Whistling in the Dark (1941) User Reviews (22)

Enjoyable murder comedy

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 26 June 2004]

Red Skelton (in his first starring role) plays Wally Benton who plays 'The Fox' on a radio show. He writes the murder mysteries and as 'The Fox' solves them. Joseph Jones (Conrad Veidt) is trying to figure out how to perform the perfect murder on someone. He kidnaps Benton, his girlfriend (Ann Rutherford) and another girlfriend (Virginia Grey). He tells Benton to write out the perfect murder...or his girlfriends get it...

Very funny and enjoyable movie. Fast-moving (it's only 77 minutes), a good script and perfect casting really puts this across. Skelton is very good in his first starring role--very funny, fast, handsome and intelligent. Veidt is excellent as the evil Jones. Rutherford and Grey are lots of fun as Skelton's girlfriends. All three of them play off each other perfectly--their verbal sparring is the highlight of this pic. Also fun to see Eve Arden in a small role.

Well worth your time.

Better than "Whistling in Dixie"

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 18 June 2008]

Red Skelton plays a radio detective known as "The Fox" in "Whistling in the Dark," also starring Ann Rutherford, Conrad Veidt, Eve Arden, Virgina Grey and Rags Ragland. Wally Benton, aka "The Fox" finds his plans to marry his fiancé Carol (Rutherford) thwarted when he's kidnapped by a the leader of a sham cult (Veidt). Joseph Jones (Veidt) has just learned that his cult, The Silver Haven, is not getting a promised inheritance because of the existence of the old woman's nephew, who is going to be living off of the interest. He wants Wally to devise a perfect murder plot so the man can be killed on the airplane en route to meet with his attorney. For backup, and because he's not sure which one is Wally's fiancé, Jones kidnaps Carol and also the radio sponsor's daughter (Grey).

This, to me anyway, is a superior film to the second entry in this series, "Whistling in Dixie." The plot is better, the cast is better, there is less slapstick and fewer corny jokes. Skelton, when he's not making faces and rolling his eyes, is quite amiable, and Rutherford is very good. Veidt always played these evil men to perfection. Eve Arden is Wally's agent, who arranges a date for him and Grey to make sure his contract is renewed. I had only seen Grey in films from the 1950s onward. She was always a good-looking woman, but who knew she was such a knockout in the '30s and '40s? This is a fun film with a neat cast.

Lots of Fun

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 31 October 2013]

Remake of 1933 movie is the first in a series of three movies. Wally "The Fox" Benton (Red Skelton) is the star of a popular radio mystery program who is kidnapped by criminals. They plan to kill somebody and want Wally to plan the perfect murder. As added incentive for him to do as they want, they also kidnap Wally's fiancée (Ann Rutherford) and another girl who likes him (Virginia Grey).

Fast-paced enjoyable Red Skelton comedy hits on all cylinders. Great direction, great script, superb cast. Skelton is wonderful in his first starring role. Ann Rutherford is absolutely adorable as his fiancée. Something about her I've always loved since I first saw her in the Andy Hardy films. Virginia Grey is the other girl who wants Red and she's fiery and spunky and lots of fun as well. The way the three of them team up to handle the bad guys is terrific. Conrad Veidt is excellent as the heavy, as are all of his henchman. There's more support from the likes of the great Eve Arden, Lloyd Corrigan, and Henry O'Neill. It's really a first-rate cast in a very fun and funny movie.

A Sinister Plot with Ridiculous Overtones

[theowinthrop · 1 May 2004]

This film was the second done by Vincent Minelli in his movie directing career. Like the first one I DOOD IT he was directing Red Skelton. The two films were assigned to Minelli as a test of his abilities, and he did so well that he was never assigned to B-Features again. Skelton was shown to good advantage (in most of his comedies Skelton usually gave good performances) as a radio personality, "THE FOX" who knows all you need to know about crime to solve cases. He is kidnapped with his girl friend by Conrad Veidt's gang. Veidt is a cult leader, who learns he is a prospective heir to one of his rich followers, provided her direct heir (Lloyd Corrigan)predeceases her. Veidt needs a perfect crime, and "The Fox" is just the man to give it to him.

