The Man Who Wanted To Be Edward G Robinson

Originally Aired: September 30, 1948 Suspense #309, "The Man Who Wanted To Be Edward G Robinson," stars Edward G. Robinson himself in a darkly comic psychological thriller. Homer J. Hubbard is a meek, browbeaten husband who has endured twenty years of constant nagging and persecution from his domineering wife, Ada. His mundane existence takes a dramatic turn when he sees the reissue of Little Caesar and becomes utterly transfixed by Edward G. Robinson's tough-guy persona. Homer begins obsessively identifying with the actor, noticing their similar voices and features, and escaping into elaborate daydreams where he assumes Robinson's commanding personality. He imagines himself holding up his office at gunpoint and confronting his timid reality with the actor's trademark swagger. Homer's fantasy world intensifies as he sees every Robinson picture multiple times and practices the actor's mannerisms in secret. When Ada catches him imitating Robinson while shaving and ridicules his pathetic performance, something inside Homer snaps. The humiliation pushes him past his breaking point, and he decides to kill his wife. The question becomes whether this meek daydreamer can actually summon the ruthless determination of his cinematic idol to commit murder.