Suspense Sundays (187) A Tale of Two Sisters

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.

"A Tale of Two Sisters"

Air date: February 8, 1945
Starring Claire Trevor and Nancy Kelly

>>Episodes here<<

Two sisters, Clara and Adele, have recently lost their mother, and Adele sobbingly makes Clara promise that she will always be there and never leave her.  Clara promises, and for many years, as they grow up, they are very close and happy until Clara meets a man named Doug and falls in love.  When Adele realizes that Clara wants to marry him, she is furious.  Clara promised her she would never leave.  Clara begs Adele to understand, but Adele assures her that if she marries Doug, Adele will never speak to her again.  Clara does marry him, and has a child, and Adele still refuses to see her sister.

A two-hander episode with two female leads is a great thing for Suspense to do.  I very much enjoyed this story for the characterization of Adele, who is really creepy, and for how much Clara is willing to take for the sake of her sister.  Which is awful for Clara as the episode does begin with Clara in a hospital.  On the one hand, it's very predictable what Adele becomes, but on the other hand, it's really disturbing to listen to how it happens to her.  And the consequences for Clara.  Definitely, this was a great one to listen to!