It is a wonderful comedy. Besides Skelton's comic abilities, Veidt too shows a funny side rarely apparent in his dramatic (and villainous) roles - imagine Major Strasser telling Capt. Reynaud an off-colored joke in CASABLANCA. At the start of the film, having just given his stooge followers his typical guru speech on control and peace and love, Veidt learns about the existance of Corrigan as a threat to his plans for wealth. He starts acting like another notable German of the 1940s, screaming and ranting, and yelling at his followers how can he teach the world of love and peace when this impediment is in his way! Later, when part of the live audience listening to Skelton's "Fox" radio program, he learns that the villain in the program was an imposter that Skelton recognized, because he was wearing a turban the wrong way (it was tied on the left instead of the right, or something like that). A surprised Veidt (who could very well wear a turban among his followers) tells his side-kick, "I didn't know that!" as though anyone is interested.

The lines go fast and furious in this film, up to a surprise at the end of the film from Corrigan, that actually makes much of the frantic antics of the forced "perfect crime" plot seem hopeless from the start. Definitely worthwhile if you want some good laughs.

Red's first starring vehicle

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 28 July 2017]

This was really the first film in which Red Skelton was the star, rather than a supporting character. And while it was a B movie, it was a good one that received a fair amount of acclaim for Skelton. The general shtick is a good, but common one in that era -- a sort of twist between gangsters and spooks.

Here, Red plays Wally Benton, the star of a radio mystery series; he's "The Fox", an expert criminologist (and accidentally a goofball). He plans to elope with his girlfriend Ann Rutherford, but his agent urges him to also date the sponsor's daughter to assure that his show is not canceled. Meanwhile, Conrad Veidt runs a religious cult that preys on the wills of oldsters, mostly women. One member has died and bequeathed a life interest in $1,000,000 to a nephew (Lloyd Corrigan), with the principal going to Silver Haven only after Upshaw's death. Veidt is determined to have Upshaw murdered so that the money will come straight to the cult. Members of the cult develop a plan to have "The Fox" develop a fool proof murder. Kidnappings ensure, and the bumbling Skeleton tries to save himself and his two female paramours. Can "The Fox" save the women and prevent the murder? How he does it is rather clever.

Red Skelton, in his first starring vehicle, is very good here, although he got even better in the two sequels. This is a good role for Conrad Veidt as the head of the phony religion; must have been a nice change not playing a Nazi in the World War II era! Ann Rutherford was a good romantic interest for Red. "Rags" Ragland, who later played Red's pal, in this film was one of the reprobates, but did so nicely. Venerable character actor Henry O'Neill is along as the sponsor of Red's radio program. Eve Arden is here as Red's manager, but has little to do, and that's a shame...but she was a known scene stealer.

If there's a criticism here it's that about two-thirds of the way through the film it lags a bit, but then comes on stronger at the end. Aside from that, it's a pretty refreshing B movie. Recommended, particularly to see the young Red Skelton.

You'll Part in Radiant Contentment

[glgioia · 7/10 · 18 January 2002]

There are 3 of these movies, all similarly crafted and each extremely amusing. Red plays radio sleuth Wally Benton, aka The Fox who gets wrangled into solving real life crimes along with his fiance played by your typical wartime girl next door looker, Ann Rutherford. Many of the one-liners and gags are dumb and probably were in the 1940s which I anticipated. But, just as many actually made me laugh out loud, which was unexpected to say the least. Red Skelton has a surprisingly strong screen presence, surprising I say because I grew up with a much older version of the man who's charm really didnt play well in my formidable years. I have to give these movies the go ahead though -if your in the mood for this type of nostalgic fare. I almost threw in light hearted, but in truth people get wasted and beaten up and dare i say it, the suspense at times is well above average. As with most movies from this era, it gets a PI (politically incorrect) rating for reasons you can well imagine. Wartime is funny that way I guess, and so then again are these movies. Watch one, watch them all.

