MovieChat Forums > Suspense (1949) Discussion > Interesting live-broadcast screwups

Interesting live-broadcast screwups


The makers of "Suspense" did an outstanding job considering that the show was broadcast live. But screwups are inevitable on live television. What are some of the interesting ones you've noticed?

In "The Comic Strip Murder", a piece of equipment can be seen moving past a high-rise balcony like a UFO. In "The Parcel", a stock clip of a crowd enjoying a ballgame runs out before the director can dissolve to Ray Walston, Royal Dano, and Conrad Janis sitting in a bleacher mock-up.

In the "Auto Lite" commericial at the halfway point of "The Debt", the woman playing "Western Union Operator 25" suddenly forgets her lines and gets that deer-in-the-headlights look for several agonizing seconds. (I felt sorry for her.)

In "The Cask of Amantillado", there's a stairway set that Bela Lugosi and the other actor walk down repeatedly to represent their descent into a deep cellar. Over and over they go down these same stairs until you see them almost bumping into one another.

In "Woman In Love" it looks as though Arnold Moss loses his fake moustache after a fall and covers his mouth while the camera moves away quickly.

I can't recall the episodes now, but I've seen instances in which stagehands could be glimpsed here and there.

Any other interesting gaffes you've noticed?


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About 8 minutes into "I'm No Hero", you can see a cameraman and his TV camera.

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Thanks for alerting us to the Auto-Lite commercial stumble in "The Debt." You're right about that poor lady's eyes when she goes up on her limes. Poor thing! She probably felt she'd blown her chance at stardom and went home kicking herself.

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I just saw that ep and man that poor girl. And btw if you need help finding a Sta Full battery, don't call for Operator 25!!


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I am the softly falling snow.

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I bet her husband said to her, "Don't worry about it. No one will ever see it again!"

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