Two Gusts of "Red Wind" (Adventures of Philip Marlowe)

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

This episode of Down These Mean Streets compares two distinct radio adaptations of Raymond Chandler's 'Red Wind,' starring Van Heflin and Ge

Key takeaways

• Van Heflin's 1947 version featured higher production values, using sound effects to make the Santa Ana wind a character.
• The score for the Heflin episode was composed by Lynn Murray, who later worked on Hitchcock's 'To Catch a Thief'.

Main topics

• Radio drama history
• Philip Marlowe adaptations

Notable quotes

Crime is a sucker's road, and those who travel it wind up in the gutter of the prison or the grave.

Conclusion

A deep dive for enthusiasts of Old Time Radio that highlights how perf

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road, and those who travel it wind up in the gutter of the prison of the grave. ...have Speaker 6 (0:16) been changed to protect the innocent. The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective. The Adventures of the Saint, starring Vincent Price. Bob Bailey, in the exciting adventures Speaker 2 (0:27) of the man with the action-packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Speaker 4 (0:55) Welcome to Down These Mean Streets and more old-time radio detectives and crime solvers. On September 26, 1948, one of radio's greatest detective shows went on the air when The Adventures of Philip Marlowe premiered on CBS. The series starred Gerald Moore as Raymond Chandler's private eye, a character who'd been played on the big screen by Dick Powell and Humphrey Bogart, and Previously on Radio by Van Heflin. The series starring Moore as Marlowe was the second weekly show built around The Detective. Heflin played him in a series that aired on NBC in the summer of 1947. Interestingly, both shows used the same source material for their first episodes. An adaptation of Chandler's short story, Red Wind. With a few minor dialogue changes here and there, the scripts are the same for both shows. But hearing the two versions really demonstrates what a difference actors, direction, and music make in presenting a radio drama. In the Heflin show, the wind is a supporting character. The hot, dry Santa Ana that Marlowe describes in his opening narration. It's brought to life through sound effects, and it acts almost like a chorus throughout the story. The score in the episode is by Lynn Murray, who later incorporated pieces from it into his score for Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief. Heflin is surrounded by a great supporting cast. It's stuffed with terrific Hollywood radio players, including Lorene Tuttle, Bill Johnstone, and William Conrad. Now, the Gerald Moore version is by no means bad, but you can tell right away the budget and the resources aren't the same, probably because the earlier show was built around an Oscar-winning actor, and while Gerald Moore was very talented, he didn't have Heflin's reputation. The Heflin show was also sponsored by Pepsodent, and the Gerald Moore-Philip Marlowe aired almost its entire run without a sponsor. Interestingly, too, it's not Moore's best performance as Marlowe. As the series went on, the scripts were maybe better tailored to his take on the character. They're faster paced, and Marlowe becomes a little bit tougher. He's not bad in the show, but he would get much better as the series went on. One area where the two shows are similar is they both have great supporting casts. The players opposite Gerald Moore include Peggy Weber, who we did a spotlight episode about just a few weeks ago. Today, we'll hear both versions of Red Wind, the Van Heflin show from June 17, 1947, and the Gerald Moore episode from September 26, 1948. Speaker 4 (4:02) And as a bonus, we'll hear both Radio Marlows acting opposite each other in The King in Yellow, a Van Heflin-Philip Marlow episode and an adaptation of another Chandler story. This one aired on NBC on July 8, 