Skelton makes promising debut as star but flat one-liners don't help...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 23 October 2005]

You have to be awfully patient to sit through a film with one-liners so flat and unfunny that you wonder what all the fuss was about when WHISTLING IN THE DARK opened to such an enthusiastic greeting from audiences in the 1940s.

On top of some weak one-liners and ordinary sight gags, the plot is as far-fetched as the tales The Fox (Red Skelton) tells his radio audience. You have to wonder why anyone would think he could come up with a real-life solution on how to commit the perfect crime and get away with it. But then, that's how unrealistic the comedy is.

But--if you're a true Red Skelton fan and enjoy a look back at how comedies were made in the '40s--you can at least enjoy the amiable cast supporting him. Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey do nicely as his love interest and Conrad Veidt, as always, makes an interesting villain. One of his more amusing moments is his reaction to Skelton explaining the mysteries of wearing turbans. "I never knew that," he muses, impressed by a minor point that is cleverly introduced.

All in all, typical nonsense that requires you to accept the lack of credibility and just accept the gags as they are. Not always easy for a discriminating viewer as many of them simply fall flat, the way many comedies of this era do because the novelty of the sight gags and one-liners has simply worn off.

Both funny and suspenseful

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 24 March 2013]

I had never seen a Red Skelton film until now. Based on "Whistling In The Dark" alone, I think he is probably an underrated comedian. Some of his expressions and double takes are quite funny. But he is also backed up here by a wonderful supporting cast: having to choose between Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey would be any man's dream dilemma, and Conrad Veidt is perfectly cast as the bogus cult leader. Pleasurably, the women don't just sit back and scream when a big fight breaks out at the end - they (literally) jump right into it! The movie offers laughs (nearly all of the characters have some gems in their dialogue - "You can put my mind at ease by not using yours" - but you must listen carefully) and some genuine suspense as well - but as has already been mentioned, what's up with the title? The Fox doesn't whistle, he howls! *** out of 4.

A great comedy mystery film!

[beatlesfavband · 10/10 · 4 May 2004]

While many pass this off as a B movie it is, indeed, a first class comedy that is well-written and acted. Red Skelton is great as Wally Benton better known to radio fans as The Fox. Ann Rutherford is perfect as Wally's fiance Carol Lambert. Conrad Veidt leads a very well cast gang of criminals. I read one account of this movie which states that Vincente Minelli directed this film, not unless he changed his name to S. Sylvan Simon, who directed all three of the Fox movies. This is a very entertaining film made when imagination was encouraged. So get over your black and white prejudice if you have one, sit back and enjoy a truly great comedy. This was also Red's first starring role. Take note during the climax of the reference to Orson Welles' War Of the Worlds broadcast.

A non-stop barrage of fast, funny banter and broad slapstick

[moonspinner55 · 7/10 · 23 August 2011]

Red Skelton, achingly young but as engaging and comically flexible as ever, is ideally-cast as Wally Benton, a radio personality and fictional sleuth nicknamed "The Fox", who is kidnapped for real by a nefarious cult leader eager to get his hands on an inheritance--which means implicating Benton in a murder. Adaptation of the play by Laurence Gross and Edward Childs Carpenter is pure fun, with an exceptionally strong supporting cast running high on adrenaline. Conrad Veidt, that great eternal-villain, is the amusingly icy con-man who robs the rich and keeps for himself, while Ann Rutherford is charming as Skelton's girlfriend. She and Red were quickly re-teamed for two more "Whistling" comedies. Well-produced and often ridiculously funny. *** from ****

A Foolproof Homicide from a fool

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 18 July 2011]

Like the Road To Singapore which was the debut and yet the weakest of the Road films for Crosby and Hope, Whistling In The Dark which was Red Skelton's starring debut was overall rather weak, but definitely shows Red Skelton's zany comedy style. He did two more films as radio detective Wally Benton aka the Fox, Whistling In Dixie and Whistling In Brooklyn that were better than this one.

