THE WHISTLER – Fatal Fraud –1954

This is episode 10 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.

This one is set in Hong Kong. A down-on-his-luck comedian (Patric Knowles) is doing a bit for a wealthy local (John Banner). Banner is throwing a party for some friends of his. Knowles is a hit with his ability to do voice imitations of various people.

After the party ends, Knowles returns to his rundown hotel. The manager insists that he pay his back rent or be locked out. One of the guests at the party (Marie Windsor) now shows and pays his bill. Windsor would like to have a chat with Knowles about a money-making deal.

Knowles listens as Windsor lays out a plan to bilk her boss (Banner) out of a cool $250,000. Knowles is all ears as Windsor explains that she needs Knowles to imitate Banner's voice. There is a small plane coming to Hong Kong with the cash for Banner's business. Knowles is to give the pilot new directions by radio for him to land at a small out of the way airport. Windsor has even brought along several tape recordings of Banner for him to study.

For his work he will get a third of the take. Windsor gets a third and the company radio operator (John Beradino) gets the remaining third. As an added bonus Miss Windsor bats her eyes and cuddles up to Knowles. Needless to say Knowles is all for the idea. What guy would say no to the cash as well as the charms of Miss Windsor...

The night of the heist comes and everything goes off without a hitch. They divert the plane, grab the cash, leaving the pilot bound and gagged with a large bump on the head. They then drive down to the dock to grab a nondescript freighter out of Hong Kong.

Windsor boards the ship with the cash to make the deal with the ship's Captain while Knowles and Beradino wait on shore. Beradino is upset about the amount of time Windsor is taking. A Chinese laborer passes Knowles a note while Beradino is watching the ship's gangway.

The note is from Windsor, it asks Knowles to send Beradino onto the ship, then beat the feet to meet her a few blocks away. She has exited the ship down the other gangway. The note says that a two way split is better than three.

Knowles prods the anxious Beradino into boarding the ship to see what the delay is. When Beradino is out of sight, Knowles hot foots it to the meeting with Windsor.

He waits at the deserted alley corner for Windsor, who seems to be running late. He of course starts to think that maybe he is the one being beaten out of a share. What if the note had been really for Beradino? What if the Chinese fellow had given him the note in error? What is he to think? Knowles hears a noise from up the alley. He steps back into the shadows and looks in the direction of the sound. He sees Miss Windsor walking up the alley with a revolver in her hand. Windsor call out, "Who is there? Show yourself." The completely rattled Knowles is not sure what to do. He decides to imitate Beradino's voice as he steps forward and answers Windsor.

Windsor empties her revolver into Knowles, killing him. She then steps forward and has a look at the body. Her eyes open wide as she sees who she has killed. It was Beradino she had wanted to dump all along, not Knowles. She drops the gun just as a policeman on patrol rounds the corner. The perfect crime is no more.

This is a pretty nifty episode that starts slow and quickly builds to a great ending.

Film noir veteran Marie (The Ice Queen) Windsor makes this one look easy as she does her bit. Windsor appeared in the noirs FORCE OF EVIL, TWO DOLLAR BETTOR, CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, THE SNIPER, NARROW MARGIN, HELL'S HALF ACRE, NO MAN'S WOMAN, THE UNHOLY WIFE and (of course...) THE KILLING.