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The Marlowe Files

Presented by OTRPODS

Welcome to The Marlow Files, a show that brings you classic noir detective stories from the golden age of radio. Rediscover the hard-boiled world of Raymond Chandler's iconic private eye through these re-broadcasts of the beloved radio program. First airing in 1947, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe became one of radio's most celebrated detective series, known for its sharp dialogue, atmospheric storytelling, and compelling mysteries. Follow Philip Marlowe, brought to life by talented radio actors, as he navigates the mean streets of Los Angeles, solving cases that take him from penthouses to dive bars, uncovering secrets, lies, and deadly schemes along the way. What sets Philip Marlowe apart is its noir atmosphere, witty narration, and complex plots that keep you guessing until the very end. Each episode delivers a complete mystery filled with memorable characters, dangerous dames, and the kind of tough-talking detective work that defined the genre. Whether you're a longtime fan of old-time radio or discovering these classic mysteries for the first time, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe promises to deliver suspenseful entertainment and a nostalgic journey through one of radio's most iconic detective series. Tune in and let the mysteries of Philip Marlowe captivate your imagination.

198 episodes

Sound And The Unsound

Dec 7, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a harmless complaint from a lonely old neighbor explodes into a dark mystery of secrets, broken families, and a killer hiding in plain sight. Lucille Bellows swears she’s been hearing strange tapping sounds from the vacant bungalow next door—tapping that shouldn’t exist, because its tenant, studio grip Clint Rogers, is out on location. When Marlowe investigates, he finds Rogers suddenly home… nervous, exhausted, and hiding something he won’t talk about. Hours later, gunshots shatter the quiet court, leaving Rogers bleeding on his kitchen floor. As Marlowe digs in, the cracks widen—literally. A split in the shared wall suggests someone was searching for a hidden stash, and everyone in the little bungalow court becomes a suspect. There’s Lucille’s vanished husband, Homer, sniffing around for money in their long-soured marriage. There’s Barbara Curtis, the woman Rogers won’t marry and won’t explain why. And then there’s Bud—Barbara’s “friend” from Ohio whose story doesn’t quite match the fear in Rogers’ eyes. The truth finally breaks when Marlowe uncovers a strongbox hidden above the closet and a newspaper clipping revealing the real danger: Clint’s brother, Thomas Rogers—an escaped murderer—had tracked him down under a false name. Bud isn’t a friend from back home; he is the brother, hunting for the loot he believes Clint hid. He’s also the one who shot Rogers. In a tense showdown, Marlowe disarms Bud and exposes the whole rotten secret while Barbara learns the burden Clint carried alone for years. In the end, she chooses to stand by him—not out of pity, but out of love strong enough to weather even the unsoundness of family tragedy. A moody, emotional story where the sounds in the night aren’t ghosts—they’re warnings—and where the real crime is the weight of a past no one can outrun.
The Medium Was Rare

Dec 7, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a planned fishing getaway gets derailed when Marlowe is dragged into a slick, high-class con built on fear, fortune-telling, and a very convenient crystal ball. Lillian Collins hires him to recover her “stolen” jewelry—pieces she quietly removed from a bank vault to cover gambling debts. The story smells wrong from the start, and Marlowe quickly discovers she’s been visiting a mysterious hilltop house where a psychic medium and her partners run an elaborate racket: scare wealthy women with ominous “visions,” convince them their jewels aren’t safe, and then steal them the moment the victims bring them home. When Marlowe gets too close, the gang knocks him out with ether and dumps him miles away. Worse yet, Lillian herself is taken hostage to keep her quiet. With help from a small-time crook named Cookie, Marlowe turns the tables—crashing a getaway, forcing a showdown at the séance house, and holding the whole crooked crew at gunpoint until the police arrive. In the end, the fortune-tellers didn’t see their own fate coming: a pile of stolen jewels recovered, a roomful of nervous socialites lining up to reclaim them, and another vacation ruined for Marlowe by the irresistible lure of trouble.
The Young Man's Fancy