The fact that smooth and clever villain Conrad Veidt who runs a spiritualist racket would need help from Red Skelton to construct a perfect murder is dopey on the face of it. Still Skelton is kidnapped by Veidt and along with him are two women that he's been seeing, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey, and he's got to come up with a foolproof method of homicide. Nobody notices that in addition to being a performer and writer, Skelton is also something of a fool.

But that's what makes the weak premised film provide a lot of laughs with Grey, Rutherford, and even Veidt joining in on the general hilarity. And I do love the way Red apparently has a knowledge of electronics and makes the villain's radio receiver set a broadcast method. Can't be a complete fool to devise that.

Though the succeeding Fox films were better, Whistling In The Dark will provide a great introduction to the comedy stylings of Red Skelton.

Better chasing a fox than being chased by a wolf.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 5 November 2018]

So says Eve Arden in one of her wittiest lines outside of alligators eating their young in "Mildred Pierce". She's referring to the two women chasing after radio mystery host Red Skelton, engaged to Ann Rutherford, but desired by Virginia Grey. Somehow Skelton is desired by cult leader Conrad Veidt who fleeces vulnerable widowed society matrons out of their money by promising them peace in another world, wanted to figure out the perfect way to kill the co-heir to a fortune he coveted himself, split between him and the surviving nephew (Lloyd Corrigan).

Skelton is fooled into going off with Veidt and his merry gang of fleecers, later held hostage with both Rutherford and Grey in an effort to prove that the poisoned mouthwash he's suggested actually works. Guarded by the very tough Rags Ragland (strong only in muscle. not in brain), Skelton comes up with a unique way of turning a radio into a telephone in an effort to warn Corrigan about his possible fate aboard a flight where one of Veidt's men intends to use the poisoned mouthwash to do his dirty deed. It's a race to the finish, giving Corrigan a very funny exit line, and a comedy thriller that will have you both in stitches as well as your hands glued to your arm rests.

Having made a few minor supporting appearances in a few films, this would be Skelton's very first lead, and he is indeed quite amusing. He doesn't overdo the schtick here that he would later on, and thus comes off as quite subtle. Rutherford and Grey play great rivals for Skelton's affections, although it is obvious whom he prefers. I wish Arden had more scenes, as she always turns even the weakest of lines into something meatier. Veidt is a suave villain, delivering each dastardly line as if he was comforting a wounded pet, all the while insulting it. Ragland as usual plays a hysterically funny dumbbell, not overusing the malapropisms, but making each one hysterical. This remake of a 1933 film spawned a brief series for Skelton that didn't overstay its welcome.

Flat jokes, bad direction, worse script

[richard-1787 · 2/10 · 3 November 2020]

Most of the previous 19 reviews of this movie scored it at 7 or above. I honestly can't figure out why. Yes, there's a lot of talent in this movie, but it is not put to any good use. The one-liner jokes are not funny, most of them. There's no sense of urgency to the direction and timing, even though there should be a lot of suspense. I may be too pc for my own good, but the scene near the end where the two young women are thrown around like two sacks of potatoes really did not please me. In short, this movie seemed very slow going to me, and very seldom funny, though I have always liked Red Skelton.

Watch it if you like, but I'd suggest you pass it by.

MGM/WARNER DVD (??) ~ Might as well be "Whistling in the Wind!!"

[triassic4 · 4 January 2005]

If WARNER/MGM had their way (of which they DO!)....we will NOT LIKELY ever see these 3 Classic RED SKELTON "Whistling" series comedies on DVD! RED SKELTON stars as Wally Benton, THE FOX ("OOOOOOO!"), a Radio star detective in WHISTLING IN THE DARK, WHISTLING IN DIXIE and WHISTLING IN BRROKLYN. I purchased the VHS copies of these great films quite a few years back (before DVD's) ~ they are definitely 'keepers'! Again, I pass on the film commentaries, because the IMDb reviewers are on target with these flix. What always concerns me is the PUSH needed for someone to read these reviews (from the Production offices of WARNER/MGM)...."HELLO!"....and realize that Classic film fans and consumers WANT (and DEMAND) these films be made available for DVD! And this goes for you other clowns at FOX, COLUMBIA, UNIVERSAL, or whatever corporate names you have absorbed (MCA, SONY, RCA, etc). Pay attention to your fans and show us the respect we deserve by producing MORE quality Classic films!!!!!!! As to quote STAN LEE, "Nuff Said!"

