Weird Circle 28 - The Murder of the Little Pig

"The Weird Circle. In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out of the past stories strange and weird. Bell-keeper - toll bell, so that all may know we are gathered again in The Weird Circle." "We are met in this cave by the restless sea to reveal the horror in Man's mind. Listen to The Weird Circle!" "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: The Murder of the Little Pig."

This episode, first broadcast on March 5, 1944, is an adaptation of a story starring M. Lecoq, a character created by French author Émile Gaboriau. I was not able to find out where the original was published.

The story is compelling detective story, starting with the crime all but solved, except for some lingering suspicions by our protagonist, Lecoq, who by wit and guile manages to dig down into the truth. Still, a mystery lingers.

A fun story well executed, although a bit didactic at parts. The inspiration for Sherlock Holmes is quite apparent, although this might be the result of a post-Holmes adaptation.

Weird Circle 27 - The Feast of Redgauntlet

"The Weird Circle. In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call out of the past stories strange and weird. Bell-keeper - toll bell, so that all may know we are gathered again in The Weird Circle." "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: The Feast of Redgauntlet."

This episode, first broadcast on February 27, 1944, is an adaptation of the Steenie Steenson story from Letter XI - Same to the Same, in Redgauntlet, by Sir Walter Scott, first published in 1824. The adaptation is pretty much one-to-one, with the Scots replaced with English in a Scottish accent, presumably to make it more accessible to the American listeners.

Being composed as or adapted from a folktale, it makes a great transition to radio.

Weird Circle 26 - Frankenstein

"Listen to the waves, listen to the bells, listen to The Weird Circle!" "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: Frankenstein.".

This episode, first broadcast on February 20, 1944, is an adaptation of the famous novel with the same name, by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818 (although the 1831 revision was more widely published and read). The adaptation cuts a lot of the framing to leave us with an abridged narrative of Victor Frankenstein, his creation of the monster, his rejection of it, his escape, its pursuit, and the tragic end of their relationship.

Thankfully bereft of a lot of aspects made almost canon by the famous Universal adaptation from 1931, both the action and the characterization are very good, and it seems like the gist was preserved despite the short length.

Weird Circle 25 - The Heart of Ethan Brand

"Who are the outstanding writers of weird and uncanny stories?" "Poe, de Maupassant, Bulwer-Lytton, Wilkie Collins!" "Where can I hear these stories?" "Listen to The Weird Circle!" "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: The Heart of Ethan Brand.".

This episode, first broadcast on February 13, 1944, is an adaptation of the short story Ethan Brand,  by Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1852. The adaptation is very loose, reducing the cast of characters (the absence of the Wandering Jew was not felt), and following closely after the eponymous Brand as he leaves honest living to manipulate the people around him through their weaknesses, in his search for the unpardonable sin. His dialogues with his eviler inner voice and with his victims push the plot forward very effectively.

I don't know that I can say more without spoiling the experience - I would recommend listening to this one yourselves. A solid character study well done in radio.

Weird Circle 24 - The Niche of Doom

"The Weird Circle. In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out of the past stories strange and weird. Bell-keeper - toll the bell, so that all may know we are gathered again in The Weird Circle." "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: The Niche of Doom.".

This episode, first broadcast on February 5, 1944, is an adaptation of La Grande Bretèche by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831. The adaptation decides to dispense with the frame story of the doctor curious about the abandoned manor - instead we are at the end of the action, with the narrator continuing the theme of the previous episode by complaining about an incessant noise, in this case a tapping, before taking us with narration to the start of what she has gone through. A woman married too young to a very old husband, a judge, she is easy prey to the affections of the young, pushy neighbor. Faith perverts truth, and tragedy results.

Weird Circle 23 - The Tell-Tale Heart

"The Weird Circle. In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out of the past stories strange and weird. Bell-keeper - toll the bell, that all may know we are gathered again in The Weird Circle." "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: The Tell-Tale Heart.".

This episode, first broadcast on January 30, 1944, is an adaptation of the short story with the same name by Edgar Alan Poe, first published in 1843. Like the original, the adaptation centers on the narrator who does the horrible deed, but to his narration is added a choir of internal voices goading him on. Outside of his mind, the old man is made explicitly into his uncle, and another character, a long-winded friend and neighbor, is added, both to provide commentary early on, and to be the one bringing in the police towards the end.

Weird Circle 22 - A Terrible Night

"The Weird Circle. In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out of the past stories strange and weird. Bell-keeper - toll the bell, that all may know that we are gathered again in The Weird Circle." "Out of the past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale: A Terrible Night.".

This episode, first broadcast on January 23, 1944, is an adaptation of the short story with the same name by Fitz-James O'Brien, first published in 1856. (This is a link to a reading, as I was unable to find the text online. Another reading with more background as part of a podcast can be found here) As in many previous episodes, we start towards the end - the protagonist, Charles Costa. is on trial, and is asked to tell his story in his own words, which leads us to the bulk of the plot. This is different from the original, that started mid-action. This action is in the woods - in the original, Upstate New York, in the adaptation, even farther north, in Canada. Costa and his brother in law are on a hunting trip. They get lost, and find shelter, but can they trust their taciturn host? Throughout there is a sense of dread as we wonder what the crime is until we reach the deeply tragic ending.

The original was very short and had little characterization beyond impressions from the protagonist and some bravado from his there future and here brother-in-law, Dick Linton. Bertha, there the fiancée and here the wife, and the host, Joel, are given more to say. The small amount of active characters made this easy listening, despite the backwards and sometimes outlandish statements ("that's the way writers are - so sure of themselves"). There is a real sense of the isolation and danger in the woods, and then at the cabin.