1947. The red wind blows into town twice, and we'll hear both versions right after these messages. Speaker 2 (4:32) Here's a poor chap who could be anyone you know, including you. Francis. Speaker 1 (4:37) Bill, what are you doing stretched down on the couch? You'd better get ready if you're going to that meeting. Speaker 2 (4:40) I'll have to miss it tonight. Too much supper. My stomach's got me down. Speaker 1 (4:43) Well, don't blame supper. You stuffed yourself like a glutton. I'm not just stuffed. I feel awful. I can imagine. You've got a good old-fashioned upset stomach. And I've got just the thing for it. Pepto-Bismol. Speaker 2 (4:54) Oh, I don't want to take anything. I can't afford to stay home tomorrow. Speaker 1 (4:57) You won't have to. Pepto-Bismol's not like that. It won't add to your upset. but will help to soothe and calm it very quickly. Speaker 2 (5:03) Oh, nothing could be that good. Speaker 1 (5:04) No, just try it. Here, take a good swallow of Pepto-Bismol, and you'll begin to feel better in no time. Why, you might even get to that meeting tonight after all. Speaker 2 (5:12) Pepto-Bismol is a gentler, better way to help an upset stomach. In fact, it's better in many ways. Pepto-Bismol helps bring relief almost from the first moment. It begins to calm and quiet the upset right away. Then, because the Pepto-Bismol formula is gentle and soothing... It doesn't interfere with normal digestion and doesn't add to the upset. Yes, Pepto-Bismol is a dependable, speedy, pleasant-tasting way to care for common stomach disturbances. Remember this. When your stomach's upset, don't add to the upset. Take Pepto-Bismol to soothe it, calm it, and feel good again. Speaker 6 (5:57) Far to the south of us is our good neighbor country, Ecuador. Let's imagine ourselves there now, dining on the roof terrace cafe of the exclusive Hotel Metropolitano in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Near us, an American has just complimented his hosts on the magnificent dinner, to which his host quickly responds, Ah, yes, it is true that our foods are famous. But from your land comes a rare delicacy also. It is the superb wine, so excellent that we in Ecuador import it. from your United States. My friend, I drink to you in your own delicious Roma wine. Our Ecuadorian friend is right, for Roma wine's superb quality has won such favor in many far places that they import it, enjoy it as a rare luxury. But not so here in America. Here millions know and enjoy Roma wines as an inexpensive everyday delight at mealtimes and when entertaining. So many, in fact, that Roma is America's largest selling wine. With no high import duties to pay, nor expensive shipping costs, you enjoy these distinguished wines for only pennies a glass. Ask for Roma Wines, which bring you old world winemaking skill, plus Roma's own modern controls and testing. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines, America's largest selling wine. Made in California. For enjoyment. throughout the world. Good evening. This is your Rexall family druggist with a welcome from the 10,000 independent druggists who have made the word Rexall part of our own store names. We've done that because we recommend and sell the 2,000 or more drug products made by the Rexall Drug Company. Like Rexall Milk of Magnesia, for example. Here's the milk of magnesia that's so pure and creamy smooth, so free from that unpleasant earthy taste, even children spot the difference. Ask for the Rexall Milk of Magnesia at Rexall drugstores everywhere. And remember, you can depend on any drug product that bears the name Rexall. Looking for a good food buy? Then get Velveeta, Kraft's famous pasteurized processed cheese food. Velveeta is one of the best food buys you can make because Velveeta is not only delicious, but it's nourishing too. And you can use Velveeta so many ways, in snacks, sandwiches, and for a variety of economical hot main dishes. Melt Velveeta for a smooth golden cheese sauce