rapid fire trio the most fun

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 13 April 2019]

Wally Benton (Red Skelton) is the star creator of the popular mystery radio show, The Fox, where he solves near perfect crimes. Cult leader Joseph Jones needs to kill someone to inherit a fortune. He's told about Benton and kidnaps him to construct the perfect murder. Benton is supposed to meet his fiancée Carol Lambert and a rich sponsor's socialite daughter Fran Post. Jones has them kidnapped as well.

Of course, I've heard of Red Skelton but he's mostly before my time. He is almost entirely an old performing legend from what I remember. He's a much younger man in this. He's in his late 20's, early in his Hollywood career. I like comedic triangle when they're alone to have a rapid fire banter. Their escape is the best part of the movie. The girls are really hilarious as the competing duo. The murder scheme is a little dark and it's not as much fun. I prefer to have the cult bumble as much as possible. It does get into a slapstick fight although it's not the funniest. This has some good banter and a good amount of fun.

"Put that gun away...we're a society of brotherly love!"

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 December 2015]

While the 1941 version of "Whistling in the Dark" is by far the most famous version, back in the 1930s there was a previous version and I enjoyed it very much. Now, less than a decade later, MGM is back with a new version--this time starring Red Skelton. As for me, I much preferred the original version even if it starred the much less famous Ernest Truex. Of course the original was more famous but it also didn't try so hard to be funny and was more subtle and likable.

When the film begins, some evil scumbags are scamming lots of gullible ladies with their cult. However, this is no common, ordinary cult leader, as apparently he and his gang of thugs are killers! Their latest atrocity needs to be the perfect murder and instead of the boss (Conrad Veidt) planning it, he decides to force a radio program writer and performer, Wally Benton (Red Skelton) to plan this perfect killing. And, to provide Wally with an incentive to cooperate, they also kidnap his two lady friends along with him. How can Wally possibly escape or warn the authorities about the pending murder?

This film is interesting and mildly funny--only mildly. This is because many of the laughs are a bit forced and Skelton's almost constant one-liners are almost never funny. I MUCH preferred Skelton's later roles, as his character was much sweeter and likable. Here, his character is unusually smart and unusually bland. As for me, I really thought the original film was far better...and is the version to see if you get a chance. However, the remake isn't bad...good enough at the time, that it spurred on two sequels--"Whistling in Dixie" (1942) and Whistling in Brooklyn (1943).

Whistling in the dark

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 5 March 2023]

The operators of 'Silver Haven', a cultish group bilking gullible rich people out of money, is set to inherit a large sum after the deceased woman's heir also dies. Leader Joesph Jones decides to hurry the process along and kidnaps Wally Benton, his fiancé, and a friend, to further this goal. Wally, 'The Fox', is a radio sleuth who solves murders on the air. Jones wants him to devise a perfect murder, and isn't above killing others sloppily along the way to get his foolproof murder plot.

I am more familiar of Red Skelton of the 50's, where he's older, but here he's very young and quite funny in his wisecracks. Supporting him are Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey who match him in the wit department- this is fun lighthearted fare that has a touch of sinister air, thanks to Conrad Veidt as a cult leader. He plays it straight, oozing refinement and menace. The story idea is quite well realised and the production is top notch.

Silly, but still enjoyable

[cricketbat · 6/10 · 14 November 2022]

I kind of stumbled upon Whistling in the Dark. I only chose to watch this movie because I was looking for a short film and this one had a similar title as one of my favorite songs by They Might Be Giants. However, I enjoyed watching it. I've never been a big fan of Red Skelton and his style of comedy, but he kept his mugging to a minimum and the rest of the cast balanced him out. I just wish the writers didn't feel the need to throw in a one-liner at every turn. The plot is silly & dated, but it's still enjoyable. Whistling in the Dark helped me unwind at the end of the day, and I appreciated that.