Dec 3, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a sweltering Los Angeles afternoon pulls Marlowe into a heartbreaking story of love, pride, and the kind of trouble only a family can hide. It starts when Marlowe visits his friend Alex Lesnarvitch, a gentle old fruit seller worried sick about his son, Dom—angry, reckless, and clearly drowning in something deeper than just teenage rebellion. As Marlowe noses around, he discovers Dom’s spending his time with a truck driver named Carl and getting himself into fights that are less “youthful temper” and more “slow-motion disaster.” But the real shock comes when Helena—Alex’s daughter, long believed to be thriving in San Francisco—suddenly shows up on Marlowe’s doorstep. She isn’t the bright, promising young woman anyone remembers. She’s sick, emotionally shattered, and hiding from the people who love her most. Dom and Carl have been secretly covering for her, writing letters to Alex so he won’t worry, and trying desperately to help her without breaking the old man’s heart. Marlowe steps in, arranges care for Helena at a private sanitarium, and helps Dom create a gentler story to protect Alex—a father whose whole world rests on his children. In the end, Dom isn’t a delinquent at all. He’s a scared kid carrying far more than he can handle, trying to save his sister the only way he knows how. A tender, human story where the mystery isn’t about crime—it’s about the hidden battles families fight behind closed doors, and the quiet heroism of a young man’s love.
The Long Way Home

Dec 3, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a missing-person case turns into a slow, crushing walk toward the truth. Enos Harper hires Marlowe to find his young, beautiful wife Amy, who supposedly vanished after a trip to the laundromat. But nothing about the story fits—not the neighbors’ accounts, not the staged phone calls, and definitely not the trail of photographs showing Amy a little too close to her “cousin” Ray. As Marlowe digs deeper, the lies pile up: a fake invalid cousin, a sham hospital visit, and a not-so-secret affair that everyone seems to know about except Enos. But the biggest clue comes from Amy’s own room—a laundry ticket proving she did return home… and never left again. The neat little garden that Enos tends so lovingly hides the truth: a fifty-pound sack of lime and a man whose soft voice masks a breaking mind. In the end, Marlowe uncovers the grim reality—Enos killed Amy after discovering her plans to run away with Ray. A gentle, lonely husband, driven mad by heartbreak, took “the long way home” to the only ending he could imagine. A bleak, haunting story about love curdling into despair, and how even the quietest men can carry the darkest secrets
The Good Neighbor Policy

Dec 2, 2025 · 26 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a simple phone mix-up drags the detective into a deadly scheme involving crossed wires, a frantic woman, and a killer who lives just down the hall. When Marlowe discovers that his neighbor’s calls are bleeding into his own phone line, he overhears a desperate message from a woman named Rina—one that leads straight to a murder tied to an embezzlement job gone bad. The neighbor, a quiet man named Arthur Minter, turns out to be anything but harmless. He and Rina’s husband, Ernie, pulled a heist together…but Ernie tried to double-cross them and wound up dead. Now Minter wants the stolen money—and believes Marlowe knows too much. As Marlowe dodges a gun at his ribs, an overly talkative neighbor, Miss Garrity, accidentally gives him the opening he needs. With a few fast moves and some improvised timing, Marlowe turns the tables on Minter and uncovers the truth: Rina ran because she thought both men were trying to kill her, never knowing her husband had already met his end. In the final showdown at the Hollywood Library, Marlowe corners Minter and exposes the whole plot—another reminder that in an apartment building full of strangers, your closest neighbor might be the one planning your funeral.
Life Can Be Murder

Dec 2, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, a quiet night at Bell’s English tavern turns into a twisting murder case wrapped in charm, guilt, and desperation. Marlowe meets Marnie Carr—a red-haired beauty with a nervous smile and a secret tugging at her. Their evening ends abruptly when a mysterious man shows up at her door, and by morning, another woman is found shot inside the same house. The clues—broken doors, stolen valuables, and a frightened friend—push Marlowe into a hunt for the truth behind Marnie’s disappearance. As he tracks down her connections, Marlowe uncovers a troubled family arrangement, a dying woman’s thwarted visit, and a young man whose criminal impulses are masked by the excuses everyone makes for him. In the end, Marlowe finds Marnie hiding in a Malibu motel—terrified, heartbroken, and protecting the last person she should be. The killer? Her own kid brother, Paul, a frightened thief who panicked and pulled the trigger. With the case closed, Marlowe is left reflecting on how often tragedy hides behind a single phrase people use to excuse the worst: “He’s just a kid.”
The Dear Dead Days

