry Graham. For suspense, Autolite is bringing you Mr. James Cagney in radio's outstanding theater of Thrills Suspense. Camp. This show hits with the zing of a set of auto light resistor spark plugs. It gets me right between the optics. Arnold, I've been doing a little research. Yes, the frigid facts on faulty driving should dispel the optical illusions of any automobile driver foolish enough to relax his vigilance for one single moment every 30 seconds a man, woman or child is injured on our streets or highways. This year 32,300 people are doomed to death. By Cornelius Hap I never stopped to realize, you know, hollow. It takes 10 seconds and 336ft to stop a car traveling at 60 miles an hour. That's why brains are more important than brakes. Why the man behind the wheel should be aware of the speed at which he's driving. Why safe and sane are synonymous words to drivers who value their fellows lives as well as their own. In other words, half just because auto Light resistor, spark plugs give your car more pep. Don't try to use all of it, eh? Exactly, Harlow. But that more the good Samaritan is the gracious guy or gal who not only knows and keeps the rules of the road. But also keeps his temper in his head when some bungling Benny gives him the hog the road hog treatment. Yes, Hap, it's sad but true that one right way to wrong driving is to always demand your highway rights. Be sure to be safe. Right, Harlow. And now let's get back to suspense. And now, auto like brings back to our Hollywood sound stage. Mr. James Cagney as Harry in no Escape. A tale well calculated. To keep you in suspense. I. I had to keep my eyes on the table. I couldn't even look at the chief as he stood there praising me. All I could see was that burning wreck at the foot of the cliff. And all I could hear was that awful horn blowing. I had to bite my lip to keep him screaming. I did it. Harry. Harry. What? Oh, what? Open your pizza and we'd like to hear a few words from you. Look, Chief, folks, I don't think anybody wants to listen to me tonight. Please, let's forget it. No, Harry. Now more than ever, we should hear what a fellow like you has to say.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Come on, Harry.

[James Cagney]

Listen, Listen.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Go on, Harry.

[James Cagney]

Oh, well, all right. I'm going to. I'm afraid I'm no great shakes as a speech maker. Just a lucky thing my girl's a good English teacher. I don't believe we should honor a man for safe driving any more than we should honor him because he's never killed anyone with a gun. When a man gets behind the wheel of a car, he doesn't give up his responsibilities to his fellow men. No one can escape the responsibility of being his brother's keeper. And that goes for that. Goes for that.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Harry, what's wrong? Listen to me.

[James Cagney]

How can I stand up here and read a speech after what. After what Chief Blake just told us? No, I can't do it. I'm sorry. I can't do it. I guess Harry's right after all. Folks. I guess maybe we just better call a meeting off. I know I've got to get back to Canyon Road as soon as I can. Come on, Eve. Come on. Let's get out of here.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

All right, honey.

[James Cagney]

Oh, Harry. Yeah, chief? You can do me a big favor. Huh? Fellow brought me down here. Had to beat it right back to the accident. Oh. So I've got to get back there myself right away. Can you give me a lift? Well, I sure like to cheat, but. Well, I've gotta. I've gotta get Eve home.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, you could take me home, by the way, at Canyon Road. We've gone that way before, honey, but

[James Cagney]

I'd be much obliged to you. Well, you see, chief.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Sorry.

[James Cagney]

Okay. Okay, let's go. It's too bad the meeting had end like this. When I have a. You feel like I do, Harry? Like you can't sit still until you find the rat who killed those people. Well, I promise you this, Harry, whoever he is, we'll get him. Wasn't that one for the book? Less than two hours after my accident with the other car going over into the canyon, I was back on Canyon Road. Only this with Eve sitting behind me and the chief of police in back. Harry, you don't mind, could you step up a little bit? I. I promise you I won't give you a ticket. Okay, chief.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Honey, push the lighter in, will you?

[James Cagney]

Lighter?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

For my cigarette.

[James Cagney]

Oh, sure, sure. This speed better, Chief? Fine.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Harry hates this road. I wanted him to take it earlier tonight.

[James Cagney]

It's all right if you got good tires. Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Had four brand new ones put on just last week. Oh, here's your light. Eve? Eve?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Huh? Oh, thanks.

