Whispering Smith Speaks (1935)

Railroad president's son learns the business by starting as a track walker. He alerts a girl he meets that her land contains valuable minerals.

Director:

David Howard

Writers:

Frank H. Spearman (story), Daniel Jarrett (screenplay) (as Dan Jarrett)

Stars:

George O'Brien, Irene Ware, Kenneth Thomson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George O'Brien	...	Gordon Harrington, Jr. aka John 'Whispering' Smith
Irene Ware	...	Nan Roberts
Kenneth Thomson	...	J. Wesley Hunt
Maude Allen	...	Mrs. Roberts
Spencer Charters	...	Cal Stone
Victor Potel	...	Bill Prouty
Edward Keane	...	Rebstock
Frank Sheridan	...	Gordon Harrington, Sr.
William V. Mong	...	Blake
Maurice Cass	...	C. Luddington Colfax

Storyline

Convinced that he will never learn railroading in the Detroit offices of the mighty Transcontinental system, headed by his father, Gordon Harrington, Gordon Harrington Jr takes to the road. He soon comes to be known as "Whispering Smith" because he lowers his voice when he becomes excited. After weeks or hard railroading work, he becomes track walker for the antiquated Blake line, and is attracted to its general manager, Nan Roberts. Rebstock, a representative of Transcontinental attempts to buy Nan's farm when he learns that it contains tungsten ore. He is trying to work the deal through J. Wesley Hunt, who is also romancing Nan. "Smith" investigates and soon discovers the truth behind the offer with the aid of his two old cronies, Bill Prouty and Cal Stone. He makes it impossible for Nan to close the deal, but Hunt takes her to Detroit where he hopes to close the deal. Quickly securing an option on the Blake line, "Smith" takes a Transcon engine and races it through the signals to ...

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy in tight pants | cowboy horse relationship | tungsten | railroad | race | 

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Taglines:

LOVE AT THE THROTTLE AND DEATH LURKING 'ROUND THE CURVE! (original print at-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film received its earliest documented telecasts in Los Angeles Sunday 25 January 1948 on DuMont Television Network's KTLA (Channel 5) and in New York Saturday 28 January 1950 on DuMont's WABD (Channel 5).

User Reviews

Terrific little film

I sat down to watch this film not really knowing what to expect and what a lovely surprise it was, the only thing wrong was the quality of the DVD, there were clearly some small bits missing, possibly from the end of the reels, but it was not so bad as to mar the viewing of this great little film. Gordon Harrington is the son of a railroad magnate who is given little to do in his fathers business beyond rubber stamping letters. Disatisfied he decided to head out west and become the line walker for a small railroad line who's general manager is a woman who unwittingly owns a lucrative piece of land which she thinks is worthless, she has been offered $15000 for it which she is eager to take. Gordon, who is known as John Smith realises that there is more to this than meets the eye and realises he needs to help the girl and her mother. Anyway, George O'Brien gives a wonderfully light hearted performance, showing a lovely flair for humour with a very personable screen presence, he was wasted in so many of the B westerns he made. Irene Ware is also very good as the first girl who could make a big mistake, all the cast were excellent with the exception of the actress who played the mother, she was extremely amateurish, but, she is not in the movie enough for it to make a difference. Cal and Bill, the two engineers who run the train on the small line were great fun as a double act and in the scene where the engine is racing to Denver (not Detroit as stated in the plot synopsis)you can see O'Brien and the actor playing Bill were having a whale of a time. Not a big budget blockbuster, but, very entertaining all the same, see it if you get the chance. And, no, for once O'Brien doesn't get his shirt off.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kri ni voda

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sol Lesser Productions, Atherton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1