CBSRMT Episode Information Next Episode

Title

Dead Ringer

Plot

A woman accidentally comes across a dead ringer for her husband. She decides to enlist his cooperation to help dispose of her husband

Episode

0027

Air Dates

  • First Run - February 1, 1974
  • Repeat - April 6, 1974
  • Repeat - January 13, 1979

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

266
215     51


15 Responses to Episode 0027

Saw the double cross coming. An episode where no one is to be trusted. Crime drama; no supernatural elements.

Andy

Another romp involving not-very-nice characters in which a woman hits a guy in the middle of the street late at night, takes him home to her husband, and keeps him there to heal up his wounds. Thing is, the guy she hit is an exact twin to her husband. This gives them an idea to accidentally fatally poison the stranger, collect on her husband's million-dollar life insurance policy, and flee the country. What they didn't count on was the guy's baggage, which turns out much greater than they ever imagined. Liked it. Can't wait, though, until reruns start popping up in about a week. Maybe I'll catch up and have time to listen to other stuff again...

Tony

This program is a very good play centered on a woman, her husband, and a gentleman she meets that looks virtually identical to her husband. Prepare yourself for some interesting listening.

Jerome

Gloria Winters is driving down a road on a rainy night when she spots a man who has been the victim of a hit-and-run. She stops to help him and is amazed to discover that this man, named Leo, is a dead ringer for her husband. The two plot to murder her husband and have Leo take his place. This story is full of plot twists and double crosses that will keep you guessing. Genre: Suspense

Houston

A man in a car accident is picked up by a woman who claims that he and her husband are 'dead ringers' for each other. They plot to murder the husband, claim the insurance, and live life together. This story has more twists and turns than, well... a really twisty and turn-ey road Another one of those episodes that will benefit from a second listen.

Jeremy Bushong

I'll admit I didn't see where this story was going most of the time. What I thought was going to be a straight forward plot had a few twists that I didn't see coming, especially the last one. A good story!

Alec

What a great Twist! I truly didn't predict that one...

Mandy

I love cbs mystery theatre!

Joe

I love the CBS Mystery Theater too! I actually listened to them as a child in the 70s and 80s. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy them again!

Tina

Good writing. The optional outcomes compounded so that if you did guess the ending you still couldn't be sure. There was always an optional twist, even past the end, The host could have come back with a wrap up that would still be plausible.

Kurt L

"Have you ever noticed the similarity between night driving and making your way through life? Driving at night, you can only see as far as your headlights show you the road. You never know what's over the next hill or around the next curve. And even on a straight road, your vision only extends as far as your lights. Life is very much the same. None of us really knows what lies ahead."

Cindy

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. What’s great about Murray Burnett’s story, is that it starts off by being predictable and then comes the shocking twist in the middle. But in the end, it was predictable that the main characters got caught. A Drama-Mystery that would be suitable if it was shown on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS and the title of this would be “What Lies Ahead.” In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall starts it off by asking the similarity of driving at night and making our way through life. In ACT-1, he sets up the scene and we’re put into a character’s place. Later on, taken the first step on murder without warnings signs. In ACT-2, arranging an uneasy murder. After the shocking twist of who got killed, our Host knows there’s more to go. In ACT-3, quoting Scottish Poet Robert Burns and states that it doesn’t apply to the story (but if the “Mice and Men” quote isn’t related to this murder story, why bring it up?) In his Epilogue, predictable conclusion that the killers would’ve gotten away with it if only they knew what laid ahead of them in the near future. The sound effects of the car engine/honk/tires screech, hard rain, roaring thunder, water sink, doors, footsteps, dishes clinking, rotary phone, tea kettle whistling, body collapse, the slap (at the 27:16 mark), ocean waves, birds chirping, and background noise at the Airport were supportive and helpful in this tale. A variety of dramatic tunes were played in every scene and all them worked perfectly. The best part in this episode, was the cast: Leon Janney (as Leo Winters), Joan Lovejoy (as Gloria Winters), Larry Haines (as Al Grissom), Paul Hecht (as Lou Grafton), and Robert Dryden (as Dr. Hue Carmody and the Lieutenant). Both Paul Hecht & Robert Dryden are great in their parts for the CBSRMT series. But Joan Lovejoy teaming up with Larry Haines & Leon Janney was outstanding! The 3 characters that they played were fully believable, even when Larry Haines gasped his character’s last breath at the 25:15 mark sounded convincing. Even though that this episode had predictable areas, it’s still an entertaining story with great dialogue and worth listening to. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Russell

Enjoyed this episode with a twist and then the slam dunk finish for the real criminal. Great story!

Nancy

Was that Johnny Cash singing in the "Be Prepared" ad that starts at 2:12? I love that the ads are left in! I also love that the news is left in. I had never heard about the bad 1971 hotel fire in Seoul Korea or the skyscraper fire in Brazil the year of this program. Additionally, this program is a priceless record of news about Nixon and the Watergate scandal. [BREAK] Warning: spoiler alert [BREAK] I found this episode very confusing. I couldn't tell at the end of it was her husband who had been murdered or the look alike who Gloria (the woman) had picked up after he'd been hit by another car. I had to listen to it to a couple of times to make sense out of the ending. I should have just read the comments... ha ha! I finally figured out that Gloria and her husband, Leo, were the ones plotting to kill Al Grissom - the look alike - then passed him off as her deceased husband so she and her real husband could collect the life insurance. I thought it was going to be the other way around - that Gloria and Al would plot to kill her real husband then pass Al off as Leo afterwards. Really interesting twist. I loved the brilliant analogy from EG Marshall about life and driving in the dark.

Angela

He's a dead ringer and looks exactly like her husband, which she fails to notice when she picks him up and doesn't realize during the whole car ride?

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