to extend leftovers or to use in new made dishes. Make it your handy helper for all kinds of money-saving hot meals. Get it tomorrow. Your best buy in cheese food, Velveeta. Made only by Kraft. Speaker 2 (8:46) I dedicate this program to the fight against crime. Not merely crimes of violence and crimes of dishonesty, but crimes of intolerance, discrimination, and bad citizenship. Crimes against America. Speaker 8 (9:00) For the safety of your smile, use Pepsodent twice a day, see your dentist twice a year. Lever Brothers Company presents the Pepsodent program. The adventures of Philip Marlowe, starring Van Heflin. Speaker 8 (9:32) Pepsodent presents Philip Marlowe, Hollywood's famous private detective created by Raymond Chandler. Philip Marlowe, tough, cynical private eye of Murder, My Sweet, the sardonic, case-hardened detective of The Brasher de Blune, The Lady in the Lake, and The Big Sleep. You've seen him in action in all of those top-flight mystery pictures. Now, in order that you may continue to enjoy this exciting mystery series, Pepsodent brings you The Adventures of Philip Marlowe on the Air with a cast of noted radio players. and starring MGM's brilliant and dynamic young actor, Van Heflin. Speaker 8 (10:15) Now families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste, new Pepsodent with Erium, new fresh-tasting Pepsodent with a new cool minty flavor. It's the three-to-one favorite over all other toothpastes. It's true. Speaker 1 (10:30) With families all over America, new Pepsodent is the favorite three-to-one. Speaker 8 (10:34) Families from coast to coast recently compared new Pepsodent with other toothpastes at home. They preferred new Pepsodent by an overwhelming average of 3 to 1 over all other brands they tried. These families, 3 to 1, said new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter. Speaker 1 (10:54) Yes, families 3 to 1 say new Pepsodent tastes better, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter. Speaker 8 (11:00) Get new Pepsodent toothpaste for your family right away. Speaker 5 (11:21) There was a rough desert wind blowing into Los Angeles that evening. It was one of those hot, dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair, make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that, every booze party ends up in a fight, and meek little housewives feel the edge of a carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen when the Santa Ana blows in from the desert. Speaker 5 (11:53) I closed up my office early. I got tired of reading Philip Marlowe, private investigator, backwards on the ground glass of my office door. So I opened the door and closed it from the outside and locked it and went out to get a beer before I went up to my apartment. Speaker 2 (12:12) Fill her up again, Mr. Marlin? Speaker 5 (12:14) Marlow. Marlow. Marlin is a fish. Yeah, I know. Hey. Speaker 2 (12:19) Hey, you bartender. Give me another ride. Speaker 5 (12:22) That drunk again. What'd you expect in this business? Autograph hounds? Speaker 2 (12:25) Make it snappy, yeah? Speaker 5 (12:26) Be right with you, sport. I gotta draw this man a beer. Crying out loud. These stumble bums have come in here. You got another customer, Backus? Speaker 2 (12:34) Hey, bud. You seen a lady in here lately? A Speaker 5 (12:39) lady? Speaker 2 (12:39) Tall, good-looking, brown hair, a print bolero jacket, and a blue silk dress. Speaker 5 (12:45) No, sir. Speaker 2 (12:45) No, sir. Speaker 5 (12:46) Nobody like that's been in. All right, straight scotch, fast. I left my engine running out there. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Speaker 5 (12:55) This slick-looking, sarcastic guy stepped up to the bar and drank his scotch whole. Then he turned to go out, and he stopped. The drunk was grinning at him. And then, without changing his grin, the drunk swept a gun from somewhere so fast it was just a blur coming out. Made a couple of hard snaps and a little smoke curled. Very little. All Speaker 2 (13:20) right, you other guys, don't move. So long, Waldo. All right, don't move, you two. Speaker 2 (13:32) But I made his nose bleed. So long, boys. Drink up. Speaker 5 (13:38) All right, get on that phone, kid. I'll get his license number. Holy smoke. Holy smoke. Not too late. Get away with this dead guy's car. Maybe he ain't dead. He's dead, all right. Where's your phone? This is for the police. The Prowl car boys were there in about five minutes. Waldo was out of business, all right. And nothing in his pockets told who he was. But he had about $700 on him. I told the cops what I knew, including about Waldo's tall, brown-haired pretty girl in the bolero jacket. It was about 9 o'clock when I stepped out of the elevator in my apartment house and almost walked right into a tall, brown-haired pretty girl in a bolero jacket, waiting for the elevator on my floor. Speaker 7 (14:32) Oh, Speaker 5 (14:32) excuse me. Just a minute, lady. Speaker 7 (14:34) I said excuse me. I'm in a hurry. Now, if you'll be good enough to step out of... Look, you better not Speaker 5 (14:38) go outside in those clothes. Speaker 7 (14:40) Just what do you mean by telling me what... This Speaker 5 (14:41) isn't a make. You're in trouble. Speaker 7 (14:43) Trouble? Speaker 5 (14:44) Yeah, the cops are looking for you in those clothes. Speaker 7 (14:47) But I haven't done anything that... Speaker 5 (14:48) I'm in room 41 across the hall now. I never collected an etching in my life. Speaker 7 (14:52) All right, I'll go with you. I'll go. Speaker 5 (14:59) I got to my room and rustled up some scotch and soda and brought the girl her glass. She had a small automatic in her hand. It jumped up at me, and her eyes were full of panic. I put down both glasses on the table slowly so that I wouldn't be misunderstood. Speaker 5 (15:18) Look, sister, maybe this wind has got you crazy, too. Don't Speaker 1 (15:22) move. Be careful. Don't move. Speaker 5 (15:23) A man just got shot in a bar down the street. Before he got it, he'd been asking about a tall, pretty girl with a bolero jacket, like yours. Speaker 7 (15:31) What did he look like, this man? Speaker 5 (15:33) Tall, 5'11", slim, dark, dark brown eyes with a lot of glitter, dark suit, white handkerchief in the breast pocket. And he must have seen you earlier tonight to know how you were dressed. Am I getting anywhere? Speaker 7 (15:46) He used to be my chauffeur. Speaker 5 (15:47) You had an appointment with him, didn't you? Speaker 7 (15:49) Why? Speaker 5 (15:50) Listen, he asked for you, didn't he? Speaker 7 (15:51) Yes, I had an appointment with him. He'd stolen something from me when he left three days ago. I was going to buy it back from him. Speaker 5 (15:58) Why didn't you tell the police? I couldn't Speaker 7 (15:59) tell Speaker 5 (15:59) them. It was valuable, wasn't it? Valuable enough for Waldo to steal? $15 Speaker 7 (16:02) ,000. Speaker 5 (16:03) Oh, it's peanuts. Speaker 7 (16:04) But it wasn't the value. It meant something to me. The man I love gave it to me, and now he's dead. He was a flyer shot down over Germany. I'll go back and tell my husband that. He probably hired you. Speaker 5 (16:17) He did? How much is he paying me? And where is this husband of yours? Speaker 7 (16:23) He's at a meeting. This Speaker 5 (16:24) late at night? Speaker 7 (16:24) He's a very important man. He's a hydroelectric engineer. I'll have you know that my husband is one of the... Oh, skip Speaker 5 (16:29) it. I'll take him out to lunch sometime and have him tell me himself. And about Waldo, whatever he had on you is dead stock now, like Waldo himself. Speaker 7 (16:37) You mean he's dead? Waldo is dead? Speaker 5 (16:41) Yes, sister, he's dead. Dead, dead, dead. Lady, he is dead. Speaker 7 (16:46) I Speaker 5 (16:47) scream and I'll give you two black eyes. Speaker 7 (16:49) I'm not going to scream. Who would that be? Speaker 5 (16:53) There's Speaker 7 (16:54) a Speaker 5 (16:54) dressing