[James Cagney]

Her voice didn't sound right. Her voice didn't sound right. Then I remembered when I picked her up tonight, I told the reason I was so messed up was that I'd had to change a tire. She was thinking about that now. I knew she was trying to figure out why I'd lied to her. What said anything after that? When we reached the part of the road just before it made the big bend, I started slowing down. I hope I got you here quick enough, Chief. Yeah, you did find.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Is this where it was?

[James Cagney]

Yeah, just around this band. Yeah, that's right.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

But how did.

[James Cagney]

Huh?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Nothing.

[James Cagney]

Again. Again I said the wrong thing. What was the matter with me? How was I supposed to know that that action was around the bend? I was cutting my own throat. But now. Now I'd make the turn and there was the red flag burning on the road. And a big crash truck at the edge of the canyon. And police cars blocking the highway. Just pull over the side, Harry. Okay, now they're coming down there for Deuce.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Hello.

[James Cagney]

Hello, Chief. You ready to start ringing them up soon? That's. That's a walkie talkie he's working with. Yeah. Keeps contact with the men down the canyon. Say, Harry, why don't you come along with me? And really see how. How we work here. Oh, thanks, but I've. I've got to get Yvonne home. School teachers gotta get up early. Isn't that right, Stacey?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I don't mind waiting if you'd like to stay, huh?

[James Cagney]

Come on, Harry.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I don't mind waiting, Harry.

[James Cagney]

Now. Now it was me against all of them. Oh, I was sick about that car down there in the canyon. Those four bodies inside. But, well, nothing could change that now. And I was fighting for my own life and they wouldn't break me down. I stood with my foot on the bumper and Chief Blake leaning against the fender of my car while his boys gave him their reports about the hit and run car and didn't bother me a bit. Two of them told about the plastic cost they made at a tire market down on the road. Does it help you any, Chief? Not much, Harry. New tire. A lot of people have new tires. You, for instance. I kicked my new front tire for them. Kicked it hard. They brought over an old fell in white overalls. The guy in the service station where I'd almost turned in to report the accident. The chief asked him if he thought the car he'd seen was a hit and run. It must have been just about that time. You know, the way this fella skadoodled away for no reason at all. I don't know what kind of a car it was, though. Black sedan, I'd say. Like this one, maybe. Well, might be, might be that. But there's too dark to be sure. Well, first thing tomorrow, I'm going to get myself a green convertible. And everybody got a good laugh out of that. But I would have to be careful. Mustn't go too far. It was me against all of them. And I felt the kind of excitement a guy might get from walking a tightrope. Thinking back now, sure seems schooly, but that. That's how I felt. And maybe that is the worst thing that happened to a guy in my spot. The way it turned you into a wild animal against the world.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Hey.

[James Cagney]

Yeah, Charlie. It was the fellow with the walkie talkie over near the crash truck. We're ready to start bringing up the bodies. Okay. Come on, Harry. Let's go away. Something flopped coldly in my stomach and then lay still. This was the test. They didn't break me down now. They could never do it. Never in a million years. All the people who come from the town started gathering around the crash truck. I wanted to run and never stop running. But I didn't move. And just then that first body swung into view. You could hear everyone in the crowd sucking his breath. And I bit down hard on my lip till I tasted blood. A brown blanket wrapped neatly around something. And then the bundle rested on the ground. And everyone seemed to edge away from it like it could hurt them. And the table went down into the valley again. And then there was a second bundle. And then there was a third. And then a fourth. And over and over. Like a drum beat. Like a prayer. I told myself they wouldn't break me down. Someone pushed forward from the crowd. Joe Mandel, the little tailor. He seemed shy and embarrassed. Embarrassed as though he had no business being here.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Chief.

[James Cagney]

Chief Blake. Oh, yeah, Joe. My boy Philip, he. He didn't come home for supper tonight.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And I.

[James Cagney]

You want to look. Well, you know how a woman is. Rose will feel better if I tell her. Okay. I looked and it wasn't. Well, you know. All right, Joe. Doesn't hurt none. Thank you. No, no, I. I better go back to my house. Sorry, Joe, I. Wait a minute.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes?

[James Cagney]

Do you know who Phil was going to be with tonight? His best friend was Mike Roebuck. They were always together. The Goldust, everybody called them. Thanks, Joe. Excuse me, Chief. I must go to Rose now. Fraser, Mayor, Chief. Get back to town. Go over the Roebucks. Don't tell him anything is wrong. Just see if Mike's home. Okay? I couldn't take anymore. I started back for the car. My legs felt like they weighed a ton. I heard a sudden movement in the crowd behind me. They wouldn't break me down. They wouldn't break me down. I opened the car door and Eve was there. I'd almost forgotten her. And I was sure she knew the truth.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

They brought up all four. Yeah.

