The Radio Show is much better - Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) Discussion

[–] Steamboy 20 years ago

Where is it possible to get it ? I'd be interested in listening to it, but I live in Northern Europe.

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[–] catmydogs 18 years ago

I found a free podcast copy of this classic radio show at this site. There are a few other interesting radio shows on it as well. Cheers!

http://www.mindtheater.org/audio/MTpodcast-2006-02-03-60109.mp3

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[–] mikeoak840 17 years ago

Just updating everyone - Mindtheater.org is apparently defunct now.

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[–] Professional_Tourist 16 years ago

I don't know of anywhere to download Agnes Moorehead's Suspense radio broadcast of "Sorry, Wrong Number" for free these days, but it can be purchased as an MP3 download from Amazon.com, as part of a 40-program album of vintage radio dramas, for $8.99:

http://www.amazon.com/Mysteries-Suspense-Vintage-Radio-Shows/dp/B0013F 2ATK

Update: in another thread I found a link to this site:

http://www.archive.org/details/SUSPENSE

. . .which has four of the radio broadcasts of Agnes doing "Sorry, Wrong Number" available for free download. The audio quality is not as good as on Amazon, but it's free. :o)

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] shandy8 14 years ago

I can't get to the link! It asks for a password.

"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!"

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[–] Professional_Tourist 14 years ago

Shandy8, that link was posted last March. The site is no longer online.

I'll go back and delete that old post.

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[–] shandy8 14 years ago

Too bad. I'm a fan of hers. I just watched 'How the West Was Won', took it out after her death scene and put in 'All That Heaven Allows' then listened to that great radio play. I had myself a Moorehead marathon.

"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!"

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[–] kjetilho 18 years ago

There is a very good Norwegian version by NRK, with Wenche Foss (IIRC) in the lead role. Very claustrophobic. I have no idea if it's available other than as an occasional rerun.

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[–] mashmash 20 years ago

I'd really be interested in hearing it, do you have any idea where I get it?

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[–] beetleruss 19 years ago

It was first broadcast on the "Suspense" radio show on May 25, 1943 and repeated later several times. The radio show is considerably shorter. The movie expounds on the reason why the main character was killed. The radio show stars Agnes Moorhead as the main character. Finding a copy of the show shouldn't be difficult. There are lots of sources for old time radio on tape and MP3 CD's. You could do a web search on "old time radio" or check any of the online auctions.

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[–] bill_murdock 19 years ago

I bought a copy of the show from Adventures in Cassettes you can call their toll free number at 1-800-328-0108 for a free catalogue.

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[–] JohnBarrowman 19 years ago

If you are still interested, I may e-mail the complete show (28 minutes - 5.16mb)
Kind regards from Argentina

John Barrowman
sunset_bue@yahoo.com.ar
sunsetbue@gmail.com

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[–] dwhitlock 19 years ago

Do you have the radio show on MP3 or wav? I'd LOVE to have a copy. My students will be performing the stage play soon (2 weeks) and I'd love to have them listen to the radio play!

D Whitlock

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[–] babygurl517 19 years ago

I know this post was made a very long time ago, but i was wondering if you still had the radio show for sorry wrong number I have to perform it for theater class on friday and I would really like to listen to the show first
my email address is K_deluca517@yahoo.com
Thank you very much
Kate

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[–] DoctorStrangelove 18 years ago

Yes, it is. I listened to the radio show at night, and it really made my blood pump! Yikes!

For some reason I expected the movie to have the same kind of tension, but it just doesn't work with all the subplots and extra phone calls and characters, etc... I couldn't finish it. I was so bored (I know how it ends, anyway) and I turned it off 2/3 through; I could count on one hand how many times I've done that. Oh well.

4/10

Last Seen:
The Thing From Another World - 6/10

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[–] smitty1941 16 years ago

I agree that the radio show was superior to the movie, but I thought the ending murder scene from the movie was one of the best.

"As my old pappy used to say, if at first you don't succeed, try something else." - Bret Maverick

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[–] j-kihn 18 years ago

I gave the radio show a listen and yes, it does get to the point. However, I think that the movie does a great job developing the characters and situations to the point that you actually feal sorry for this woman and her plight. I don't think you can really compare them at all. Hearing the radio show alone leaves to many questions unanswered. Enjoy both of them instead of comparing them.

