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Whispering Smith

Play trailer Poster for Whispering Smith 1948 1h 28m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 12/09/2019
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. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times 12/09/2019
As a rootin', tootin' Western, this formula-made Whispering Smith is good make-believe entertainment for those who will take it as such. Go to Full Review
THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter 12/17/2018
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. Go to Full Review
Brian Baxter Radio Times 12/09/2019
3/5
The film is briskly handled by journeyman director Leslie Fenton, who brings the story to a rousing, shooting tooting climax. Go to Full Review
Virginia Graham The Spectator 06/13/2018
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. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/09/2005
B
Remains lightly entertaining throughout. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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02/15/2018 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. See more 01/18/2015 The vertically challenged Tom Cruise of his day, Alan Ladd, plays a cowboy railroad agent who runs afoul his shady friend, Robert Preston. It's a pretty standard westerns, but it has plenty of action, a strong cast (which also features Donald Crisp and William Demarest) and solid production values. Certainly not a classic, but well worth watching for western or Ladd fans. See more 01/12/2015 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. See more 09/20/2012 Railroad western has fine work by Alan Ladd--Playing the Cards that are Dealt!! See more 10/19/2011 Pretty generic Western melodrama. Alan Ladd isn't the most charismatic. See more 08/13/2007 It's a classic old fashioned Western. If Westerns aren't your thing, you probably won't care much for it. The performances from Ladd and Preston are very good. The plot is more believable as well. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but good nonetheless. See more Read all reviews
Whispering Smith

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Movie Info

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