The Whistler The First Year (1954– ) Online

THE WHISTLER – The First Year –1955

This is episode 33 from the 39 episode run of, THE WHISTLER television series. The series ran during 1954 and 1955. It is based on the popular radio and film series of the same name. Each episode begins with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The episodes followed the same formula, in that someone's criminal acts were undone, either by an overlooked detail, or by their own stupidity. During the episodes, the Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action.

Virginia Field and Craig Steven headline this particular episode. Field is a spoiled brat from a wealthy family. Her uncle, Jonathan Hale is not amused with Field's lack of respect for money. Hale happens to control the cash. Field is always doing things to upset Hale. Field decides to get married just to annoy the elderly Hale. She figures she will get the family cash when Hale expires.

In the meantime, she marries her current beau, Craig Stevens. Steven appears to have enough cash to keep Field happy for the moment. A year goes by and Field has become bored with Stevens. She plans on dumping him and getting her own place. She tells Stevens about this and he starts laughing. He is broke and he can give her nothing. It seems he had only married Field because she stood first in line for her family's loot.

While the two are having this out, the phone rings. It is her uncle's lawyer, John Hoyt. He informs Field and Stevens that the uncle, Hale, has died. Hoyt wants to come over and read them the will. They of course agree to the visit. Both are happy as clams at the prospect of a half million.

The will, however, says that they will only get the cash if they remain happily married for at least 10 years. This was Hale's way of giving Field a hard time for going against his wishes. If one of the couple dies, then the other will get all the cash.

The two are now forced to put up with each other for the next 9 years. Lawyer Hoyt tells them that he will be checking up on them every so often. A few weeks go by and Stevens has had to get a job to support them. Field is already stepping out on Stevens with a few eager gentlemen. Both of course are stewing about the 9 years to go.

It is New Years and Stevens suggests they take a few days at the mountain lodge they had honeymooned at. But first, Stevens needs to talk his boss into covering an out of town sales call. The man, Robert Carson, agrees to take the flight to Seattle and cover for Stevens. Stevens gives Carson his airline ticket to use. Stevens tells him he will drive up after the weekend.

Stevens and Field hit the road after dropping Carson at the airport. They stop at a service station on the way so Field can buy some cigarettes. Inside, Field hears over the radio that the plane Carson had taken had crashed with no survivors. The old light bulb goes off. What if she bumped off dear hubby and buried him in the hills. Everyone would think he died when the plane crashed. Carson was flying under Steven's name. Yes, it seems like a good idea.

The next scene opens and we are in a Police Station. Two detectives are writing up a statement on a murder admission. They shove the notepaper across the table and Stevens enters the frame. "A bad break for you that crash. We had you cold the minute you showed up here in Seattle. Checking into the hotel, when you were listed as dead on the flight tipped us off." It seems that Stevens had turned the tables on the wife. He had planned all along to kill Field, and bury her in the woods. Afterwards, he had then driven like hell to Seattle to give himself an alibi if needed. He had not heard about the plane crash.

This is a much better episode than this write-up is suggesting. Good story, good acting and a fast pace keep this one just zinging along.

Another good nasty story about nasty people craving for money. A story about greed, greed and greed again. Two people, a couple, fighting each other for money after the female's uncle dies and therefore leaves a particular will that doesn't satisfy any of the opponents. A nasty story that seems very normal at first sight. But when you closely Watch it, it's although exquisite to appreciate. Craig Stevens plays the male lead here.

That character suits him very well.

I am hurry to find out more gems from this very Worth seeing TV show from the fifties.