Suspense Sundays (121) The Man Who Would Be King

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"The Man Who Would Be King"

Air date: May 31, 1959
Starring Dan O'Herlihy

>>Episodes here<<

Dan and Peachey - two con men - travel to Afghanistan to pretend to be kings/gods to the more primitive people in that land.  They lord it up, and enjoy their time, until Dan decides to take a wife.  But it is against their law for a woman to marry a god.  The woman is scared and bites Dan, drawing blood, which proves he's not a god at all.  And the people get angry.

This episode is based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling and is more of a sad tale in my opinion than a suspenseful one.  It's clear that thing would not go well for these two men, and their bluff, arrogant characterization in the show just confirmed that they would not deserve a happy ending.  It's an interesting story though for the idea of two people deliberately taking advantage of another people's culture.