The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Lux Radio Theater: Suspicion (Encore) (A0050)

Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Adam Graham
Feature Presentation: Lux Radio Theater adaptation of “Suspicion” (originally aired September 18, 1944)
Starring: Olivia de Havilland as Lena, William Powell as Johnny, Charles Irwin as Beaky

Overview

In this special episode, host Adam Graham presents a rebroadcast of the Lux Radio Theater’s production of Suspicion, part of an ongoing Olivia de Havilland tribute. The radio play, an adaptation of the Hitchcock film, is a suspenseful romantic thriller exploring love, mistrust, and fear. Following the story of Lena, a wealthy woman who finds herself entangled with Johnny, a charming but questionable husband, the episode delves into the psychological unraveling of trust and the dangers of not truly knowing those closest to us.

Adam’s post-show commentary reflects on the impact of recasting, performances, and the way the radio adaptation navigates Hitchcockian suspense.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction by Host Adam Graham

• [00:36] Adam welcomes listeners and introduces the temporary programming break, promising a return with Tarzan and encouraging exploration of his other radio series.
• Olivia de Havilland Tribute: Listeners are informed that this episode is part of a tribute to Olivia de Havilland, chosen by Patreon supporter Gary.
• Set-Up: The main feature is the 1944 Lux Radio Theater adaptation of Suspicion, starring Olivia de Havilland and William Powell.

2. Lux Radio Theater’s “Suspicion” (Dramatic Content)

• [02:30 – 55:00+]
• Premise: Lena, an upper-class Englishwoman, hastily marries the dashing but improvident Johnny Aysgarth. As financial secrets and lies surface, Lena’s love for Johnny becomes increasingly tainted by fear and suspicion, culminating in her belief that Johnny may be capable of murder.
• Themes:
  • The interplay between love and mistrust.
  • The dangers of marrying in haste.
  • Psychological suspense and fear—what do we really know about those we love?

Notable Plot Beats and Moments:

• Early Affection and Doubt
  • Lena is swept off her feet by Johnny’s charm (often calling her “Monkey Face”), despite family warnings about his reputation.
  • Lena discovers Johnny’s lack of funds and his tendency toward financial recklessness after marriage.
  • Early clues of duplicity—selling family heirlooms and secret gambling debts—set Lena on edge.
  • Memorable Quote [13:33]:
    • Lena: "Were you thinking of my inheritance when you... Oh, I don't know what to say."
    • Johnny: "Isn't it silly to spend the best years of our lives waiting? Why not be comfortable?"
• Mounting Suspicion
  • Discovery that Johnny has lied about the sale of her family’s valuable chairs.
  • Beaky, Johnny’s friend, unintentionally exposes Johnny’s ongoing deceit and gambling addiction.
  • The pivotal “real estate scheme”—Johnny proposes a business venture using Beaky’s money, raising further alarms.
  • Memorable Quote [34:46]:
    • Johnny: "If I say it’s good, it’s good. But I don’t want any interference from you or anyone else. Is that clear?"
  • The use of the word “murder” in an anagram game becomes an ominous motif.
• The Cliff, Paris, and Beaky’s Death
  • Lena becomes tormented by the thought that Johnny is plotting murder—her own (with a harrowing car ride by a cliff) or Beaky’s.
  • Beaky’s mysterious death in Paris by brandy poisoning sharply escalates Lena’s fears.
  • Johnny’s suspicious inquiries about untraceable poisons and life insurance intensify her certainty he is a killer.
  • Memorable Quote [48:03] (Insurance Letter):
    • "Payment can only be made in the event of your wife's death..."
• Confrontation and Revelation
  • Lena, physically and mentally breaking down, prepares to flee. In the climactic car ride, Johnny stops her from trying to escape—an ambiguous, fraught confrontation.
  • The tense reveal: Johnny had not been in Paris and, though guilty of financial misdeeds, had not committed murder. Both confront their lack of trust and the toxicity built from lies and suspicion.
  • Memorable Quote [56:01]:
    • Johnny: "People don’t change overnight, Leah. I’m no good."
    • Lena: "Let’s turn back, Johnny. Let’s go home and see it all through together."
• Resolution: The episode ends on a fragile note of possible reconciliation, emphasizing forgiveness and shared responsibility.

3. Post-Episode Commentary by Adam Graham

• [62:16]
  • Alternate Casting: Adam notes the interest of hearing Olivia de Havilland in a role originally played on film by Joan Fontaine, observing how substitute leads can change the dynamic of familiar stories.
  • Performance Notes:
    • De Havilland’s performance is “gets us invested in her emotions...as well as understanding and believing in her feeling of being threatened.”
    • William Powell “does not make much of an attempt to be British...but that wasn’t totally unheard of for the era.”
  • Story Insight:
    • The story’s “Hitchcockian” bent sets up expectations for a dark, sinister ending but subverts it—ultimately, the danger is psychological, rooted in mistrust rather than villainy.
    • Lena’s fears are rational given Johnny’s deceptions, marrying too quickly, and emotional distance.
    • The episode offers “a really interesting and different dynamic, particularly if you come into it thinking...‘It just turns another direction than you would typically expect.’”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Love and Honesty:
  • “You’re the first woman I’ve met who says yes when she means yes.” – Johnny to Lena ([10:14])
• On Betrayal and Disillusion:
  • “You sold the chairs to gamble all your money on a horse.” – Lena ([26:36])
• On Suspicion and Paranoia:
  • “Murder. The cliffs overlooking the sea...stay away, Beaky. He’ll put you off, he’ll kill you. Murder. Murder. Murder.” – Lena’s inner monologue ([36:33])
• On Facing the Truth:
  • “You mean you were in Liverpool when Beaky...then you didn’t go to Paris?” – Lena ([55:31])
  • “People don’t change overnight, Leah. I’m no good.” – Johnny ([56:01])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:36] – Adam's introduction and background on the episode.
• [02:30] – Start of Lux Radio Theatre’s “Suspicion.”
• [13:33] – Lena confronts Johnny about money and inherited wealth.
• [26:36] – Lena discovers Johnny’s irresponsible gambling.
• [34:46] – Johnny asserts dominance in the business scheme, pushing Lena away.
• [36:33] – The murder anagram game, heightening Lena’s paranoia.
• [48:03] – Lena receives a letter about her life insurance, fueling her fear.
• [54:23] – Climactic confrontation during car ride by the cliff.
• [55:31] – Johnny explains his actions, leading to revelation and fragile reconciliation.
• [62:16] – Adam’s post-show commentary and analysis.

Tone and Language

The overall tone of the episode is suspenseful, romantic, and psychologically driven—language reflects heightened emotions, tension, and rapid shifts between love and fear. Adam Graham’s post-episode analysis is thoughtful, lightly humorous, and respects both the strengths and quirks of old-time radio storytelling.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio offers both a gripping vintage mystery—exploring how suspicion can poison love—and a thoughtful meditation on performance, adaptation, and the enduring power of classic radio drama. Olivia de Havilland and William Powell bring new textures to a Hitchcockian thriller, while Adam Graham’s commentary helps modern listeners situate and appreciate the nuances and choices in this old-time radio gem.