An excellent episode of "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe." As noted in one of the comments below, Gerald Mohr, as well as Howard Duff and Robert Bailey, had exceptional radio voices and did so well in their respective radio dramas. I would add Edmond O'Brien to the list, although he was not on radio as much as the above mentioned individuals. I do not recall Bob Bailey being in motion pictures, although the others certainly were, especially Edmond O'Brien and to a lesser extent Howard Duff.
I am a great fan of Philip Marlowe, but the Gerald Mohr interpretations were an excellent way of showing how were talented person could try his best with a terrible script, terrible direction and terrible supporting artistes but it is an uphill task, when compared to Bob Bailey and the Howard Duff Van Heflin versions. Firstly, Mr. Mohr is told not to speak, but to bark. He is not speaking to the characters, but to an audience in a theater. That is seen with the statacco delivery of every word spit out like an election campaign speech. Then there is one character who always plays the mad scientist/the eccentric old man and he has the most terrible cracked high-pitched voice that ever squeaked on radio. And he is in every second episode. Then the sweet young thing, the blonde always played by Vivi Janice. Her way of playing it is spreading her mouth wide, clenching her teeth together, and then lisping in a little girl voice, to persuade Philip that she is helpless, sweet, needs help, and he always falls for it. Do tell me, which man is going to fall for pwease i need you to hunt faw my thisther, thee ith in gwear twubble.... Uggggggg! Not me. If I was in Phillips place, I would ask her to first get to a speech therapist and then get some treatment from a child psychologist. Because when Philip decides that he cannot help the pretty young thing because she cannot pay, oh they never have any money, she starts sobbing like a two-year-old making the same two-year-old noises - eeeeeh eeeeeh weeeeeee, enough to put anybody's teeth on edge. I guess at that time, this was considered natural, feminine behavior and way of speaking to show that the woman was a helpless brainless little thing. And the script always says that she is a helpless blonde. Interesting, is not it, that all female blondes are considered to be dumb but male blonds are considered to be hunks? The moment Blondie comes on, it is she cannot talk properly, think properly, but she can murder properly. So there are no original ideas in many of these versions - I have the full series, and I have seen the story theme being repeated after every six months. Then comes Virginia Gregg, the wife of the producer. She had talent, and she did quite a good job with Bob Bailey versions, but with Gerald Mohr productions, you knew how she would be talking to you. First four words - very high-pitched voice. Next two words normal voice. After that - mumble mumble mumble, last words - died away, and never spoken, but some noises made. Nobody, the producer of the director edited her dialogues. And that is why in many of these versions, the last words, if they have to be spoken by her, the dénouement, the punch, the crunch is mumble away in a whisper. No wonder the whole team had to be changed, with Bob Bailey being called in and repeat artists told to keep out and stay out.
Loved this episode. Gerald Mohr is the best voice for Marlowe. Thank you for this.
Great entertainment during the quarantine as of 2020 it's April. These are a lot of fun thank you for posting
AWSOME
What a voice
Thank you!
Gerald Mohr, Howard Duff, Robert Bailey...shit all these guys have awesome radio presence
An excellent episode of "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe." As noted in one of the comments below, Gerald Mohr, as well as Howard Duff and Robert Bailey, had exceptional radio voices and did so well in their respective radio dramas. I would add Edmond O'Brien to the list, although he was not on radio as much as the above mentioned individuals. I do not recall Bob Bailey being in motion pictures, although the others certainly were, especially Edmond O'Brien and to a lesser extent Howard Duff.
🎉🎉🎉❤
is it stated anywhere who the actress was?
I guess it was the general attitude towards females at the time. No wonder women fought back .
😎
I am a great fan of Philip Marlowe, but the Gerald Mohr interpretations were an excellent way of showing how were talented person could try his best with a terrible script, terrible direction and terrible supporting artistes but it is an uphill task, when compared to Bob Bailey and the Howard Duff Van Heflin versions.
Firstly, Mr. Mohr is told not to speak, but to bark. He is not speaking to the characters, but to an audience in a theater. That is seen with the statacco delivery of every word spit out like an election campaign speech.
Then there is one character who always plays the mad scientist/the eccentric old man and he has the most terrible cracked high-pitched voice that ever squeaked on radio. And he is in every second episode.
Then the sweet young thing, the blonde always played by Vivi Janice. Her way of playing it is spreading her mouth wide, clenching her teeth together, and then lisping in a little girl voice, to persuade Philip that she is helpless, sweet, needs help, and he always falls for it. Do tell me, which man is going to fall for pwease i need you to hunt faw my thisther, thee ith in gwear twubble.... Uggggggg! Not me. If I was in Phillips place, I would ask her to first get to a speech therapist and then get some treatment from a child psychologist. Because when Philip decides that he cannot help the pretty young thing because she cannot pay, oh they never have any money, she starts sobbing like a two-year-old making the same two-year-old noises - eeeeeh eeeeeh weeeeeee, enough to put anybody's teeth on edge.
I guess at that time, this was considered natural, feminine behavior and way of speaking to show that the woman was a helpless brainless little thing. And the script always says that she is a helpless blonde. Interesting, is not it, that all female blondes are considered to be dumb but male blonds are considered to be hunks?
The moment Blondie comes on, it is she cannot talk properly, think properly, but she can murder properly. So there are no original ideas in many of these versions - I have the full series, and I have seen the story theme being repeated after every six months.
Then comes Virginia Gregg, the wife of the producer. She had talent, and she did quite a good job with Bob Bailey versions, but with Gerald Mohr productions, you knew how she would be talking to you.
First four words - very high-pitched voice. Next two words normal voice. After that - mumble mumble mumble, last words - died away, and never spoken, but some noises made. Nobody, the producer of the director edited her dialogues. And that is why in many of these versions, the last words, if they have to be spoken by her, the dénouement, the punch, the crunch is mumble away in a whisper. No wonder the whole team had to be changed, with Bob Bailey being called in and repeat artists told to keep out and stay out.
Yup!