Cloak and Dagger: "The Trap" (Original Airdate: July 9, 1950)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode Date: September 6, 2025
Host: Adam Graham

Episode Overview

This episode features a suspenseful WWII spy story from the classic radio series Cloak and Dagger, entitled "The Trap." The dramatization is set behind enemy lines in German-occupied France, following OSS (Office of Strategic Services) agent Sergeant Irwin Hazen as he attempts to verify a report of massive German fortifications and prevent a looming disaster for advancing American troops.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Mission Briefing and Personal Stakes

[03:23]

• Main Character: Sgt. Irwin Hazen, a self-deprecating, comic book artist-turned-OSS mapmaker, volunteers for a dangerous mission after a friend and fellow agent, Lt. Miller, dies bringing back vital intelligence that a French town harbors unexpected German artillery.
• Notable quote:

  "Before the war, I loved flashy ties and babies. Girl babies, about 21. So what was Irwin doing being an OSS spy in a German held town in France after D Day? Listen, my children, and you shall hear."
  — Sgt. Irwin Hazen, [03:23]

2. Into Enemy Territory

[07:59 – 09:41]

• Paired with Father Robert, a courageous local priest skilled in "convincing lies," Hazen is smuggled into the town of Bruyere under the guise of being a nephew visiting his dying aunt.
  • The close call at the German checkpoint showcases quick thinking and the precariousness of undercover work.
• Quote (on blending in):

  "Do not worry. Out of necessity, I have become adept at making up very convincing lies."
  — Father Robert, [08:56]

3. Establishing Cover and Local Connections

[12:16 – 13:54]

• Hazen is taken in by Madame Jeannette, who plays along as his grieving (but miraculously revived) “aunt.”
• He integrates with the household, with layers of real loss beneath invented stories—Jeannette’s family was indeed lost to the war.
• Emotional moment:

  "It has been good these last days. Cooking for you, making up another bed. As if I had my family again."
  — Madame Jeannette, [14:47]

4. Investigation and Discovery of ‘The Trap’

[15:24 – 18:20]

• Hazen discreetly scouts the town, finding it appears thinly garrisoned, but trusting his fallen comrade’s warning seeks out fortified positions.
• Assisted by Madame Jeannette, he sneaks into the forest and discovers the elaborate German defenses: heavy artillery, barbed wire, tanks, and obstacles poised to ambush American forces.

5. Close Calls and Growing Suspicion

[18:48 – 21:08]

• The German Commandant visits, warning Hazen not to leave the town, but Hazen resolves to finish his recon mission.
• Madame Jeannette helps him hide his initial sketches and devises a new, riskier route to finish his survey.

6. Capture and Interrogation

[21:49 – 25:25]

• Hazen’s luck runs out as he strays too close to the enemy. He’s caught, interrogated, beaten, and his partial map discovered.
• Using a desperate, self-injurious ruse (wounding himself to create a diversion), Hazen escapes custody in a tense action sequence, commandeering a German motorcycle and eluding his pursuers with skill and luck.

7. Loss and Twist

[26:54 – 28:41]

• Hazen discovers his hidden sketches are gone, and Madame Jeannette is supposedly dead.
• In a final debrief with the Colonel, it’s revealed Jeannette is alive—she and the Resistance safely delivered the plans to Allied command, cementing the mission’s success.
• Memorable exchange:

  "Colonel, you know that tavern about a half mile from headquarters?"
  "Yes, I do."
  "Well, do you mind very much if I go there and get very drunk?"
  — Sgt. Irwin Hazen & Colonel, [29:06]

8. Historical Note & Aftermath

[29:19 – 29:46]

• Narration confirms that Hazen’s intelligence allowed the American army to avert disaster and conduct a successful counteroffensive, paving the way into German territory.
• Mission ends with:

  "The report of another OSS agent closes with the words—mission accomplished.”
  — Narrator, [29:33]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On undercover stress:

  "Monsieur le Commandant is not very bright, but unfortunately he is not a complete idiot."
  — Father Robert, [13:37]

• Desperate improvisation:

  "I broke off a piece. And then I cut myself severely about the face. I guess it doesn't sound pretty and it didn't look very pretty, but that was the effect I wanted."
  — Sgt. Irwin Hazen, [24:48]

• On the resistance’s crucial role:

  "But without all the help from all the little people along the way, none of the work of the OSS could have been done."
  — Sgt. Irwin Hazen, [13:54]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:23 | Introduction to Sgt. Irwin Hazen and the mission setup | | 07:39 | Hazen volunteers to enter enemy territory | | 09:41 | Smuggling into Bruyere with Father Robert’s help | | 13:54 | At Madame Jeannette’s—building local connections & cover | | 16:55 | Hazen discovers German artillery emplacements | | 18:55 | Hazen questioned by the Commandant | | 21:49 | Second reconnaissance and eventual capture | | 24:48 | Hazen’s escape from Nazi custody | | 26:54 | Jeannette presumed dead—mission appears lost | | 28:21 | Reunited; the plans are safe and mission is accomplished | | 29:46 | Narrator’s closing remarks on the OSS and mission success |

Host Commentary Highlights

[31:37+]

• Adam Graham praises the episode’s tension and craft, noting how it captures the uncertainty and peril of espionage behind enemy lines.
• Discusses the real-life involvement of comic book artists with WWII intelligence, but cautions against over-speculation about biographies matching the story.
• Responds thoughtfully to a listener’s concern about the “gritty” and unsparing nature of the series, especially regarding wartime morality.
• Previews upcoming OSS-focused episodes and future plans for the podcast, indicating a continued emphasis on historically grounded, tense drama.

Summary & Takeaways

• This Cloak and Dagger episode stands out for its taut suspense, moral ambiguity, and portrayals of unlikely heroes and the large but quiet role played by local civilians in the underground resistance.
• The episode balances nerve-wracking infiltration scenes with moments of emotional warmth and loss, all underpinned by Hazen’s irreverent, self-effacing narration.
• Not just a thrilling spy story, "The Trap" showcases the real sacrifices and clever improvisation required in wartime espionage—both on the battlefield and behind the scenes.

For listeners seeking suspense, history, and a dash of gallows humor, “The Trap” remains a prime example of Golden Age radio drama at its best.