EDGAR ALLAN POE

Gathered in this collection are 12 episodes from old radio programs like "Suspense," "Mystery in the Air," and "Inner Sanctum," each depicting one of Poe's classic tales. Most of these segments are from the late 1940s or 1950s, so production and sound quality tend to be good. Vincent Price reads a faithful and chilling adaptation of "The Pit and the Pendulum." Peter Lorre's performance as a tormented wife-killer in "The Black Cat" is natural, and excellent. Daws Butler's unmistakable comical voice is right for the satirical "Never Bet the Devil Your Head." "The Tell-Tale Heart," read by Boris Karloff, however, is disappointing, with a scratchy recording and a script that wanders far from the original. A 32-page booklet provides background to the stories, productions, and actors. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]