Moviecut—The Secret of the Whistler

source: The Secret of the Whistler

The Secret of the Whistler

Can someone explain to me how this movie ends ?? I watched it twice, enjoyed and didn't understand the ending. I thought Richard Dix was terrific The sets and storyline were first rate It was obvious that having a "radio script" helped. You can't top the movies of this era. These would be great movies to remake. Who would be a good lead for this ?? Maybe Kevin Spacey or Alec Baldwin. You could even have a good female lead for this. How about Meryl Streep or Kate Blanchett ? I'd love to hear any other suggestions. The fact that these "Whistler" movies provided the fodder for a great series of movies is a great foundation for a future run. Charlie Chan, Thin Man, etc. were excellent, but wouldn't work. But this format has the chance to provide for a multitude of surprises and plot twists. Thanks

"Secret Of The Whistler" is, IMHO, a definite improvement on the previous entry in the "Whistler" series, "Mysterious Intruder". The script, the general production values, even the Whistler's own periodic commentary are more up to the usual standards of the series. Richard Dix once again (like in "Power Of The Whistler") makes a convincing villain, and Leslie Brooks has a knockout body. But I have a problem with the abrupt ending: when a character suffers a fate worse than he or she deserves, it crosses the line from irony to mere cruelty. And the film's final line does not really make that much sense, if you think about it. So I'd say the film is a return to form for the series, up until the last minute or so. **1/2 out of 4.

The sixth Whistler movie from Columbia starring Richard Dix. This time Dix plays a real slimeball. He's an artist married to a rich lady with heart problems. Dix has his lusty sights set on gold-digging model Leslie Brooks and can't wait for the wife to kick the bucket. But then wifey's health takes a turn for the better. She ought to know better than that. A few neat twists & turns as one might expect from this fine series of B films. Dix turns in a good performance as the creepy husband. Leslie Brooks is a knockout as the model all the fuss is about. The supporting cast includes greats like John Hamilton and Byron Foulger. One thing that irked me is the way Brooks' mercenary character is turned into the heroine in the final act. It was a hard sell to me. Altogether, this was a pretty solid B movie.

George Sherman directs this episode of The Whistler movies, where crime takes no time out. A simple story line that sustains this Columbia B-flick. Richard Dix plays Ralph Harrison a moderately successful artist that is married to a wealthy but ill wife Edith Marie(Mary Currier). Restless, conniving and looking for affection, Harrison begins an affair with one of his models, who is only interested in his money...well, Edith's money. When his wife discovers his unfaithfulness, Ralph becomes desperate when he is threatened with being cut from her will. With pressure from the girlfriend, Mr. Harrison secretly begins to poison his wife. Of course nothing goes unknown by The Whistler(Otto Forrest). Other players: Leslie Brooks, Mona Barrie, Michael Dunne, Baynes Barron and Pat Lane.

Always enjoy the wonderful performance that Richard Dix would present in this old time Radio favorite and his on the big screen appearance in the 1940's. In this film Dix plays the role of an artist (Ralph Harrison) who is married to a very rich woman Edith Marie Harrison,(Mary Currier) who has been very ill for many years and it puts a strain on their relationship. Ralph meets up with a blonde model, Kay Morrell, (Leslie Brooks) and he paints all kinds of pictures of Leslie. A relationship develops, however, Kay does not love Ralph and knows he is married, but she does wrap him around her little finger and manages to get all kinds of expensive jewelry and clothes. Mrs. Edith Harrison starts feeling well and visits her husband's studio and from that point on the story gets very interesting and creates a great mystery story. Enjoy a good B Classic film from 1946.

Secret of the Whistler, The (1946) *** (out of 4) T he sixth film in Columbia's series and the last to feature Richard Dix. In the film Dix plays an artist who begins dating a younger woman (Leslie Brooks) while waiting for his wife to die. After the wife dies he marries the younger woman but soon she starts to fear that he might have killed the first wife. This is another good entry in the series that manages to build some nice suspense with its very entertaining story and another fine performance by Dix. Not only is Dix very good in his role but the supporting cast is great as well. Brooks turns in a very good performance as the woman who begins to suspect the worst. Michael Duane and Mary Currier co-star as a newspaper man and Dix's first wife. The story goes by at a very fast pace and there's some nice twists and turns along the way. The film focuses on a psychological horror aspect, which is where the suspense comes from.

A neat entry from the series has RICHARD DIX playing a man who wants to get rid of his wife for a younger woman (LESLIE BROOKS). What he doesn't know is that his wife learns about his affair with the young blonde model and is recording her thoughts in a diary. When his wife dies, he does marry again--but has to play a cat-and-mouse game with his new wife when she begins to suspect him of murder. Dix plays his role quite effectively and Leslie Brooks is stunning as the blonde beauty. She never had a better chance than she does here, but unfortunately Columbia was never able to find anything but supporting roles for her in B-films of the period. Suspenseful, it takes awhile before the tense proceedings start to tighten up, but it's worth ending for the good finale. MICHAEL DUANE has a small supporting role as an artist but gets star billing. Well directed by George Sherman, these series are better than average programmers.