Dec 2, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the detective’s seaside breather turns into a nightmare of fog, deception, and attempted murder. After receiving a cryptic wire from someone named Dale Higgins, Marlowe heads to Long Beach—only to find the sender suddenly claiming everything is fine. Moments later, a terrified young woman calls his name from the fog and begs for help, convinced someone is trying to kill her. When Marlowe is knocked unconscious and wakes up in a strange apartment with a “concerned” stepmother and a too-slick family friend, the truth begins to unwind. Dale has just returned from a Brazilian convent—where she’s been hidden away for seven years after being declared legally dead—and her stepmother and partner-in-crime planned to finish the job before she could inherit her father’s fortune. As the plot races toward a deadly “accident” at sea, Marlowe calls in the Coast Guard, corners the killers, and rescues Dale from the Queen Marie before she becomes another piece of paperwork in a tidy inheritance scheme. A murky, fast-moving tale where greed hides behind respectability, and a voice in the fog becomes a desperate plea for survival.
A Seaside Sabbatical

Nov 17, 2025 · 28 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the detective’s seaside breather turns into a nightmare of fog, deception, and attempted murder. After receiving a cryptic wire from someone named Dale Higgins, Marlowe heads to Long Beach—only to find the sender suddenly claiming everything is fine. Moments later, a terrified young woman calls his name from the fog and begs for help, convinced someone is trying to kill her. When Marlowe is knocked unconscious and wakes up in a strange apartment with a “concerned” stepmother and a too-slick family friend, the truth begins to unwind. Dale has just returned from a Brazilian convent—where she’s been hidden away for seven years after being declared legally dead—and her stepmother and partner-in-crime planned to finish the job before she could inherit her father’s fortune. As the plot races toward a deadly “accident” at sea, Marlowe calls in the Coast Guard, corners the killers, and rescues Dale from the Queen Marie before she becomes another piece of paperwork in a tidy inheritance scheme. A murky, fast-moving tale where greed hides behind respectability, and a voice in the fog becomes a desperate plea for survival.
The Big Book

Nov 17, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the detective stumbles into a case that begins as a simple suicide on Skid Row but unravels into a ruthless story of blackmail, betrayal, and the long shadow of a forgotten past. When a once-famous actress named Jane Temple is found dead, Marlowe senses something off—especially after a frightened shoemaker reveals her treasured scrapbook, a “big book” filled with memories she guarded closely. Inside lies a hidden clipping that exposes a buried secret about Hollywood power agent Jerome Lockie, once a disgraced embezzler under another name. As Marlowe follows the thread, he uncovers deceit woven between Lockie, his calculating wife, and Elliot Monroe, a bitter character actor who has turned Jane Temple’s tragic decline into an opportunity for blackmail. The truth comes to a deadly showdown in a darkened basement shop, where Marlowe discovers who really pushed Jane Temple over the edge—and why. A haunting tale about the price of fame, the weight of secrets, and the lives that crumble between the pages of one woman’s big book.
The White Carnation

Nov 17, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the detective is pulled into a frantic hunt for a missing groom whose perfect life is suddenly shattered by a ghost from the past. Hours before his wedding, young doctor Ben Reynolds vanishes after recognizing a name he believed long dead—Gregory Toledo. Marlowe digs into the mystery and uncovers a trail of murder, blackmail, and a $40,000 payoff tied to a long-buried drug racket. As he follows the clues, Marlowe crosses paths with a fortune-telling femme fatale, a shady flower shop killing, and a chilling twist involving twins—one virtuous, one ruthless. The case spirals into a deadly showdown beneath an amusement pier, where Marlowe exposes the truth behind the murders and gives Reynolds a chance at redemption. A tense, twisting tale of identity, guilt, and the high cost of secrets that refuse to stay buried.
The Final Payment

Nov 17, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the detective fights against the clock to grant a condemned man one final act of redemption. Hours before his execution, young Billy Sinero begs Marlowe to recover a cache of stolen jewels—proof of the crime that ruined him—and return them to the widow of the man he accidentally killed. Marlowe’s search drags him through San Pedro’s docks, a dead partner in a warehouse, a terrified blonde on the run, and a murderous little trigger-man with a big ego. As Marlowe pieces together the truth, he uncovers betrayal, double-crosses, and a scheme to cash in on Sinero’s silence. The chase explodes into a deadly showdown aboard Sinero’s old fishing boat, where Marlowe recovers the jewels and brings the killers down. In the end, the final payment is made—not in money, but in justice—giving Billy Sinero the one thing he’s been denied from the start: peace.
The Fifth Mask