room behind that door. Hide there. Now, don't argue with me. Do it. All Speaker 7 (16:57) right. And Speaker 5 (17:09) I went to the door making a loud yawning sound. The backs of my hands were wet. I opened the door. Without a gun, that was a mistake. I certainly knew the gun I was looking into. A .22 target automatic that had already killed one man that night. And I knew the bald head and the flat, shiny eyes and the face like a poisonous lizard. Baldy put the muzzle of his gun lightly against my throat. I backed into the room and Baldy kicked the door shut. Speaker 5 (17:39) You Speaker 2 (17:40) alone? Speaker 5 (17:41) Look for yourself. I'm asking, not looking. I'm alone. You and that dumb bartender saw me dust off Waldo. What did Waldo do to you? Who's asking? Just making Speaker 2 (17:52) conversation. Speaker 5 (17:53) He Speaker 2 (17:54) stooled on me on a bank job we did together. Got me four years of Michigan pen. How is he? Dead. I'm still good, drunk or sober. Speaker 2 (18:08) Tell me why I came Speaker 5 (18:09) here, pal. You heard the barkeeper and me talking. I told him my name, where I lived. That's how, pal. I said why. Skip, if the hangman would ask you to guess why he's there. You're pretty tough at that, ain't you? but you're slamming off, pal. All right, but you could get that gun out of my neck and try somewhere else. Oh, yeah, sure. Is this better? Is this so chill around? Just so it isn't my neck. Save when, pal. It's your party. I leaned against the gun. The door of the dressing room showed a crack of darkness. The crack widened. I began to shake a little. The girl came quietly into the room, but there was white all around her iris. She was scared. She had her gun in her hand, but I was sorry for her. Dead sorry. She'd try to make the door scream. Either way, it'd be curtains for both of us. You scared, mister? You worried about any little thing? Speaker 1 (19:03) I Speaker 5 (19:03) couldn't talk. The girl floated in the air somewhere behind Baldy, and her horrified face was drifting toward us. My mouth was as cold and dry as yesterday's toast. Well, kid, how's it feel? You ready yet? Go on, say the word. Well, don't take all night about it if you're gonna do something about it. Why not, pal? I like this. Suppose I yell. Go ahead, yell. Go ahead. Put up your hands! Hey, look! Thanks, sister. Thanks. That buys me. Everything I have is yours now and forever. You flatter me no end, lady. I only punched him. Why not get out of here while I call the cops down on this killer? Yes. Speaker 7 (19:53) Good night. Speaker 5 (19:53) Hey, wait, wait. Leave that Balera jacket here. It marks you for the cops. Oh, Speaker 7 (19:57) yes, here. Speaker 5 (19:59) Okay. See you again? Speaker 7 (20:02) Why? Speaker 5 (20:03) Oh, I don't know. No, I guess not. After all, who am I to be the rival of a dead flyer? I'll see that the police get Jesse James here. Good night, lady. Yeah? You mean me? Speaker 7 (20:31) Yes. Speaker 5 (20:34) Oh, you again, huh? Speaker 7 (20:37) Sit in. I must talk to you. Speaker 5 (20:42) You want to know what happened at headquarters, huh? Speaker 7 (20:44) Yes. Speaker 5 (20:44) Well, I went down there with the law and gave them the story. I left you out of it. Speaker 7 (20:48) Oh, thank you. You Speaker 5 (20:49) saved my life, so no one knows a thing about you. Well, incidentally, neither do I. Speaker 7 (20:54) Well, my name is Mrs. Frank Bossily. 