"A Good Samaritan" is a mystery play written in 1940 by the celebrated American crime fiction duo Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, under their shared pseudonym Ellery Queen. The play features their iconic detective character, Ellery Queen, an intellectual sleuth known for solving intricate crimes through logical deduction. The story involves the detective being drawn into a case concerning a man who has disappeared after being accused of embezzlement, leading to a web of murder and deception.
The play was part of the broader Ellery Queen franchise, which had already achieved immense popularity through a series of novels and a successful radio program, "The Adventures of Ellery Queen," which debuted in 1939. "A Good Samaritan" was specifically written for the stage, showcasing the character's transition from page and radio to live theatrical performance. It contributed to the character's cultural footprint during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, demonstrating the versatility of the Ellery Queen property across different entertainment mediums.
