Whispering Smith

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Whispering Smith

1948,

1h 28m,

Western

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Watchlist

83%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Luke Whispering Smith (Alan Ladd) is a mild-mannered policeman tasked with stopping a gang of train robbers, led by Barney Rebstock (Donald Crisp). Luke is faced with a conflict of interest when his good friend, Murray Sinclair (Robert Preston), loses his railroad job and, in an act of defiance, joins Rebstock's gang of outlaws. To make things even more complicated, Luke's friendship with Murray's ex-wife, Marian (Brenda Marshall), is becoming romantic.

Variety Staff

Variety

Dec 9, 2019

Alan Ladd inherits William S. Hart's splits in Whispering Smith for wild and woolly stint typical of hoss oprys of the good old days.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Dec 9, 2019

As a rootin', tootin' Western, this formula-made Whispering Smith is good make-believe entertainment for those who will take it as such.

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THR Staff

The Hollywood Reporter

Dec 17, 2018

When one sees such conscientious technical work implementing a thoughtful production and thoroughly fine performances one is made vividly aware of how fine a simple entertainment picture can be.

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Brian Baxter

Radio Times

Dec 9, 2019

3/5

The film is briskly handled by journeyman director Leslie Fenton, who brings the story to a rousing, shooting tooting climax.

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Virginia Graham

The Spectator

Jun 13, 2018

It is all frightfully sad, but not, somehow, frightfully important, and though the tall hills of Wyoming give a certain pleasure to the eye, the ear is profoundly wounded by the banal dialogue.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jul 9, 2005

B

Remains lightly entertaining throughout.

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Ron M

Feb 15, 2018

A fairly standard Western that feels quite modern for 1948. Alan Ladd's gentle charisma is what holds the attention and glues the film together. Only Gary Cooper shared Ladd's combination of an almost passive calm with a thoughtful and somber demeanor. Perhaps Ladd's greatest attribute was his deep velvet- like voice which allowed him to deliver the simplest line with emotional depth. His greeting when he meets his ex flame (Brenda Marshall) is expressed with a melancholy warmth very few actors ever master. His style of acting was often called wooden, but the depth of character was conveyed in the voice. Glorious Technicolor imagery and fine support from character actors Donald Crisp and William Demarest add to the films ease with which it engages the viewer. The film also boasts one of cinema's nastiest bad guys in Mervyn Vye, who seems to have more in common with modern villains; quiet, sadistic and dangerous looking, he is the counterpoint to Ladd's personable protagonist. Definitely worth a watch for Western fans.

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Abraham R

Jan 12, 2015

170420: A surprisingly good film. I never know what to expect from these oldies but this one really satisfied. Good classic acting, decent quality and somewhat fun. Perhaps a bit predictable but happy to have seen it.

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Leslie Fenton

Director

Alan Ladd

Luke "Whispering" Smith

Robert Preston

Murray Sinclair

Donald Crisp

Barney Rebstock

Brenda Marshall

Marian Sinclair

William Demarest

Bill Dansing

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Synopsis

Luke Whispering Smith (Alan Ladd) is a mild-mannered policeman tasked with stopping a gang of train robbers, led by Barney Rebstock (Donald Crisp). Luke is faced with a conflict of interest when his good friend, Murray Sinclair (Robert Preston), loses his railroad job and, in an act of defiance, joins Rebstock's gang of outlaws. To make things even more complicated, Luke's friendship with Murray's ex-wife, Marian (Brenda Marshall), is becoming romantic.

Director: Leslie Fenton
Producer: Mel Epstein
Screenwriter: Frank Butler, Karl Kamb
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2017
Runtime: 1h 28m

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