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[–] diabolical-italiana 18 years ago

Are there any links available online? The one in this thread has already expired.

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[–] allison99 18 years ago

You can listen to it here: <http://www.otrcat.com/agnesmoorehead.htm>; In the orange box, just click on the radio to listen to it. You don't have to pay to stream it. hope this helps!

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[–] FlyingNone 17 years ago

The people are so nice on this board, downloaded the episode and can't wait to hear it!

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[–] FlyingNone 17 years ago

I downloaded it to my Ipod and listened to it in bed. Fun!

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[–] HoferPM-1 17 years ago

The movie is on TCM right now. I love Barbara Stanwyck so I love the movie and remember the movie has two hours to develop and the radio show probably had one hour. I was a kid when I first heard the radio show with Agnes Moorhead and I also saw the movie. Now remember I love Barbara Stanwyck first, but to be honest, I think Agnes Moorhead's version was much better. Love Agnes Moorhead too ! I bought a lot of radio show cassettes quite a while back from Radio Spirits. They are still in business.

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[–] notaclue000 17 years ago

Could you give me a brief run down of what happens after Evans gives her the morgue number? My cable went out!!

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[–] mikeoak840 17 years ago

They've apparently pulled the streaming links.

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[–] darryl-tahirali 10 years ago

I don't think you can really compare them at all. Hearing the radio show alone leaves to many questions unanswered. Enjoy both of them instead of comparing them. - j-kihn

That's a fair point, much like trying to compare the book and the film without understanding that they are really two different media with their respective advantages and disadvantages.

It also depends on which you are exposed to first. It sounds as if you saw the film first, then heard the radio play. That can influence what you think may be the "right" version.

My experience is the opposite. I first read Lucille Fletcher's radio play in middle school; then, years later, I heard the radio play, and at that point, Agnes Moorehead owned this story for me. Finally, I saw the film version, and after having read, then heard, the short version, the film seemed padded to fill the time. Already knowing "the point," I didn't need to know the back story, some of which is alluded to in the short version.

Certainly, in reading the play or listening to it, those questions do come up: Who is this woman really? What is the story behind her relationship with her husband? What exactly is her infirmity? But as the focus is on the "suspense" (fittingly, the name of the radio program that first aired "Sorry, Wrong Number" was called Suspense), those to me became tangential questions. The film version, though, belabors that, trying to make what is essentially a one-note premise into something broader, and it doesn't work for me even if Fletcher herself wrote the screenplay.

At least it isn't as bad as Peter Jackson currently trying to stretch The Hobbit into an elephantine Lord of the Rings: The Prequel.

------------------
"We hear very little, and we understand even less." - Refugee in Casablanca

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[–] JohnnyOldSoul 17 years ago

There was also a radio remake of the film on the Lux Radio Theater with Barbara Stanwyck reprising her role:

http://www.archive.org/details/Lux15

A bit different from the "Suspense" version, but still very good!

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[–] Clothes-Off 17 years ago

Yes, I think it's one of the best examples of the radio play format. However, many younger fans would not have heard of this at all were it not for the movie, so that alone made it worth making--not to mention it's still a good film.

It is hard to stretch out a nice succinct story for the big screen, which is why so many similar efforts have not succeeded. Reminds me of how Steel Magnolias had to add so much to make what was a nice little six character play into a a 1989 film that could play at the same multiplex as Batman and still have people plunk down money for it. It can be a delicate balancing act to keep the charm of a little production while bringing it to a larger audience.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

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[–] narnia4 13 years ago

I'm only 21 but I love the Suspense radio show with Agnes Moorehead. I liked the movie as well, but I did think that the radio version is much better. As much as I like film noir, it isn't really necessary to carry the story and just the audio really helps you to key in on the performances.

The main thing is that the dramatic tension and pacing are just perfect for a half hour long radio program, no movie could replicate it. The building suspense throughout as she learns more and more and then the climactic finish. Great example of classic old-time radio at its finest.

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[–] jmbwithcats 11 years ago

You can listen to the full radio show on Youtube
http://youtu.be/5uPQE3Pykto

I grew up as a little boy listening to old time radio in the '70s on AM radio... this one was really good!

Web www.jmberman.com
Fcbk https://www.facebook.com/catnipdream

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