**

[edwagreen · 3/10 · 11 November 2015]

With the exception of the last 15 minutes or so, this was a pretty awful film.

Red Skelton, as Walter Benton, radio show star of a crime show who along with his boss's daughter and fiancée is kidnapped by a sinister cult leader, Conrad Veidt, who wants Skelton to come up with a perfect murder so that he can kill the heir of a fortune left by one of his devotees.

The film just plods along with ridiculous lines by Skelton and Crew. Eve Arden is given very little to do as Skelton's agent, her wise-cracking is sorely missed here by the writers. Ironically, Skelton is Walter Benton in this film; years later, we had the character of Walter Denton in Arden's hit television series "Our Miss Brooks." Richard Crenna played Denton.

The film picks up in pace and comedy when the radio is able to be connected and everyone finds out about the plight of Skelton and the two women.

On His Way Up

[dougdoepke · 2 May 2009]

It's Red's first starring role and he plays it fairly straight only sometimes mugging it up in ways that would become his comedic trademark. It's an excellent supporting cast, especially the unsung Don Costello as the henchman with a bad case of nerves and unsteady loyalties. And whose inspired idea was it to walk the thuggish-looking Hilda (Mariska Aldrich) through several scenes, allowing Red to get off some choice one-liners, ("Didn't I see you on 'Wrestling' last week."). Still, I'm curious why there're two leading ladies instead of one. Grey's character "Fran" seems unnecessary to the comedy set-ups and the storyline, so perhaps there's an inside story on this odd bit of doubling-up.

In my little book, the movie's only fitfully funny, mainly because the two comedy set-ups (the secret room and the radio trick) go on too long and lack the intensity of Red's better comedies. As other reviewers point out, the best parts are the many choice throwaway lines that sometimes fly fast and furious, so keep your ear cocked. All in all, this first of the "Whistling" series is not the best, but it does present a chance to catch one show-biz's brightest comedy acts developing his way up the Hollywood ladder.

Broadcasting Backwards

[tedg · 15 June 2010]

Here is an early example of what I call narrative folding.

"Citizen Kane" had just been released when this started filming. While they are from competing studios, there are a few references to "Kane" here, including a couple notes about the famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.

The setup is pretty delicious. Red Skelton is a radio star, who plays a detective called the Fox. This by itself is a joke because the man's humor is all in his face. He is dependent on film — and later TeeVee to be successful. He is famous (in this movie) for writing complex mysteries, not for performing them.

Superficially, the story has him kidnapped by the bad guys and forced to come up with a foolproof murder idea. He does, but is able to foil the plot. Bad guys are captured. All is well. But look at how this is done.

The bad guys operate a fake spiritualist cult that sells a "radio" service to the departed. In order to keep their enterprise going, they will get a million dollars if they kill some innocent guy and get away with it. So the deal is fake radio versus real, and cleverly solved mystery versus cleverly concealed mystery.

As a sort of mirror, Red's character has two women in love with him, and they are kidnapped with him. Many of the jokes have to do with the confusion and conflict between these.

The payoff is in how Red's character foils his own plot. He literally — I am not making this up — figures out a way to talk backwards into a radio receiver.

Now I believe that this sort of construction is no accident. But I also hold that it is not an intellectual exercise either. Narrative folding comes as naturally as a sort of analogy-based equivalent of the puns on which this is based.

(Red's radio show is sponsored by a soft drink. When capturing him, the cult wants him to sell a drink in an identical bottle that contains Vitamin O. )

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

"I am The Fox. WOOOOOOOOOO!"

[Ash-65 · 4 March 1999]

If that cracks you up, you'll be deliriously happy for an hour and twenty minutes. If you're not amused, watch Red Skelton say it. If you're funny bone still hasn't been tickled, go away. Otherwise, Whistling in the Dark is a good bet, even for family.