Nov 17, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the hardboiled detective is pulled into a tangled web of lies, jealousy, and murder. When a terrified socialite named Vivian Barr hires Marlowe for protection from a man she claims wants to kill her, the case spirals out of control the moment she turns up dead. The trail leads Marlowe into the world of Beverly Hills privilege, where a wealthy family hides dark secrets—greed, infidelity, and blackmail—all behind polished masks of respectability. As Marlowe follows the clues, he uncovers the truth about Fred Sears, a vengeful ex-lover framed for murder, and Mona Paxton, a ruthless woman willing to kill to protect her family’s fortune. In the end, Marlowe tears away the final disguise—a jeweled mask that reveals the killer’s hand—and reflects on how everyone hides behind something. A sharp and haunting story of deceit, corruption, and the price of living behind a mask.
The Soft Spot

Nov 16, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the hard-boiled detective is drawn into a fog-shrouded mystery of guilt, redemption, and murder. When newspaper magnate Earl Hanley hires Marlowe to find an elderly gardener who’s disappeared—along with some valuable silver goblets—the case seems simple enough. But the trail winds deep into Skid Row, where Marlowe uncovers a dead man, a hired killer, and a locket with a family secret inside. As the layers of deceit peel back, Marlowe realizes the missing gardener was no thief at all—but Hanley’s estranged father, seeking only forgiveness. By the end, Marlowe exposes a scheme fueled by greed and shame, leaving Hanley destroyed by the truth that he unknowingly ordered his own father’s murder. A haunting tale of pride, fate, and the soft spot that makes every tough man human.
The Sea Horse Jockey

Nov 11, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the detective is drawn into a tangled case involving a priceless jeweled seahorse brooch, a bitter family feud, and a few too many “friends” with hidden agendas. After being hired to oversee the sale of the brooch, Marlowe arrives to find his client dead and the treasure missing. The trail leads through a red-haired stepdaughter with something to gain, a seafaring brother-and-sister pair with secrets of their own, and a long-suffering companion whose loyalty masks something darker. As deception piles on deception, Marlowe uncovers how greed, resentment, and desperation can twist even familiar relationships into something deadly.
The Collectors Item

Nov 9, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the detective finds himself entangled in a complex web of murder, deceit, and betrayal. A missing Confederate half dollar key to a string of crimes leads Marlowe to a trio of suspects - a sneaky collector, a gun-toting Treasury agent, and a cunning niece. As Marlowe unravels the mystery, he uncovers a plot involving blackmail, hired killers, and a deadly game for money and power. The tension rises as Marlowe races against time to uncover the truth and bring the culprits to justice in a thrilling conclusion of greed and treachery.
The Dark Tunnel

Nov 8, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the detective gets caught up in a tangled web of secrets and lies surrounding the disappearance of a woman named Julia Thayer. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Marlowe uncovers a dangerous game of blackmail, betrayal, and revenge involving Julia, a man named Ira Cote, and the shadowy figure of Joe Stapp. With lives on the line and dark secrets coming to light, Marlowe must navigate a treacherous path through deception and danger to uncover the truth and bring justice to those caught in the dark tunnel of mystery and deceit.
The Quiet Magpie

Nov 7, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the private detective finds himself in the midst of a complex web of murder, blackmail, and deceit. Tasked with proving the innocence of a young man accused of murdering his father, Marlowe unravels a sinister plot involving a scheming lawyer, a dangerous accomplice, and a treacherous wife. As Marlowe navigates through the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, he must outwit those who seek to manipulate him in order to uncover the true culprit behind the crimes. With sharp wit and keen observation, Marlowe delves into a world where loyalty is tested, alliances are shattered, and the line between truth and deception blurs into a dangerous game of life and death.
The Parrots Bed

Nov 6, 2025 · 25 min

In this riveting episode of Philip Marlowe, the tough private detective is hired by Daphne McGregor to find her missing sailor friend, Lash Lauterbach, before her ship leaves at 4 a.m. The search for Lash leads Marlowe to a web of blackmail, missing pearls, and dangerous enemies, including a slick gunman with a grudge and a desperate husband. As Marlowe digs deeper into the mystery, he unravels a tangled web of love, guilt, and betrayal under the sweltering desert wind of San Pedro Harbor. With sharp noir atmosphere and emotional tension, Marlowe navigates through treacherous waters to uncover the truth behind the missing pearls and deadly secrets that threaten to tear lives apart.
The Glass Donkey