[James Cagney]

Harry, I don't. I don't want to hear anything now. I'm taking you home.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Wait, Harry.

[James Cagney]

Listen. I'm telling you.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Kiss me. Harry. What? Hold me and kiss me. I'm such a stupid fool. Hold me.

[James Cagney]

All right, all right. Now stop it. Stop it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Harry.

[James Cagney]

If you knew what's been going through my mind. Okay, okay. Stop it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Just a fool. A stupid fool. Then when I saw you come back to the car, the look on your face. Oh, Harry, how could I have ever thought.

[James Cagney]

No, all right, all right. Now we talk about it later.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I'll never talk about it again. Never. Harry.

[James Cagney]

So it was all over with. I was going to be okay. God, I wasn't proud. I felt rotten and sick. And now that it was all over, the strength of now to me. Like water running out of a glass. But what Good would it have been to crucify myself. It wouldn't have changed anything. I wasn't a bad guy. It could have happened to anybody. And now. Now I was going to be able to take care of my own Eve. And my kid brother Teddy. Was that a bad guy? A fellow who wanted to do right for his family. I started the car. I put in gear. And then looking at me through the window, was Chief Blake, signaling me to wait. I turned the key off, whatever it was. I was very tired. Come on out, Harry. I've got to get Eve home. Come on out of the car. But, Harry. Do like I tell you. Come with me. What do you want? Come with me. You drove up here tonight. I. I didn't think it would end like this. You know about it? You of all people. Harry, listen, you've got to believe me. Shouldn't have happened to a fellow like you. You've got to hear my side right here, Harry. Huh? Huh? What do you. Take a look at this fourth body. Why should I pull the blanket back, Harry. Oh, no. No. Teddy. J. So that's it. The whole works. I don't care what you heard or read in the papers. That's the story, just like it happened. No Bunk. And thinking back, I. I guess I kind of hit the nail on the head in that speech that I made that night. You know that part about no man can ever escape the responsibility of being his brother's keep. Sam, You, James Cagney, for a magnificent performance. Mr. Cagney will return in just a moment. Well, Hap, after that performance of Jimmy Cagney's and your heartfelt expressions on the rights and wrongs of the driving man, it's hard to switch the conversation to auto light resistor spark plugs. Well, Harlow, I'm sure you'll find a way. Yes, I think I'll just say, friends, switch to a set of auto light resistor spark plugs just as quickly as you can swing into a service station. When you replace your narrow gap spark plugs with wide gap auto light resistor spark plugs, your car will idle smoother. Give you better luck with lean gas mixtures. Actually save you gas dollars. What's more, auto light resistor spark plugs cut down spark plug interference with radio and television reception. Switch to auto light resistor spark plugs today. And remember, autolite means spark plug ignition engineered resistor spark plug. Auto light means batteries day full batteries. Autolyte means ignition system, the lifeline of your car. And now, here again is Mr. James Cagney. It's always a pleasure to appear on Suspense. But I was especially pleased when Tony Dealer asked me to do tonight's story. That's because I feel strongly about the kind of thing that happened to Harry Graham. I believe that any person who gets behind the wheel of a car assumes a great responsibility to himself, to his family, to his fellow men. That one moment of carelessness or recklessness or drunkenness can mean a lifetime of pain and misery for someone. And then my be you or me. Yes, when you're driving an automobile. We are our brother's keeper over the holiday season and all the time drive carefully. Next week on radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills, Herbert Marshall will appear in a story with a Christmas atmosphere, Another study in suspense. James Cagney is now appearing in the photoplay of William Ryan's prize stage hit, the time of your life. Copies of tonight's suspense play no Escape by Larry Marcus will be available for educational use by groups interested in highway safety. They may be obtained by writing suspense. The Columbia Broadcasting System, Hollywood, California. Music was composed by Lucian Morowek and conducted by Lud Bluskin. The entire production was under the direction of Anson on M Leader. In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars as Ronald Coleman, Robert Montgomery, Dana Andrews and Frank Sinatra. Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. And next Thursday, same time, hear Herbert Marshall.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

This is the Autolite suspension. All right, Mr. Wilcox.

