0675 - Revenge (7/1/1977)
Evaluation and Summary
CBS Radio Mystery Theater episode 0675, 'Revenge,' is a classic radio drama set in the Old West, written by Percy Granger and directed by Himan Brown. The episode follows a wealthy man who returns to a frontier town with a singular purpose: to exact revenge on three men who wronged him years earlier. The cast includes Gordon Heath, Robert Dryden, Leon Janney, Bryna Raeburn, and Gilbert Mack, lending professional voice talent to what appears to be a straightforward revenge narrative. At 45 minutes, the episode fits the standard format of the Mystery Theater anthology series, which was known for delivering complete dramatic arcs within a single sitting. The setup is archetypal Western fare—a wronged protagonist returning to settle old scores—which suggests the episode likely explores themes of justice, vengeance, and the moral consequences of seeking retribution. The presence of multiple cast members implies the story involves interpersonal conflict and confrontation, though the specific nature of the original wrongs and how the protagonist pursues his revenge remains unknown from the available information. As a restoration of a 1977 broadcast, the episode represents a piece of radio drama history, part of the Mystery Theater's extensive catalog of suspenseful and dramatic storytelling that defined the medium before television dominated entertainment.
Verdict: A classic radio drama with a solid revenge premise and professional production, but limited information prevents confident assessment of execution quality.
Fiction rubric
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Writing n/a
No script excerpts or dialogue samples provided; cannot assess dialogue quality or narrative structure from title and premise alone.
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Performance and production n/a
No audio samples or performance descriptions available; cannot evaluate acting quality or sound design from show notes.
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Plot momentum 3/5 25%
The revenge premise is inherently forward-driving, but without episode details, unclear if execution maintains tension or contains pacing issues.
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Substance 3/5 25%
A revenge narrative with multiple antagonists suggests layered conflict, but the show notes provide no indication of thematic depth or substantive content beyond the basic plot.
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Delivers on its title 4/5 25%
Title 'Revenge' directly matches the premise of a man seeking vengeance on three wrongdoers; the setup clearly delivers on what the title promises.
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Value for time 3/5 25%
45 minutes is standard for the format; without hearing the episode, pacing cannot be assessed, but the premise suggests sufficient material for the runtime.
Worth it if you enjoy vintage radio drama, Western storytelling, or the Mystery Theater anthology series, and appreciate the restoration of 1970s broadcast entertainment.
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.
Show notes
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