212 Fremont Place, Olympia 24596. Is that what you wanted? Speaker 5 (21:02) I guess so. Speaker 7 (21:03) Well, there it is. And Speaker 5 (21:05) why did you really come back? Speaker 7 (21:07) I wanted my pearls. Speaker 5 (21:09) Pearls? Yes. Pearls, too, huh? All right. Tell me about the pearls. We've had a murder and a beautiful mystery woman and a sadistic killer and a heroic rescue. Now we will have pearls. I Speaker 7 (21:22) was to buy them back from the man called Waldo. Speaker 5 (21:24) Well, I saw everything that came out of his pockets and there weren't any pearls. Speaker 7 (21:28) Could they be hidden in his apartment? Speaker 5 (21:29) Yeah. It's possible. Speaker 7 (21:31) Waldo lived on the same floor you do in this apartment house. Speaker 5 (21:34) And why didn't I know him, at least by sight? He Speaker 7 (21:36) moved in last week. He managed to get a sublet. Great. Speaker 5 (21:38) A sort of an amateur magician on the side, huh? Speaker 7 (21:42) It's getting rather late. Speaker 5 (21:43) Yeah. What about your husband this hot, mysterious night? He's Speaker 7 (21:47) still at his meeting. Speaker 5 (21:48) You could have brought him along. You could have sat in the back seat working out a problem in hydroelectric swap. Speaker 7 (21:53) While what? Speaker 5 (21:56) Well, I didn't have any answers that wouldn't sound cheap or just ridiculous or from the sophomore class in Ray Partee. Had an unlit cigarette in my hand, I threw it out of the window. I took a hold of her and kissed her. She sat very still. I was shaking when I let go of her. Her voice trembled a little when she spoke. Speaker 7 (22:21) I meant you to do that. I wasn't always that way. Only since Johnny Dalmas was killed in the war. Speaker 7 (22:30) He gave me those pearls. 41 of them, perfectly matched with a diamond propeller clasp. I'd have loved them if they'd been wooden beads because he gave them to me. I love Johnny the way you love just one time. You understand that? Speaker 5 (22:49) Hmm. What's your name? Speaker 7 (22:52) Lola. Speaker 5 (22:55) Lola, how did you explain a $15,000 pearl necklace to your husband? Speaker 7 (22:59) I told him they were imitation, then I bought them myself. Speaker 5 (23:02) How did Waldo latch onto them and what they stood for? Speaker 7 (23:04) Well, my husband was in Argentina. Waldo and I'd go for long drives. I was restless and wretched because of Johnny. Speaker 7 (23:12) Sometimes Waldo and I had a little drink together, but that's all. Speaker 5 (23:15) But you confided in Waldo about those pearls. I Speaker 7 (23:17) was a fool. And Speaker 5 (23:18) when your husband came back, Waldo stole the pearls and offered to sell them back to you or he'd tell Papa, huh? Speaker 7 (23:22) I was a fool. Speaker 5 (23:23) And now you think the pearls are upstairs in Waldo's apartment? I Speaker 7 (23:27) suppose it's a lot to ask. Speaker 5 (23:29) No, sweetheart, huh? I've been paid. I'll go look. Wait here, huh? Was the gun long, Lola? Speaker 5 (23:59) No. Speaker 7 (24:00) No pearls? Speaker 5 (24:01) No pearls. Speaker 7 (24:01) Oh. Speaker 5 (24:02) There was a man in Waldo's room. Speaker 7 (24:05) A man? Who? Speaker 5 (24:06) You know a man named Leon Balsanos? Speaker 7 (24:08) Not by name. I don't know. Speaker 5 (24:10) Mexican, South American, about 45, small, iron gray hair, very neat, fawn-colored suit, wine-colored tie. Speaker 7 (24:17) No, I don't think I know such a man. Is he the one in Waldo's room? Speaker 5 (24:21) Yeah. Speaker 7 (24:22) What does he have to say? Speaker 5 (24:23) Very little. In fact, nothing. He's dead. Speaker 5 (24:29) You Speaker 8 (24:39) are listening to The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, starring Van Heflin, with music composed and conducted by Lynn Murray. Yes, families all over America have named their favorite toothpaste. New Pepsodent with invigorating irium foam. New, fresh-tasting Pepsodent with a new, cool, minty flavor. It's the three-to-one favorite over all other toothpastes. Speaker 1 (25:02) It's true. With families all over America, new Pepsodent is the favorite three-to-one. The Speaker 8 (25:08) Farrell family of Evergreen Park, Illinois, preferred new Pepsodent on every single count. The Farrells say new Pepsodent tastes best of all, makes breath cleaner, makes teeth brighter. On all these counts, by an overwhelming average of three to one, families prefer new Pepsodent over all other toothpaste they've tried. Speaker 1 (25:28) It's a