Radio review - Ford Theatre - "The Man Who Played God" (1947) **1/2

A 1930s George Arliss movie this story would be remembered today - if at all - for providing the story for the Movie Going Hall of Shame Contender, Sincerely Yours (1954), which unsuccessfully attempted to launch Liberace as a movie star. I guess they liked the fact it's about a concert pianist - act one establishes him as rich, middle aged and successful. His secretary has a yen for him but he's keen on a hot young socialite who he teaches - until he becomes deaf in a bomb explosion while playing for a European king. (Said king is the target of assassination attempts). He becomes bitter until he uses his skill at lip reading to perve on people in Central Park and help them out. Eventually he perves on his hot socialite who is in love with someone else. It's junky and silly but you find yourself listening - such is the power of cheesy melodrama.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Michael and Mary" (1948) **

Bigamy was presumably a bigger deal in the 1930s when this was originally written but it sure comes across as stale. Michael is a writer (yawn) from a tight arse respectable family (snore) who falls in love with Mary who was married to someone but has since gone missing. When she suggests they get married because it's a one in a thousand chance the hubby will ever turn up sure enough he turns up. He blackmails them (because bigamy can send you to gaol!) then dies of a convenient heart attack. It's as silly as it sounds.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Green Pastures" (1948) ***

Patronising but also fascinating and the stories were good to start off with: the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah, Moses and God's decision to send Jesus down. This felt condensed (I know all these plays are but some feel it more than others) but is done with vigour and benefits from a strong performance by Juan Hernandez in the lead role as Da Lawd.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "My Sister Eileen" (1948) ***

Before Two Broke Girls and Laverne and Shirley there was this tale of two girls trying make a go of it in the big city - it probably wasn't the first (every time you say something is the first a French film that came before it pops up) but it was one of the first big hits - as short stories, a play, then a film, and a sitcom, radio show, and musical.

This is based on the film and has Shirley Booth repeat her stage performance as the less pretty sister who lives with pretty Eileen in Greenwich village. Wacky landlords, lecherous men, romantic interests, flustered cops and judges - they're all here.

The host says the climax with subway men crashing through their walls was one of the most imaginative in Broadway - well, maybe it was then. Eileen is an annoying character, just being good to look at and wanting to be an actor, but her sister is funny.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Double Indemnity" (1948) ****

Burt Lancaster and Joan Bennett would have made good casting in a film version of this story - Bennett was a dab hand at femme fetales as her work for Fritz Lang especially showed (not to mention her real life involvement in the Jennings Lang-Walter Wagner triangle), and Lancaster made a good sap. He doesn't have the sleaziness of Fred MacMurray but he's more easily duped as he was in a fair few film noirs. This adapts the movie rather than the novel directly so it's full of that wonderful dialogue and it condenses well (even if the role of the daughter's boyfriend is reduced).

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Carmen Jones" (1948) ***

The famous Hammerstein version of the Bizet opera - his book isn't much, full of Lawdy-Lawdy characters but the tunes remain good. The action has been changed to WW2 America among African Americans - presumably thought to be hot blooded like a Spanish. This is done with the original Broadway cast members so fans of the show will want to check this out (Howard Teichmann condensed the script)but it left me a little cold.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "The Late Christopher Bean" (1947) ** (warning: spoilers)

Sidney Howard originally wrote this dull satire about a lodger who dies then becomes famous as a painter and the household where he lived squabble over his now-valuable paintings. The only one who likes them for art is the household maid, of whom he did a portrait and who loved him - her nasty treatment at the hands of the head of the house (bullying rather than violent) gives this some kick, but it's all rather mild, with an unconvincing deux ex machina of the maid turning out to be married to the painter. This was recently revived on Broadway but I can't see a hell of a lot of point to it.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Storm in a Teacup" (1947) **

A German play turned into a Scottish one turned into an English film here adapted for American radio - relocated to small town US. A reporter exposes a small town mayor for being mean, despite being in love with the mayor's daughter. It's sweet with some obvious over-the-top satire.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "A Star is Born" (1947) ***1/2

Okay sure so Vicky sleeps her way to the top essentially and Norman is a self pitying drunk who ruins her Oscar acceptance, but it still works because the publicist is mean, Vicky sticks at Norman even when he goes off the rails, and Norman kills himself (even though when you think about it that could be seen as a last gasp attention seeking measure). Bitter sweet melodrama which absolutely works - based on the 1937 film.

