The Whisperers (1967)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Bryan Forbes (screenplay)
Robert Nicolson (novel)

Release Date:

1967 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Whisperers, who are they?

Plot:

The title refers to the creatures a very poor addled old lady (Dame Edith Evans) imagines in her paranoid fantasies...

Plot Keywords:

Old Lady | Radio | Social Realism | Husband Wife Relationship | Welfare Office

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Edith Evans	...	Mrs. Maggie Ross
Eric Portman	...	Archie Ross
Nanette Newman	...	The Girl Upstairs
Avis Bunnage	...	Mrs. Noonan
Gerald Sim	...	Mr. Conrad
Ronald Fraser	...	Charlie Ross
Robin Bailey	...	Psychiatrist
Kenneth Griffith	...	Mr. Weaver
Leonard Rossiter	...	Assistance Board Officer
Margaret Tyzack	...	Hospital Almoner
Clare Kelly	...	Prostitute
Michael Lees	...	First Young Man
Lionel Gamlin	...	Mr. Conrad's Colleague
Robert Russell	...	Andy
Harry Baird	...	Earl, The Man Upstairs

Also Known As:

The Whisperers (USA)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (new rating: 2001) | France:U | UK:A (original rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Seven Pines

Quotes:

Mrs. Ross: Are you there?

A great character study of a very old lady whose loneliness causes her to "hear" voices.

DAME Edith Evans is superb in this, as she was in all her roles, but never better than this, playing a delusional, paranoid senior who hear voices. This film is a crowning glory to an extremely long and distinguished career. It's a great role for a great actress.She displayed not only keen emotional acting but she also showed us what physical acting is all about with her appropriate body moves and facial manipulations. I think this was her only Academy Award nominated role for Best Actress, but she won many other awards for this excellent performance. I miss her portrayals even today. She often played roles in films of the works of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Her place in British cinema is perhaps handed down to the likes of Julie Christie, or Cate Blanchett, but only time will tell if their careers can span the length of time that Evans' did. Buddy