The Bat Whispers (1930)

A master criminal terrorizes the occupants of an isolated country mansion.

Director:

Roland West

Writers:

Mary Roberts Rinehart (based upon a stage play by), Avery Hopwood (based upon a stage play by)

Stars:

Chance Ward, Richard Tucker, Wilson Benge

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chance Ward	...	Police Lieutenant
Richard Tucker	...	Mr. Bell
Wilson Benge	...	The Butler
DeWitt Jennings	...	Police Captain
Sidney D'Albrook	...	Police Sergeant
S.E. Jennings	...	Man in Black Mask
Grayce Hampton	...	Miss Cornelia van Gorder
Maude Eburne	...	Lizzie Allen
Spencer Charters	...	The Caretaker
Una Merkel	...	Dale Van Gorder
William Bakewell	...	Brook
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Dr. Venrees
Chester Morris	...	Detective Anderson
Hugh Huntley	...	Richard Fleming
Charles Dow Clark	...	Detective Jones

Storyline

Despite advance warning to the police, who seal off the area, The Bat, a master criminal, steals a necklace from the safe in the house of a rich socialite. He leaves a note saying he is going to the country to give the police a rest. Pausing only to rob a bank at Oakdale, he proceeds to terrorise the occupants of a lonely country mansion, in a mixture of thrills, chills and laughs. At the end, an actor steps forward through a proscenium arch and asks the viewers not to reveal the Bat's identity to their friends. A film noir shot in black and white, mainly at night in dimly lit scenes.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | bat | blueprint | bank robbery | ouija board | 

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Taglines:

Look out! The arch criminal is here!

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller | Horror | Drama | Mystery | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Long thought to be lost, a nitrate print of the film was discovered in the Mary Pickford Estate in 1987 and restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in 1988.

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Goofs

After the bank robbery, there is a obvious slot in the "road" where the miniature car travels.

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Quotes

Cornelia van Gorder: Now what on Earth are you doing?
Lizzie Allen: I'm setting a bear trap for the Bat, in case he decides to come flying around here.
[throws a trap on a chain out the window]
Lizzie Allen: And I've got the other end fastened to the bed.

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Crazy Credits

After the film an actor comes onto a movie house stage and implores the audience to withhold the identity of the bat from family and friends so they can also enjoy the movie.

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Alternate Versions

This film was shot in two versions with a different director of photography for each. One is in standard 35mm and the other in an early 65mm process. The 65mm version is considered "stagebound" (it was actually based on a popular play) while the 35mm version is considered more "cinematic". Prints of both versions still exist.

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Connections

Version of The Bat (1959)

User Reviews

One of the best Old Dark House movies

Great fun! The special effects are amazing for a 1930 movie. Miniaturized sets are used & although they're primitive by today's standards, keep in mind that this movie is over 70 years old. It's an excellent Old Dark House movie, complete with thunderstorms, secret passageways, a mysterious creature named "The Bat," comedic elements, a large old house, several murders, etc. It's been noted that the comic strip character, "Batman," owes some of his origins to "The Bat," & it's apparent in the outfit, the shadows cast from buildings, & in the name of the character itself. "The Bat" is indeed a pretty scary entity. The sound effects are good, camera work is excellent, & the ending is bizarre. It kept my interest throughout its 83 minutes. Well worth seeing for Old Dark House fans (this is one of the best). I rate it 9/10.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Roland West's The Bat Whispers

Company Credits

Production Co:

Joseph M. Schenck Productions, Art Cinema Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1