Suspense: The Queen's Ring (

Suspense: 12/28/53, episode 531
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

James Mason and wife Pamela Kellino appear in a Morton Fine and David Friedkin script about an historical event in British royalty. Mason plays Lord Essex and with Kellino as Queen Elizabeth’s “lady in waiting,” Mary Howard. She is a rival for Lord’s affections with the Queen’s. He is more than 30 years younger than the Queen. It is evident from the outset that the queen eventually may terminate her romance with Essex by having him hanged. She knows that he is filled with ambition and hopes one day to depose her and take the throne. Thinking of the moment when she may lose patience and order him executed, she gives Essex a ring which he is to send back to her only at such a time. Then, she promises, she will recall their happy days together and spare his life. She sends him to Ireland to put down a rebellion against the monarchy. Before he leaves, he tells Mary that when he returns, marries the Queen, and becomes king after she dies, Mary will join him on the throne. Lord Essex does not put down the rebellion, like the Queen wants, but negotiates a truce. She’s not pleased, but she can't bear to see him executed. He is apparently too proud to ask in this way, for his life. He ends up jailed and on the equivalent of death row. Mary visits him, and he tells her that she is her only love. She begs him for the ring so she can bring it to the Queen, and all of these problems would be behind them. He gives her the ring and also tells her that he will marry the Queen. He gives Mary the ring, but she’s so repulsed by his plans, that she tells the Queen that he did not return the ring and asks for forgiveness. Without the return of the ring, he is sent to the gallows.

The dialogue is v'ry much liketh a Shakespearean tragedy, and annoys in yond regard. This is not a particularly memorable episode, which may be why it was “hidden” between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays when listenership would be lower than usual.

The drama portion was recorded on Sunday, December 20, 1953. Rehearsal began at 11:00 am, and recording commenced at 3:30 pm, concluding at 4:00 pm.

The Suspense TV series presented this story on 1953-06-21 with a different script. No kinescope of the episode has been found.

The cast: JAMES MASON (Robert Devereaux of Essex), Pamela Kellino (Mary Howard), Joseph Kearns (Roger), Ben Wright (Sean / Jailer), Jeanette Nolan (Queen Elizabeth), Larry Thor (Narrator)

COMMERCIAL: Tom Holland (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)

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