Radio review -Ford Theatre - "Father Dear Father" (1947) **

Ford try to "give back" by having an original radio play rather than borrow from the movies - there were plenty of original radio plays at the time but I think most of them were 30 minutes. This is a dull story about a sort of pompous city type (Ed Jerome channelling Clifton Webb) who moves to a small town and causes trouble for his ex wife and daughter. That's about it. Lacks jokes and charm.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "Ah, Wilderness" (1947) ***

Accomplished version of Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical comedy, without too much false sentimentality or aw-shuckness that can be done with this. It's picnic day on the fourth of July, a young man is in love but tempted by a cigarette smoking easy woman, there is some nice serious stuff when a woman talks about being in love with an alcoholic, no one can talk about sex properly.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "The Front Page" (1949) ***1/2

It's always a pleasure to renew acquaintance with this play, surely the only recognised classic which has been nonetheless overshadowed by a movie remake. I'm always surprised how late Walter Burns takes to make an appearance - although when he does he makes up for it (played here by Everett Sloane).

Hildy Johnson doesn't seem to be that good a reporter, but he blusters well and the support cast remains magnificent: the hapless killer Earl, Molly the "waitress" who throws herself out the window (but survives apparently - as what? a cripple?), the corrupt politicians and sheriff. Everyone is either crazy, corrupt, greedy, selfish, stupid or a combination of the above. In other words they are human, which is why this ages so well.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "A Farewell to Arms" (1949) **1/2

Fletcher Markle steps out from behind the glass to co-star opposite Helen Hayes in this version of the Hemingway classic. He doesn't do a bad job and Hayes keeps her whimpering and simpering in check. Still, Hemingway dialogue always sounds odder than it reads and that doesn't change here. Solid story (two people who don't really want to fall in love fall genuinely in love) with repetitions (Lt Henry keeps getting injured) - but this version lacks the desperation, romance, passion and urgency which the tale needs.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - "It's a Gift" (1948) **

I thought this was going to be an adaptation of the 19134 WC Fields movie but instead it's an original for Ford about a war veteran who realises he can make people do whatever he wants when he gets dizzy. The possibilities in this premise are immense - the writer limits them to the hero getting people to buy a project and later helping get someone elected. Ultimately the satire is mild and none of it's particularly believable - there's a love interest, and a corrupt tycoon out of Capra, and few decent jokes.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - Ep#35 - "Laura" (1948) ***12

This adaptation lacks star power but remains a gripping story, with it's beefy detective hero who falls in love with a murder victim then finds out she's alive; the beautiful, stylish Laura who is a sucker for the meataxe (the actor who plays Shelby here sounds more rugged which suits the writing); the brilliant, obsessed Waldo full of accurate observations but unable to control his impulses. You give the detective and Laura's marriage about six months, with a year of reunion sex and break ups.

Radio review - Ford Theatre -"The Horn Blows at Midnight" (1948) **

Jack Benny famously made fun of this movie all the time - it's not that bad, but it is whimsy, which is hard to defend when the knives are out. The premise is apocalyptic - God (Claude Rains!) decides after WW2 that the world has had enough chances and decides to destroy it! So he sends down an incompetent angel (Jack Benny) to blow the trumpet of judgement day or whatever it is. He runs into a few people, doesn't really form any emotional connection with any of them, until the end when a little concentration camp survivor talks him into talking God into it. I thought there were supposed to be other angels down on earth but they're not in this production. (NB I just looked it up - apparently the script was heavily reworked for this production.) Mercedes McCambridge and Hans Conreid lend support. Fletcher Markle, series producer, makes a crack to Benny at the end about how he didn't want to go see the film "because he doesn't like being in empty spaces" - which is a bit mean. Why did he decide to adapt it then? Benny is good as always.

Radio review – Ford Theatre – Ep#1 “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” (1949) ***1/2

The first edition of this show has Henry Ford himself speaking. The story is a lot of fun - the simple yet shrewd Yankee helping King Arthur defeat the baddies and get the girl and introduce democracy. The story is updated to have the technology include aeroplanes. No big star, they keep the satire of medieval life (e.g. chivalry) and it ages very well.

Radio review – Ford Theatre - Ep#16 “Girl Crazy” (1949) ****

Joyous version of the classic Gershwin musical, featuring great songs like "Embraceable You", "But Not for Me" and "I Got Rhythm". The plot has something to do with a New York playboy heading out west to redeem himself and clashing with the locals - it's not much of a book but it's fun and you have a good time. It's great when these old radio drama shows did musicals, they're an often invaluable record of old shows and good fun too.

Radio review - Ford Theatre - Ep#29 "The Silver Cord" (1948) **

Mother love melodrama, done reasonably well. Maybe there's not enough story for an hour - mother is protective of both her sons, both who are in relationships - one of the girls tries to kill herself, the other one dumps her husband but the husband rallies. Strong characterisation, it's got a universal theme. Just needed more plot. No famous people in cast.

Radio review – Ford Theatre – Ep#43 “Of Human Bondage” **1/2

Ray Milland plays the medical student who becomes obsessed with a cockney waitress who is No Good. A respectable adaptation - lacks fire for what is a tale about obsessive love. The novel goes all over the place but this concentrates on the relationship with the waitress.