[James Cagney]

Auto Light and CBS wish to thank the radio editors and columnists of America for electing Suspense as the best mystery show in the annual balloting conducted by Motion Picture Daily for the magazine Fame.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Good night. Switch to auto light.

[James Cagney]

This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Lady esther presents the swing guild players in yankees doodle dandy. This is james cagney, joan leslie, walter houston.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And this is gene cagney,

[James Cagney]

Lady Esther. And all the stores who bring you Lady Esther face powder and Lady Esther face cream. Present the Screen Guild Players. Starring James Cagney and Joan Leslie. With Walter Houston, Gene Cagney, Richard Wharf, S.C. sokol and Charles Irwin. In musical highlights from Warner Brothers forthcoming brilliant motion picture Yankee Doodle Dandy. Based on the 50 year theatrical career of George M. Cohan.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Andy.

[James Cagney]

This is the story of a real Yankee Doodle Dandy. A man who told the world proudly, I am an American. It is the story of George M. Cohan, who loved and understood his country. And through singing his songs, that country learned to understand itself. I'm glad to hear people say I understand my country. However, not Long ago, I created a misunderstanding without meaning to. It really had me worried. I was impersonating the president of the United States in a play called I'd Rather Be Right when I received a summons to appear at the White House. Well, I was really upset when I walked into the president's office. Well, how's my double? I'm not sure, Mr. President. You'll have to give me time to work on that one. Are you sure you realize why I sent for you, Mr. Cohan? No, Mr. President, I don't know. But if it's because you. You object to my impersonating you on the stage. Why? Well, you know, Mr. Cohan, I remember seeing you and your family, the Four Cohans, when I was going to school near Boston. Oh, I was a pretty cocky kid in those days. Regular Yankee Doodle Dandy. Always in a parade or following one wherever there was a flag. I hope you haven't outgrown the habit. It's a great quality. Well, I guess I got the idea from my father, Mr. President. He ran off for the Civil War at 13. Some years after the war, he married my mother and they toured the variety theaters of the country as Mr. And Mrs. Jerry Cohan, the Irish Darlings. And on the 4th of July, 1878, in Providence, Rhode island my father was playing a variety theater alone. Larry o' Leary is me name by trade I am a dancing master there's no one can teach the same Nor teach it any pastor it's easy, very easy if you'll watch every twist, every turn Keep your eyes upon me and surprise you will be at the dancing you have yet to learn. Keep your eyes upon me and surprise you will be at the dancing you have yet to learn. Mother should have been with him on the stage, but she was busy in a smaller production. Father hurried to her as soon as he had finished his turn. But that was once I made an entrance ahead of Father. Are you all right, Nellie?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Yes, Jerry.

[James Cagney]

Is. Is everything all right?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Everything's grand, Jerry. You're the brand new father of a brand new boy.

[James Cagney]

A boy it is. And born on the Fourth of July. Praise be. We'd call him George Washington Cohan.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Look, Jerry, said George, he's fine. But the Washington will be too long for Billboard.

[James Cagney]

Yeah, that's right. And how about a good, short Irish name? Dennis or Michael.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

George Michael Cohan. I like that name.

[James Cagney]

You know, Mr. President, I was six or seven years old before I realized the warrant. Celebrating my birthday on the 4th of July. I can understand that. In fact, life to me has been a roundup of parades and songs. Often, of course, they went together, but not always. When I wrote Mary, the only parade I had in mind was the one that takes a man and the girl, the girl down the aisle. And I'll never forget the night my Mary sang the song I'd written for her.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

My mother's name was Mary she was so good and true because her name was Mary they called me Mary too. She wasn't gay or Mary but plain as she could be I hate to meet a Mary who calls herself Mary. Mary Plain as any name can be of his propriety the sire died, she will say Mary but it was Mary Marie Long before fashion came and there is fire. It's a dream. Oh, gee. It's a wonderful feeling having a name set in music. You know, I'd like everybody to know that it was written for me. That I'm the Mary.

[James Cagney]

Well, that's easy. How would you like a lifetime job, George M. Cohan's leading lady? One of the play contract and no option.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I think I might like it. Mr. Cohan, could I be a sample of my partner strength?

[James Cagney]

Well, here's how it starts. How would you like the first reading?

