The Whistler

Released Mar 30, 1944

59m

Mystery & Thriller

List

Reviews

33%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Earl Conrad (Richard Dix), a recent widower, is so grief-stricken by his wife's death that he desperately wants to join her. Despite his ardent death wish, he can't bring himself to commit suicide, so he uses a go-between to hire a hit man (J. Carrol Naish) to kill him. Shockingly, not long after putting out a contract on himself, he discovers his wife is alive. When he realizes that his contact to the assassin is dead, Earl must find a way to reach his elusive killer before his time runs out.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent The Whistler on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Age Staff

The Age (Australia)

Unfortunately, it has been handled by a script writer and director with barely an original thought between them, so that it is developed in a drab, routine manner.

Nov 19, 2020

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

We get the routine spectacle of a dragged-out killer-and-victim chase, all very serious and phony-and, consequently, very dull.

May 6, 2008

Full Review

Josephine O'Neill

Daily Telegraph (Australia)

There are too many irrelevant incidents, and far too many pointless scenes.

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The film's theme is that man cannot change his destiny, and if his destiny is to die by murder...that's what it will be.

Rated: B-

Apr 22, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

good B movie thrller -the first of 8.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nice atmospheric work, all the more enjoyable for being directed by Castle. A bit abrupt and rather disjointed, but then again good noir should always be unpredictable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The first entry in this Film Noir series is one of the best. Fans of Noir will want to check these films out.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fun, early Castle effort! Reminded me more of noir, serials and The Whistler's old-time-radio roots than later Castle classics.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This one was kind of a sleeper, and will probably always remain that way, but it's a very good noir with some very good twists.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

William Castle

Director

Richard Dix

Earl C. Conrad

J. Carrol Naish

The Killer

Gloria Stuart

Alice Walker

Alan Dinehart

Gorman

Eric Taylor

Screenwriter

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

Earl Conrad (Richard Dix), a recent widower, is so grief-stricken by his wife's death that he desperately wants to join her. Despite his ardent death wish, he can't bring himself to commit suicide, so he uses a go-between to hire a hit man (J. Carrol Naish) to kill him. Shockingly, not long after putting out a contract on himself, he discovers his wife is alive. When he realizes that his contact to the assassin is dead, Earl must find a way to reach his elusive killer before his time runs out.

Director: William Castle
Producer: Rudolph C. Flothow
Screenwriter: Eric Taylor
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Larry Darmour Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 11, 2017
Runtime: 59m

Most Popular at Home Now