CBSRMT: Men Without Mouths

[Melvis]

I'm a sucker for mob stories, and one of my favorites among the many in CBSRMT history is "Men Without Mouths." For some reason picturing some burly mobster frightened of what he sees really intensifies the terror of the story. The ghosts never speak throughout the play too and it's a very effective choice that increases the terror as well.

The scene with the daughter at the end took me by surprise at least, I wasn't really trying to piece it all together anyway, just listening.

Of course, I only recently got every episode of CBSRMT thru ebay (20 bucks). So I'm sure I'll come across other mob stories in the future that I'll probably like more. But "Men Without Mouths" is a good episode IMO.

Melvis

[brian1984_2001]

There was a really great mob story about a guy who wants to kill the mobster who ordered a hit on his son, but finds he can't.

The title had something to do with a rose. I can't remember what it was.

[Prince Bertram]

"Blood Red Roses" (7/12/76; rebroadcast 10/13/76)

Cast: Bob Dryden (Nick Birko); Bryna Raeburn (Anna Birko); Arnold Moss (Jerry Bizett); Robert Kaliban (Sergeant Daly); William Redfield (Junior)

Written by Sam Dann

When his son, Steve, a young priest, becomes an innocent victim of gangland war and the police make no arrests, Nick Birko sets out to make amends himself. He soon tracks down the head mobster, Jerry Bizett, and uses their mutual interest in growing roses—and Nick's "Blood Red Roses"—to get a job as Bizett's gardener. But it's the mobster's son, Junior, that revengeful Nick is after.

The Information above was gleaned from the excellent book by Gordon Payton and Martin Grams, Jr. entitled "The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook". This is a "must have" for all CBSRMT fans:

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater
An Episode Guide and Handbook to Nine Years of Broadcasting, 1974–1982
Gordon Payton and Martin Grams, Jr.
ISBN 0-7864-1890-7
485pp. Softcover 2004 [1999]
Price: $45

The book is available from http://www.mcfarlandpub.com. The direct link to the book is http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?isbn=0-7864-1890-7

[Melvis]

I just listened to it. Good episode. Not quite the ending I was expecting. Or was it? lol. They both wound up losing a son after all. Just in different ways.

Melvis