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Could we have another rehearsal?

[James Cagney]

It was Mary, Mary long before the passion came for there is something there that sounds so square. I didn't get as quick or effective results every time, though, Mr. President. Another parade I used to lead was the parade of frustrated playwrights marching from one producer to another. I had just about given up hope of ever getting my musical show, Little Johnny Jones, produced when I walked into Rector's Famous Restaurant one night. Sam Harris was seated at a table talking to another man who didn't appear too interested in the sales talk Sam was giving him. I didn't know Sam's name then, but I'd met him in several producers offices trying to sell his play. So I knew what he was after then, Mr. Swob, when the villain tells the boy, I'll tell your girl who you really are unless you help me hold up the stage, folks. You'll have the audience. Sure. Just like me walking out of the theater. I tell you before, I put $10,000 of my wife's money into a show. It's got to have songs, dances and lots of girls. That was my cue. Schwab wanted songs, dances and lots of girls. And I had a musical comedy under my arm. So I moved in and told Harris under my breath, listen, mister, I have music. Schwab won't buy your play, but if you help Me sell in the musical? We're partners. What do you say? What can I lose? Well, partner, did you sell the musical at Easton Golf? Well, they're ready to sign the contract as soon as we can get over to their offices. Come on then, let's go. But was that. Did you say something about the musical by having K. Oh, you wouldn't be interested. It's nothing but a lot of hit tunes and thousands of girls. Thousands of years. Yeah, Lost the mute. I don't mind music under those circumstances. Why ain't I producing it? That's a good question. I will give you my check for $10,000 right now. That's the perfect answer. Let me be the first to congratulate you, Mrs. Hua. Oh, thank you, thank you. You are both very kind to let

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

me in on this.

[James Cagney]

By the way, does our musical have a name? It's called Little Johnny Jones. All about Todd Sloan, the famous jockey There's. Give my regards to Broadway Remember me to Herald Square and tell all the gang at 42nd street that I will soon be there and whisper of how I yearned to mingle with that old

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

time frog Give my regards to old

[James Cagney]

Forthway and say that I'll be there ere long we'll give your regards to Broadway Remember you prepare us fair Hell of a gang and 40 seconds in the crew will soon be there we remember upon your journey to mingle with the old time throng Please give your regards to old wrong ways in a golden. That was a pretty good tune this day, Mr. President. But my favorite song from Little Johnny Jones was Yankee Doodle Boy, you remember that's all the candy I'm a Yankee Doodle dandy I'm glad I am I'm a real life Yankee Doodle Made my name and fame and voodle just as Mr. Doodle did by riding on a pony I love to listen to the Dixie strain I long to see the girl I left behind me that ain't a Josh, she's a Yankee by gosh oh, say, can you sing anything about a Yankee That's a phony Little Johnny don't the jockey from the USA we'll ride the pony Yankee Doodle English derby day Johnny's broken records Every pack and every meat so Yankee Doodle's gonna be the boy they have to be Sportsmen of the British house who followed his career have offered Johnny anything to keep him over here but all the money in the bank of England Couldn't pay enough to keep young Johnny Jones away from old Broadway if you want to take a tip to show us don't you have your house mortgage Hop your watches pawn your ring I am going to give America the English Darby cup He's gonna give America the English gummy cob I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy Yankee Doodle do or die A real life nephew of my uncle sam born on the 4th of July I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart She's my Yankee Doodle joy Yankee Doodle came to London just to ride the ponies I am that Yankee Doodle boy He's a Yankee Doodle d A Yankee Doodle door A real life everyone is on TH1 on the 4th of July he's got a Yankee Doodle sweet pot. Horses for the Derby are now on the paddle. Take your pick. Ladies and gentlemen, all the best of the best to you. We'll make our bets and leave the rest to you. Cause we've got what it takes to win. Now they are going to the post. All in good condition. That's Yankee Doodle on the end. A wonderful position. Look at him rare. He's broken line he's simply wild to run. Now he's back in line again, again. There's the starting gun. They're on. Yankee takes the lead.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Come on.

[James Cagney]

Break away. They're short run. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up. Show a little speed at the quarter. He's gaining at the turn. Now he's reining his horse. Let them go. Go, go, go, go. Let them go. The half mark is cruising, but he seems to be losing his lead. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up. We simply have to win.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

He'll never win.

