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Whispering Smith (1948)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
9 December 1948 (USA)
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Plot:
Smith as an iron-willed railroad detective. When his friend Murray is fired from the railraod and begins helping Rebstock wreck trains...
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Awards:
1 nomination
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User Comments:
Alan Ladd's first western has handsome production values but dull story...
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Alan Ladd | ... | Luke 'Whispering' Smith | |
| Robert Preston | ... | Murray Sinclair | |
| Brenda Marshall | ... | Marian Sinclair | |
| Donald Crisp | ... | Barney Rebstock | |
| William Demarest | ... | Bill Dansing | |
| Fay Holden | ... | Emmy Dansing | |
| Murvyn Vye | ... | Blake Barton | |
| Frank Faylen | ... | Whitey Du Sang | |
| John Eldredge | ... | George McCloud | |
| Ward Wood | ... | Leroy Barton | |
| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... | Bill Baggs | |
| Will Wright | ... | Sheriff McSwiggin | |
| Don Barclay | ... | Dr. Sawbuck | |
| Eddy Waller | ... | Conductor (as Eddy C. Waller) | |
| Ashley Cowan | ... | Train Brakeman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The railhead town site was constructed on the Paramount lot adjacent to the neighboring RKO Pictures studio. It became the basis for what would go on to become Paramount's famous western town set as seen in TV's "Bonanza" (1959) and numerous other TV shows and movies. Prior to 1948, Paramount didn't have a western set on its studio lot. A short line of track was laid down that allowed a working period locomotive to pull into town.
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Goofs:
Continuity: Just after 23 minutes into the film, Whispering Smith is given a harmonica, the box of which he drops to the ground, only to have it immediately reappear in his hand.
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Quotes:
Murray Sinclair:
Barney heard you'd been shot up. He asked after ya.
Bill Dansing: Yeah, he seemed mighty disappointed when he heard you wasn't buried yet.
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Bill Dansing: Yeah, he seemed mighty disappointed when he heard you wasn't buried yet.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Living Steam: Virginia and Truckee Then and Now at the Nevada State Railroad Museum (2008) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Laramie
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FAQ
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| IMDb Western section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |

Too bad Paramount couldn't have found a better script on which to lavish good Technicolor and handsome sets for ALAN LADD's first western.
It's really a below average western story about a good railroad man (Ladd) who resumes friendship with an old friend from his past (ROBERT PRESTON) who is married to Ladd's former childhood sweetheart (BRENDA MARSHALL). The set-up is predictable once Ladd starts to see through Preston's villainous behavior after Preston has joined a train robbery gang headed by DONALD CRISP.
WILLIAM DEMAREST does his usual dependable job as Ladd's friend, while Crisp is only slightly menacing in his bad guy mode. FRANK FAYLEN plays a squinty-eyed albino with a poker face and is supposed to be chilling as a merciless gunman. Unfortunately, his make-up is ridiculous.
ALAN LADD makes a handsome hero and plays his role in usual low-key style. ROBERT PRESTON does okay as the loutish friend turned bad guy, while BRENDA MARSHALL makes very little impression in a weak supporting role.
Summing up: Below average western is enhanced by gorgeous Technicolor.