Nov 5, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the detective finds himself entangled in a web of murder, mystery, and deceit. After the brutal killing of a woman named Helen Lofton, Marlowe becomes determined to uncover the truth behind her death. As he follows the trail of clues that lead back to a glass donkey from Tijuana, Marlowe discovers a twisted tale of love, betrayal, and revenge. With danger lurking at every turn, Marlowe must navigate a treacherous world where nothing is as it seems, and the line between friend and foe becomes blurred. The episode weaves a suspenseful narrative that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion reveals the true killer behind the string of murders.
The Last Wish

Nov 4, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a web of intrigue and danger as he navigates the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles in a race against time. When a dying man's last wish leads Marlowe to search for his estranged son, Jack Schiller, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit, betrayal, and blackmail. With a conniving nightclub singer, a ruthless gangster, and a corrupt detective all vying for control, Marlowe must untangle the truth before it's too late. As the city swelters under the desert wind, Marlowe discovers that not everything is as it seems, and that the past can come back to haunt you in unexpected ways.
The Iron Coffin

Nov 3, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, a woman named Catherine Newbow seeks Marlowe's help in finding her daughter Irene's fiance, Bennett Varago, who has become obsessed with a 16th-century Spanish history and disappeared. Marlowe travels to an old Spanish castle along the California coast, where he uncovers a centuries-old family curse involving the ancestor Peter the Cruel and a crypt filled with eerie coffins. As Marlowe, Irene, and a local man named Poindexter race against time to save Bennett from a watery fate, they unravel the mystery behind the haunting legends of the castle and confront the truth behind the vengeful spirit that has plagued the Varago family for generations. The episode blends elements of supernatural intrigue, historical lore, and suspense as Marlowe navigates the treacherous waters of the past to bring closure to a modern-day tragedy.
The Girl from Pitchfork Corners

Nov 2, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the cool and calm private detective finds himself caught in a web of murder, blackmail, and deception. Hired to investigate the whereabouts of Arnold Latimer, Marlowe uncovers a dangerous game involving a troubled woman named Donna Rollins, a slick gunman named Doug Sattler, and a ruthless gambler named Herbert Ring. As Marlowe delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers that love, jealousy, and betrayal have deadly consequences. With the city of Los Angeles as a backdrop, Marlowe must navigate treacherous waters to uncover the truth and bring the culprits to justice. The episode blends suspense, intrigue, and sharp dialogue to create a thrilling noir atmosphere.
The Pelicans Roost

Nov 1, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, the private detective is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and danger as he tries to protect a woman named Lynn Russell from a crazed man named Ward Erling. The mystery unfolds at a beauty salon in Wilshire where Lynn is hiding from Erling, who is determined to find and harm her. Marlowe's investigation leads him to a barroom killing, a musician's hospital escape, and a cabin cruiser where a deadly confrontation takes place. As Marlowe unravels the truth behind the crimes, he must navigate a treacherous path filled with betrayal, revenge, and heartbreak. The episode delves deep into the dark side of human nature, revealing the lengths people will go to for love and vengeance.
The Gold Cobra

Oct 31, 2025 · 30 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, a case involving a gold cobra leads to a deadly game of deception and murder. Marlowe is hired by Roth Wingham to transport the valuable item to Chicago, but soon realizes that there are dangerous forces at play. From double-crossing partners to a slick gunman, Marlowe must navigate a web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the mysterious cobra. With twists and turns at every corner, Marlowe finds himself in a deadly game where love, greed, and revenge collide in a noir atmosphere filled with tension and danger.
Face to Forget

Oct 30, 2025 · 29 min

In this episode of Philip Marlowe, we find our detective caught in a web of deceit and danger as he unravels a mystery involving a missing man, a dead body, and a vengeful killer. Struggling to uncover the truth, Marlowe must navigate through lies and betrayal to protect the woman he loves and bring a murderer to justice. With a race against time and a dangerous adversary on his tail, Marlowe must use all his wits to solve the case and prevent further tragedy. This thrilling tale of suspense and intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.