The Whisperers (1967)

Elderly Mrs. Ross lives alone in her meager flat, scraping by on government assistance even as she claims to have great wealth. After finding stolen money she is victimized, making it necessary to find her support in her declining years.

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Robert Nicolson (novel), Bryan Forbes (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Edith Evans, Nanette Newman, Harry Baird

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edith Evans	...	Mrs. Margaret Ross
Nanette Newman	...	The Girl Upstairs
Harry Baird	...	Harry - The Man Upstairs
Jack Austin	...	Police Sergeant
Gerald Sim	...	Mr. Conrad
Lionel Gamlin	...	Mr. Conrad's Colleague
Glen Farmer	...	1st Redeemer at Mission
Oliver MacGreevy	...	2nd Redeemer at Mission
Ronald Fraser	...	Charlie Ross
Kenneth Griffith	...	Mr. Weaver - Social Worker
Avis Bunnage	...	Mrs. Noonan
John Orchard	...	Grogan - Assistance Applicant
Peter Thompson	...	Publican
Sarah Forbes	...	Mrs. Ross - When Young
Penny Spencer	...	Mavis Noonan

Storyline

Beyond Mr. Conrad who attends to the allowance she receives through National Assistance, seventy-six year old Margaret Ross, who lives in a cluttered run-down flat, is emotionally all alone in the world. Her husband Archie left her over twenty years ago, and her grown criminal son Charlie only uses her for whatever he can get out of her. Despite being a bright woman, she is not totally in mind. She has several continual delusions, the most common being that her neighbors are listening to her through the apartment building's pipes and through her wireless radio. As such, she is constantly asking into thin air, "Are you there?" Following an extended hospitalization, the result of an unfortunate incident involving an unscrupulous woman she met at the National Assistance office, Margaret is no longer able to take care of herself. Mr. Conrad, who has taken a liking to her, takes it upon himself to ensure that she is well taken care of - physically, emotionally and legally. As such, the ...

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Plot Keywords:

senility | welfare office | theft | social realism | loneliness | 

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Taglines:

The Whisperers, who are they?

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 1967 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Bisbigli

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seven Pines

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress----Drama, as well as Best Actress honors from the BAFTAs, New York Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review and the Berlin Film Festival, Edith Evans was the awards season frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar. However, in what many felt was a sympathy vote on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences part, the award went to Katharine Hepburn (who also scored at the BAFTAs) for her role in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", which was also the final film for her longtime co-star and lover Spencer Tracy.

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Goofs

The old kitchen curtain is shown in scene after Archie leaves, while Margaret is moping around the apartment. The new curtains are shown again after she returns from seeing Mr. Conrad at the National Assistance Board.

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Quotes

Archie Ross: What kind of job might it be, sir?
Mr. Conrad: Doorman at a cinema.
Archie Ross: Oh, wonderful. Nice and healthy and in the open.
Mr. Conrad: The healthiest jobs, Mr. Ross, are the ones you keep.

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Connections

Version of ITV Play of the Week: The Whisperers (1961)

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Soundtracks

Shall We Gather at the River?
(uncredited)
Written by Robert Lowry
Performed by Edith Evans and mission attendees

User Reviews

My brief review of the film

There are many good qualities in this study of paranoia, loneliness, ageing and exploitation, among other themes, with its virtues ranging from a great mood setting score by John Barry, to excellent camera angles and aptly stark sets, all of which fit in with the general atmosphere of the film. In an Oscar nominated role, Edith Evans also gives off a fine performance, and there is some good work with extended dissolves to edit between different shots. It is not an easy film to like and admire in spite of its virtues though. There are excesses of melodrama thrown in, such as cops and robbers, and these subplots serve to distract from the protagonist. The lack of dialogue at times is distracting in itself too, and there are also odd characters in small segments thrown in here and there that do nothing at all. The dual spoken narration is also rather awkward. Yes, there are some things that can be complained about here - one could also complain that the nastiness is excessive. There is still a lot that makes this a good film however, and these virtues definitely show through. It is an excellent film, but it may not satisfy all tastes. Bryan Forbes is a great director, and almost all his films are worth a look if one is interested in good directing regardless of the plot or characters.