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IMDbPro

The Whistler

  • 19441944
  • PassedPassed
  • 59m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
892
YOUR RATING
Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, Richard Dix, and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
  • Film-Noir
  • Mystery
A depressed man hires an assassin to kill him when he least expects it, but when his life takes an upward turn, he finds he now wishes to live.A depressed man hires an assassin to kill him when he least expects it, but when his life takes an upward turn, he finds he now wishes to live.A depressed man hires an assassin to kill him when he least expects it, but when his life takes an upward turn, he finds he now wishes to live.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
892
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Castle
  • Writers
    • J. Donald Wilson(based on the CBS Radio Program by)
    • Eric Taylor(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Richard Dix
    • Gloria Stuart
    • J. Carrol Naish
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Castle
  • Writers
    • J. Donald Wilson(based on the CBS Radio Program by)
    • Eric Taylor(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Richard Dix
    • Gloria Stuart
    • J. Carrol Naish
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

    Trevor Bardette and Richard Dix in The Whistler (1944)
    Richard Dix and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
    Gloria Stuart, Richard Dix, and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
    Richard Dix in The Whistler (1944)
    J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
    The Whistler (1944)
    Richard Dix and Joan Woodbury in The Whistler (1944)
    Trevor Bardette and Richard Dix in The Whistler (1944)
    Charles Coleman and Richard Dix in The Whistler (1944)
    Gloria Stuart, Trevor Bardette, Richard Dix, and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
    Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, Richard Dix, and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Dix
    Richard Dix
    • Earl C. Conradas Earl C. Conrad
    Gloria Stuart
    Gloria Stuart
    • Alice Walkeras Alice Walker
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • The Killeras The Killer
    Alan Dinehart
    Alan Dinehart
    • Gormanas Gorman
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • The Bum in the Next Bedas The Bum in the Next Bed
    • (uncredited)
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    • The Deafmuteas The Deafmute
    • (uncredited)
    Willie Bloom
    • Bumas Bum
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Brent
    • Detective in Alleyas Detective in Alley
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Coleman
    Charles Coleman
    • Jennings the Butleras Jennings the Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Clancy Cooper
    Clancy Cooper
    • Telephone Repairmanas Telephone Repairman
    • (uncredited)
    Don Costello
    Don Costello
    • Lefty Vigran aka Gorssas Lefty Vigran aka Gorss
    • (uncredited)
    Russell Custer
    • Bar Patronas Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Dunn
    Ralph Dunn
    • Cop at Car Accidentas Cop at Car Accident
    • (uncredited)
    Otto Forrest
    • The Whistleras The Whistler
    • (uncredited)
    Byron Foulger
    Byron Foulger
    • Flophouse Desk Clerkas Flophouse Desk Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    John George
    John George
    • Bumas Bum
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Gordon
    Dick Gordon
    • Tomley's Assistantas Tomley's Assistant
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Homans
    Robert Homans
    • Dock Watchmanas Dock Watchman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Castle
    • Writers
      • J. Donald Wilson(based on the CBS Radio Program by)
      • Eric Taylor(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There were eight entries in the "Whistler" series, and Richard Dix appeared in all but the last one. Unusually, he played a different character in each.
    • Goofs
      While the killer is lying on the bed perusing his book on Fear of Death, a cigarette suddenly appears in his mouth.
    • Quotes

      The Bum in the Next Bed: Rats in this place as big as beavers. They won't hurt ya... but you're liable to trip over them in the dark.

    • Connections
      Featured in Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "I know many things for I walk by night..."
    A man (Richard Dix) is despondent after the death of his wife but can't bring himself to commit suicide.. So he hires a professional hit-man (J. Carrol Naish) to do the deed for him. But suddenly things are looking up for him and he wants to live. The problem is he has a killer after him that he already paid for! An outlandish premise but a fun start to Columbia's Whistler series. The Whistler was a popular radio program of the time. I am way too young to remember the radio show when it first aired, but I have heard many episodes on satellite radio. It's a good show. The movie series is good, as well, with iron-jawed Richard Dix playing the lead in all but one of them. He plays a different role in each movie, just like Lon Chaney, Jr. was doing over at Universal in their Inner Sanctum series.

    Like I said, this is a fun movie despite the unbelievable premise. Nice supporting cast backing up Dix including Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, William Benedict, and J. Carrol Naish. Benedict first appears on screen reading a Superman comic book. This has to be one of the earliest appearances or mentions of Superman in a live-action movie. It's also one of the earliest directing jobs from William Castle.
    helpful•3
    1
    • utgard14
    • Mar 27, 2014

    FAQ1

    • List: "The Whistler" radio episodes

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 30, 1944 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Whistler
    • Filming locations
      • Larry Darmour Productions, 5821 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Larry Darmour Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      59 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, Richard Dix, and J. Carrol Naish in The Whistler (1944)
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