[James Cagney]

He'll never win. The other nags are closing in. Down to third, second place. Looks as though he closed the race. Got him in a pocket. He can't get in the clear in the stretch. Here they come. He's fallen to the rear. Lost the race. It's a frame. He'll find out who's to blame. Clear the name of Johnny Jones. That's it, ladies and gentlemen, it's all over. Yankee Doodle let him down. Or they'll either posture him in clover or have him hauling rubbish in London town. Goodbye, Johnny. We're good with you. We'll have nothing to do with you. See here, young fellow. You've been dishonest. And we the judges find that you be suspended for throwing the race. I am a Yankee Doodle Dandy Yankee Doodle do or die. Yankee Doodle came to London just to ride the ponies. I am that Yankee Doodle boy Yankee Doodle came to London just to ride the ponies. We will continue in just a moment with the second half of the Lady Esther's green guild play, Yankee Doodle Dandy. But first, a brief message from Lady Esther.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

I am very happy and really quite a bit thrilled to present to the women of America this new Lady Esther program, the Screen Guild Players. Now, you know of course, that you yourselves, you who are listening out there tonight, have made this program possible for millions of you have chosen Lady Esther Face powder and Lady Esther Face Cream as your favorite aids to beauty. Yes, more lovely women today use Lady Esther face powder than any other kind. And millions of women, busier than they have ever been before in their lives, have chosen my one cream, Lady Esther 4 purpose face cream for the complete care of their skin. So you see, it has been your own loyalty to Lady Esther Cosmetics that now brings you the leading screen stars and the best directors and writers of Hollywood in this new Lady Esther program. Every Monday night, this new Lady Esther program will bring you your favorite stars in the most popular movies and plays of the year. I hope you are enjoying tonight's presentation and I hope you will continue to enjoy Lady Esther screen gill plays for a long, long time to come.

[James Cagney]

Now the curtain's ready to rise on the second act of Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Houston and Gene Cagney. Back in the White House office of the President of the United States, where he has been summoned by presidential order, George M. Cohan is nervously continuing the story of his life. Well, Mr. President, little Johnny Jones is a great financial success. And it wasn't long before the four Cohans, Mother, father, my sister Josie and I were appearing in George Washington Junior. We all sang the big number in that production, the Grand Old Flag. There's a feeling comes with stealing and it's at the my brainer reeling when I listen to the music of a military band. Any tune like Yankee Doodle simply sets me off my noodle with that patriotic something that no one can understand. Melody on tyre it's so inspiring. Hurrah, hurrah. We'll join the jubilee. And that's going some for the Yankees by gum. Red, white and blue I am am for you honest. You're a grand old flag. You're a grand old flag. You're a high flying flag.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

And forever in peace may you reign.

[James Cagney]

You're the emblem of the land I love the home of the free and the brave. Every heart beats true under red, white and blue. Where there's Never a boast of raw acquaintance be forgot Keep your eye on the grand old flag. You're a grand old flag. You're a high flying flag and forever indeed maybe the home of the free and the brave Every heart is filled on the red light above your.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Keep your eye on that grand old man.

[James Cagney]

Listen, listen. That applause, George.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, they'd like this. Isn't it wonderful?

[James Cagney]

They won't stop. George. Yes.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

What?

[James Cagney]

Go out and thank them.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well, what can I say to that?

[James Cagney]

Well, tell them. Tell them anything. Just so you tell them.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Well,

[James Cagney]

you know.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Thank you.

[James Cagney]

Well, right with you. You all have to come with me. My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you. That was just the beginning, Mr. President. Life from there now was a series of new shows. New theaters, new towns, trains. And all of a sudden, it was 1917. Our enemies of today were our enemies then declared war on Germany. Like every other man. I tried to enlist, but turned me down. As I walked out of the army doctor's office, one of the fellows standing outside said, don't worry, pal, we'll take care of them. Over there. Give me an idea. Over there. I kept repeating that phrase to myself. Over there. Over there. Over there. It sounded like a. Like a great title for a song. And I hurried home to work on it.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Sa.

[James Cagney]

The Yanks are coming the Yanks are coming the drums, drums coming everywhere so

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

prepare, say a prayer Send the word,

[James Cagney]

send the word to beware we'll be over we're coming over and we won't come back till it's over. That war was over. But, gosh, Mr. President, I. I've had a lot of nerve taking over your time with the story of my life. Why didn't you stop me? Why? I wanted to hear the story of your life. It has a direct bearing on my sending for you here. Do you know what this is? That's a Congressional Medal of Honor.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Is that.

