The Fine Italian Hand: The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (November 5, 1949)

“The Fine Italian Hand” is an episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 5, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Philip Marlowe is hired by Mr. Angelo, who runs a small amusement park, to investigate a dangerous love triangle involving his son Bernardo. The young veteran has fallen for a dancer named Paula, who belongs to Frank Saffron, a ruthless gambler. Marlowe must uncover whether Paula genuinely loves Bernardo or is merely using him as part of Saffron's game, before the situation turns violent.

Los Angeles area, including an amusement park at Magnolia and Van Nuys Boulevard, Frank Saffron's gambling ranch house south of Ventura, and a dance studio on Wilshire Boulevard.

Characters: Philip Marlowe, Mr. Angelo, Bernardo Angelo, Frank Saffron, Paula, Red-faced man, Cleaning woman

Listen for: Marlowe's investigation as he tracks Paula to a dance studio and breaks into Saffron's office to uncover the truth about the dangerous entanglement.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.