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Title

The Grey Ghost

Plot

Overcome by grief at the death of her race car driver father, a woman abandons her husband and loses herself in Italy. While roaming the city streets, she meets a talented driver whom she decides to sponsor. She learns the truth surrounding her father's accident while watching him race.

Episode

0323

Air Dates

  • First Run - August 8, 1975
  • Repeat - December 21, 1975

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

70
57     13


11 Responses to Episode 0323

A woman pictures herself as nothing more than a loser. He latest bout of pity causes here to run out on her husband and travel to Rome. Her dead race-car driver father talks to her from the grave on occasion in a reverberated voice - including on the flight to Rome. Upon arrival, she gets involved in another race-car experience that involves her, her dead father, the man that was involved in the wreck that killed him, a rich Italian race car owner, and an American mechanic that operates a small garage in Italy. As the wheels turn...

Ryan R.

A woman depressed over the death of her father (a race car driver)leaves her husband and flies to Italy. While there, she meets a brilliant but underfunded driver and decides to sponsor him. While watching him race, she discovers the truth about her father's death.

Angelou Steve

Car racing... Well, I hate all sports but this one less than most. The quiet, slightly embarrassed, ghost which haunts the protagonist is a bit interesting and the characters are nice.

J.P. Mason

You hate all sports? What are you, an idiot?

Billy

A woman mourns the death of her father who was killed as a professional race car driver. The other driver accused of causing the accident left the sport and all went their separate ways. While traveling in Europe, the woman encounters an Italian man who offers to show her the sights and lift her spirits… and as an Italian race car driver, there is an appeal she finds hard to resist. While out driving in his fancy car, they are overtaken as though standing still by a strange vehicle…

S. Archer

An interesting listen as a character who I think is only in Act 1 comes back in Act 3 behind the scenes (only spoken of). I also found it interesting that the ghost couldn't move on until his daughter figured out what really happened.

Alec

Interesting episode; I actually listened to this episode when NPR had reruns of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater in the late 1990s, except I didn't know that the episodes they were running were reruns of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater from the 1970s. Once I found out that, I actually got more interested in the series and started listening to more episodes, and ever since then I have been a fan.

Adam

What's with the phony Italian accents, lol! This is a very unlikely, unrealistic tale, even for fiction, mostly because the story just doesn't make any sense. Why would a woman on a short trip to Europe decide to sponsor a young stranger, (who she isn't even attracted to romantically), on the spur of the moment for no good reason? Sorry, I just don't buy it. The whole story is silly, imo. They could have done much better than this.

Amy

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. First things first, the cast: Betsy Palmer (as Kate Richards), William Redfield (as Guido Basso and Joe/Giovanni), Evie Juster (as Angie the Stewardess and the Hotel Receptionist), and Ian Martin (as Chips DeBille and Alexandro Coffee). I’d give big props to the last 3 for playing their roles with Italian accents. As for Betsy Palmer, this was one of her best roles. This actress (known for playing Jason Voorhees' Mother in the FRIDAY THE 13th series) was captivating in this and she should’ve done a lot more mysteries for CBSRMT. The sound effects of the airplane soaring, passengers murmuring, background noise at the restaurant, Ferrari car engine, race car screeches, howling wind, unlocking the garage, engine roaring, crickets, traffic noise, car racing on the tracks, the race car crashing, beeps at the hospital, and the background noise at the Airport were satisfactory. The music was splendid. Not just the suspenseful tracks or the melodies during the ghost scenes, but also adding Italian music in the scenes. In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall begins with the topic of voices from the grave. In ACT-1, he's focused on the supernatural, especially on a supposed phantom car. In ACT-2, after getting deeper into the story about the racing car, our main ghost becomes an unsympathetic specter. In ACT-3, after putting the pass to rest, our Host gives us a happy ending about the race car rebuilt and our main character has a child. In his Epilogue, E.G. Marshall quoted Major League Baseball Player Satchel Paige to advise anyone who may hear voices: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Both the Prologue & Epilogue were unforgettable! Now here’s why I rate this 4 out of 5 stars: the SCRIPT. It was a decent mystery story, but when the main character communicated with the ghost, that was very similar to THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR. Wouldn’t any of the characters be concerned about Kate Richards and thought she was talking to herself in public? As for the race car itself, the Grey Ghost, it should’ve been brought in more for the scenes. Plus, it would’ve been a better mystery tale if the car had a mind of its own and it would destroy anyone who would try to drive it. “The Phantom Car” would’ve been the alternate title for this. Tune in to this one if you adore Betsy Palmer’s work. And check out the other episode she was in (#0065-THE UNEARTHLY GIFT, #0283-SOMEDAY I’LL FIND YOU, #0541-THE DEATHLY WHITE MAN, and #0694-FOR WANT OF A NAIL). And for those that are Nostalgic on radio commercials, this one has Tom Selleck talking about the National Guard, followed by the news reports on WWJ News Radio. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Russell

Great idea! I think it would have really spiced up the story if the racing car had a mind of its own! THAT would have been much more interesting than this boring, borderline soap opera drama.

Amy

Good story with a happy ending! The only disappointment I have is that the commercials and old newscasts have been cut.

Jim K.


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