[James Cagney]

Yes. Now, let's see what the inscription says. To George M. Cohan. For his contribution to the American spirit. I congratulate you. Mr. Cohan, I. Are you sure there hasn't been some mistake? Quite sure. This medal is only for people who given their lives to the country. I'm just a song and dance man. Everybody knows that a man may give his life to his country in many different ways. Mr. Cohan, your songs were the symbol of the American spirit. Over there was just as powerful a weapon as any cannon as any battleship we had in the First World War. Mr. President, I. I'm Just beginning to earn this medal. Quite a thing. Well, it's the best material we could find, what with priorities and all. Well, goodbye, Mr. President. My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you. And of course, I thank you. And don't worry about this copy, Mr. President. Where else in the world today could a plain guy like me sit down and talk things over with the head man? Well, that's about as good a definition of America as any I've ever heard. Isn't there Something wrong, Mr. Cohan? Oh, I'm sorry. Here's the same old trouble. Thought I heard a parade coming down Pennsylvania Avenue. It is a parade. Don't you recognize the music? I ought to. The marching song of 1917 is a marching song of 1942. If I were Hitler, Hirohito or Mussolini and heard that, I'd take one long look at history and start running. Send the word, Send the words of the bed and the gangs are coming the gangs are coming everywhere. Send a word to the. Thank you. James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Houston, Gene Cagney, Richard Wharf, S.C. sokhol, Charles Irwin and Arthur Gilmore for your contributions to the opening show of our new season with the Lady Esther Screen Guild Players. Our sincere thanks to the Warner Brothers for permitting us to begin our season with highlights from Yankee Doodle Dandy, one of the year's greatest pictures with words and music by George M. Cohan. Two hours of grand movie which will be playing in your community. A picture which every American must see. And now, the star of our show and the newly elected president of Screen Actors Guild, James Cagney. Ladies and gentlemen, My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. On behalf of George M. Cohan, I thank you. His presence has been strongly felt by all of us here tonight. And we sincerely hope that his story has helped you to understand this great man who, through his songs, has helped our country to understand itself. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that all the benefits derived from this new series of Lady Esther Screen Gill plays go to the maintenance of the Motion Picture Relief Funds Country House for the members of the profession he loves and serves so well. Now, as president of the Screen Actors Guild, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Lady Esther whose sponsorship makes this program, these programs, possible. We can assure you that this is going to be a great series bringing to your loudspeakers the brightest stars in Hollywood in the most successful screenplays. Jack Benny, Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Hedy Lamar, to name just a few. Next week, for instance, the Lady Esther Screen Guild Players will bring you Tyrone Power, Eddie Grable and John Sutton in A Yank in the Raf. And we want you to know that the stars who are contributing their time and services on this program have only one wish. That wish is the hope that new listeners will enjoy the plays as much as we enjoy the opportunity of bringing them to you. Walter Houston will soon be seen in Warner Brothers Edge of Darkness, and Richard Wharf is now making assignment to Brittany at Metro Golden Mayor. Next Monday night, then, same time, same station, Lady Esther will present the Screen Guild Players and A Yank in the Army Raf, starring Tyrone Power with Betty Grable, John Sutton and Pat o', Malley, with music by Wilbur Hatch. This is Truman Bradley saying good night for the Screen Guild Players and Lady Esther. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. Foreign.

[Podcast Host]

James Cagney in suspense and Yankee Doodle Dandy. That will do it for this week's show. Thanks so much for joining me. I'll be back next week with more stars on suspense. In the meantime, you can check out down these Mean Streets, my old Time Radio Detective podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Sundays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com Meansts OTR I'll be back next week with more Hollywood legends, each of them appearing in tales well calculated to keep you in

[James Cagney]

suspense.

[Supporting Actor/Actress]

Sam.

[James Cagney]

Ladies and gentlemen, the chief hope of our enemies is to divide the United States along racial and religious lines and thereby conquer us. Let's not spread prejudice. A divided America is a weak America. Through our behavior, we encourage the respect of our children and make them better neighbors to all races and religions. Remind them that being good neighbors has helped make our country great and kept her free. Thank you.