Suspense – “The Dead Man” (Nov 20, 1944)

Suspense – “The Dead Man” (Nov 20, 1944)

In this chilling tale, Suspense turns its microphone on a twisted experiment in life, death, and the mind. “The Dead Man” introduces us to Dr. Juan Marko, a scientist obsessed with testing the limits of hypnosis. When he convinces his subject to believe he is dead, the suggestion takes hold so deeply that it becomes more than a trick of the mind. The man truly appears lifeless — and the experiment spins into something darker than even Marko could have imagined.

First aired on November 20, 1944, “The Dead Man” is based on Fritz Leiber’s short story, which would later become a horror classic in its own right. On radio, the adaptation pushes the boundaries of sound design and performance. The hypnotic voice of the doctor, the rising panic of the subject, and the cold silence when breath seems to stop all combine into an unforgettable half-hour that blurred the line between science and horror.

As with many great Suspense stories, the genius is in the ambiguity. Is the hypnotic state so strong that it can cause real death, or has the doctor crossed a line he never admits? The episode leaves listeners shaken with the idea that belief itself can kill.

Cast & Production
Produced by William Spier, known for extracting the maximum tension out of every script.

Musical score by Lucien Moraweck (in the 1944 period of Suspense), blending eerie chords with sharp orchestral hits.

Cast included Joseph Julian as Dr. Marko, with a supporting troupe from CBS’s New York studio.

Why It Matters
“The Dead Man” stands out as one of the few Suspense episodes rooted in speculative science. While many stories leaned toward crime and noir, this one veered into horror and proto-sci-fi, foreshadowing later anthology series like X-Minus One and The Twilight Zone.

Bobby Jay’s Take
What gets me every time about this episode is how simple the setup is — just a voice, a subject, and a suggestion — but it leaves you rattled long after. It’s one of those broadcasts that makes you glance around the room and wonder just how much power words can have.

Presented by OTA Music Group as part of B4TV: Before Television — preserving the theatre of the mind for a new generation of listeners.