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1001 Radio Crime Solvers The Adventures of Philip Marlowe – Episode Show Notes ⭐ Episode: "The High‑Collared Cape" Series: The Adventures of Philip Marlowe Starring: Gerald Mohr Episode Summary
"The High‑Collared Cape" is a classic slice of radio noir—moody, stylish, and full of twists. It begins with a simple request for help and spirals into a tale of obsession, jealousy, and murder. Philip Marlowe finds himself chasing a killer whose signature is as theatrical as it is deadly.
Story Overview
Marlowe is hired by a nervous client who fears he's being followed by a mysterious figure wearing a distinctive high‑collared cape. The man insists the cape‑wearer is stalking him with murderous intent—but the story feels too strange even for Marlowe.
Still, Marlowe takes the case.
As he digs deeper:
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He uncovers a tangled web of romantic betrayal
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A jealous rival with a flair for dramatic entrances
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A trail of threats that escalate into violence
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A murder staged with theatrical precision
The cape becomes the symbol of a killer who hides behind style and shadow. Marlowe must separate costume from motive, illusion from truth, and fear from fact.
The climax delivers classic Marlowe grit—sharp dialogue, a sudden reversal, and a confrontation that strips away the cape and reveals the real killer beneath.
Key Themes
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The danger of obsession
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Theatricality as a mask for violence
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Marlowe's instinct for cutting through melodrama
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How jealousy fuels noir's darkest crimes
Why It Resonates
This episode is pure Raymond Chandler atmosphere—fog, fear, and a killer who hides behind a flourish of fabric. It's stylish, tense, and quintessentially Marlowe.
⭐ Episode: "The Seahorse Jockey" Series: The Adventures of Philip Marlowe Starring: Gerald Mohr Episode Summary
"The Seahorse Jockey" is one of the most colorful and fast‑moving episodes in the Marlowe canon. It blends the world of gambling, racing, and waterfront crime into a tight, punchy mystery that keeps Marlowe—and listeners—off balance from start to finish.
Story Overview
Marlowe is drawn into the case when a jockey known for riding a horse named Seahorse disappears under suspicious circumstances. The jockey's employer fears foul play, and Marlowe quickly discovers that the racing world is full of people who would kill for a payday.
As Marlowe investigates:
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He encounters shady gamblers with too much to lose
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A trainer hiding secrets behind a tough exterior
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A waterfront dive where danger comes with the drinks
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A scheme involving race‑fixing, double‑crosses, and a missing man who knows too much
The deeper Marlowe goes, the clearer it becomes that the jockey didn't just vanish—he was silenced. The case becomes a race against time as Marlowe follows clues through stables, docks, and back‑alley gambling rooms.
The finale is classic Marlowe: a violent showdown, a twist that flips the entire case, and justice delivered with the detective's trademark dry wit.
Key Themes
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Corruption in the racing world
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Greed as a motive for murder
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Marlowe's ability to navigate dangerous subcultures
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The Old West spirit alive in modern noir—horses, risk, and justice
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler's private eye, Philip Marlowe. Robert C. Reinehr and Jon D. Swartz, in their book, The A to Z of Old Time Radio, noted that the program differed from most others in its genre: "It was a more hard-boiled program than many of the other private detective shows of the time, containing few quips or quaint characters."
In 1948, the series moved to CBS, where it was called The Adventure of Philip Marlowe, with Gerald Mohr playing Marlowe. This series also began with an adaptation of "Red Wind", using a script different from the NBC adaptation. By 1949, it had the largest audience in radio. The CBS version ran for 114 episodes. That series ran 26 September 1948 – 29 September 1950.
