CBS Radio Mystery Theater - "Murder Preferred" (Old Time Radio, 1980)
Evaluation and Summary
CBS Radio Mystery Theater's 'Murder Preferred' is a classic whodunit from 1980, written by Henry Slesar and directed by Himan Brown. The episode centers on the murder of Walter Haven, a prominent politician on the eve of announcing a Senate campaign. Haven is found shot in his study, and Tony Gerard is arrested for the crime. However, Haven's widow Adrian believes Gerard is innocent and hires attorney Tom Hendricks to investigate. The case becomes politically charged, with the title suggesting that murder—or at least the appearance of it—may be preferable to someone involved than the truth coming out. The episode stars Tony Roberts and follows the classic mystery formula of a seemingly straightforward crime that conceals deeper layers of motive and deception. The production includes a newly recorded contextual introduction by Victor Sterling, the original 1980 broadcast, and a closing announcement. The audio has been cleaned and mastered for modern listening. At 45 minutes, the episode represents the standard format for CBS Radio Mystery Theater, a long-running series known for tight, well-crafted mystery scripts. Slesar was a prolific and respected writer for the series, known for clever plotting and twist endings. The episode promises political intrigue, legal maneuvering, and the unraveling of a murder mystery where surface appearances deceive.
Verdict: A competently produced classic mystery with an intriguing premise and respected creative team, but limited information prevents higher confidence in its execution.
Fiction rubric
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Writing n/a
No transcript or detailed content provided; cannot assess dialogue quality or script construction
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Performance and production 3/5 31%
Professional old-time radio production with Tony Roberts; audio cleaned and mastered, but inherent limitations of 1980 broadcast technology
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Plot momentum n/a
Plot structure not detailed enough in source material to evaluate pacing or narrative drive
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Substance 3/5 23%
Classic mystery with political intrigue and legal investigation suggests solid content, though depth cannot be verified from description alone
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Delivers on its title 4/5 23%
Title 'Murder Preferred' implies someone benefits from the crime; setup with innocent man jailed and widow seeking truth directly addresses this premise
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Value for time 3/5 23%
45-minute format is standard for the series; reasonable length for a mystery, though pacing cannot be assessed from description
Worth it if you enjoy vintage radio drama, classic whodunits with political angles, or want to experience Henry Slesar's mystery writing from the golden age of radio theater.
Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.
Show notes
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