Aired: 1943 - 1945
An anthology of war stories, "told by the men and women who have seen them happen."
Produced in cooperation with the Council on Books in Wartime, Words at War promised "stories of the battlefronts, of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, of underground warfare, of the home front, of action on the seas." Each show was to be "a living record of this war and the things for which we fight."
Words at War was a 30 minute dramatic anthology series dealing with stories condensed from books written about World War II. The series started in the middle of the war and at the most crucial time of the war for the allies, somewhat heightening it's debut. Not only that, it was supported by Johnson's Wax in the Fibber McGee and Molly time slot as Jim and Marian Jordan went on vacation. And if that wasn't enough, the music for the series was done by NBC's own Frank Black, a master at orchestration and the shows were often directed by Anton M. Leder of Suspense fame. Adding to all of that is the fact that most all - if not all - of the series is available today for our listening pleasure and the sound is above average.
Done in a docu-drama style with Black's music as the background gave often stark, sobering realism to these stories penned by different authors. While not all of the shows are winners, many are far above average and many remind me of the writing of Arch Oboloer. Not that these plays are anti-war (just the opposite) but most of these stories pack a powerful, though-provoking wallop, especially when dealing with subjects that are hard to comprehend, like the taking of innocent civilian lives. As Billboard Magazine wrote in 1943, "Muddled, cloying ideas of war romantics were washed away in a clean sweep." No truer words can be spoken about some of these dramas.
With anthologies you often have some good and some bad because each author has his own strengths and weaknesses. However, all seem to have a quality worthy of this fine radio series. Click here to read more about Words At War
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Please enjoy these 87 old time radio episodes:
| Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.28.1944 | words at war (73) camp follower |
+ "Camp Follower". The story of an army wife determined to stay near her husband at a small town a... | |
| 11.21.1944 | words at war (72) barriers down |
+ "Barriers Down". A veteran correspondent and president of the Associated Press campaigns against... | |
| 11.14.1944 | words at war (71) one thing after another |
+ "One Damn Thing After Another". The humorous adventures of Tom Traynor, a war correspondent for ... | |
| 10.24.1944 | words at war (69) still time to die |
+ "Still Time To Die". A grisly portrait of Japanese atrocities during the war against China. Also... | |
| 10.10.1944 | words at war (67) the veteran comes back | ||
| 10.03.1944 | words at war (66) pacific victory, 1945 | ||
| 09.26.1944 | words at war (65) journey through chaos | ||
| 09.12.1944 | words at war (63) one man air force |
+ "One-Man Air Force". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. The story of Don Gentille, one of America's top... | |
| 09.05.1944 | words at war (62) the veteran comes back |
+ "The Veteran Comes Back". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A look at "a major social problem of the po... | |
| 08.29.1944 | words at war (61) simone |
+ "Simone". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A story about patriotism in occupied France. A young girl ... | |
| 08.15.1944 | words at war (59) heaven below china looks forward | ||
| 08.08.1944 | words at war (58) nazis go underground |
+ "The Nazis Go Underground". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A story about a plan hatched by Nazi indu... | |
| 08.01.1944 | words at war (57) headquarters budapest |
+ "Headquarters Budapest". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A dramatization of the actual political mess... | |
| 07.25.1944 | words at war (56) lost island |
+ "Lost Island". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A troop ship arrives on a sleepy Pacific Island and co... | |
| 07.18.1944 | words at war (55) war below zero |
+ "War Below Zero". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A group of men isolated on the Greenland icecap get... | |
| 07.11.1944 | words at war (54) captain retread |
+ "Captain Retread". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A vet from the first war joins again to do his par... | |
| 07.04.1944 | words at war (53) war criminals and punishment |
+ "War Criminals and Punishment". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. An open letter to Adolf Hitler. A dr... | |
| 06.27.1944 | words at war (52) fair stood the winds of france |
+ "Fair Stood The Wind For France". Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. A story of five American flyers sho... | |
| 06.13.1944 | words at war d day special |
+ "Here Is Your War". Portraits of the common soldier during the North African campaign. The script... | |
| 05.30.1944 | words at war (51) the navy hunts the cgr 3070 |
+ "The Navy Hunts The CGR 3070". A small yawl on submarine patrol for the Navy gets caught in a st... | |
| 05.23.1944 | words at war (50) lend lease weapon for victory |
+ "The Story Of Lend Lease". A drama-documentary that traces the history of "Lend-Lease" and attemp... | |
| 05.16.1944 | words at war (49) lifeline |
+ "Lifeline". The story of "Screwy Louie" and other merchant sailors who keep the "lifline" open f... | |
| 05.09.1944 | words at war (48) gunners get glory |
+ "Gunners Get Glory". The adventures of a naval gun crew aboard a merchant ship, torpedoed by a Na... | |
| 05.02.1944 | words at war (47) curtain rises |
+ The “Curtain Rises” is the story of the beginning of the real show for the American Army; it�... | |
| 04.18.1944 | words at war (45) silence of the seas |
+ “I am an old man, not as old as the sea but old enough. I can hear the surf hammering at the bea... |
Ryan
Robert
WORDS AT WAR
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