Customer Reviews

Red Skelton Whistling Collection (Whistling in the Dark / Whistling in Dixie / Whistling in Brooklyn)

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It has often been written that MGM couldn't "do" comedy, and indeed, some of Red Skelton's best starring comedy roles came when he was loaned out to other studios (e.g., "The Yellow Cab Man" and "The Fuller Brush Man"). But, MGM did a decent to superb job in this trio of films. What's interesting about this trio of films -- the Whistling Collection -- is that you have an opportunity to see Skelton transformed as an emerging star. The first film in the trilogy is "Whistling In The Dark", and it's a tentative Skelton here in a fast-paced, not so smoothly written story with some cool performances by Conrad Veidt and Eve Arden. The second installment ("Whistling In Dixie") is better produced, but perhaps a tad slower, with a fine supporting role by Guy Kibbee. The gem of the trio is the third in the series -- "Whistling In Brooklyn". This film is quite polished with a great blend of snappy dialog, one-liners, and slapstick. You'll enjoy the appearance of the real Brooklyn Dodgers, including one funny scene with a young Leo Durocher. You'll also recognize Ray Collins from Perry Mason fame, although here he is the villain. The elevator scene, though far-fetched, is great slapstick, and while the baseball segment almost slows the film down a bit, it's got some great sight gags.

A constant in all three films is Ann Rutherford as Red's love interest, and you'll remember her from "Gone With The Wind" (one of Scarlett's sisters); she's a good comedy foil here. Rags Ragland is the comedy sidekick, although his roles change from one picture to the next, from villain in the first film to villain and good guy in the second film (twin brothers), to good guy in the final film. It's in the last film that the exchanges between Skelton and Ragland really shine.

But again, what's most interesting in this film series is watching Red Skelton mature as a leading comedy actor. By the third film he is clearly quite confident and, surprisingly, a smooth romantic lead, while still excelling at the comedy. You can see why Skelton was becoming a threat to top comedian Bob Hope (who gets mentioned in each of the last two films) over at Paramount. I had seen each of these films previously, but never over consecutive nights, and that was a pleasure.

The quality of the prints is excellent, including the sound, particularly in "Whistling In Brooklyn". Thanks and kudos to Warner Brothers for their Archive Collection!

Great--as is usual for Red Skelton-- makes one laugh !!!
My husband is a fan- He would tell me if there was anything wrong.
Came quickly/good condition. Thanks

After buying two horrible copies of The Eve Arden Show and Our Miss Brooks Vol. 1 of the TV series, I was pleasantly surprised at the clarity and sound of the "Whistling In" trilogy. They were normal dvd quality and I'd recommend purchasing them as they're very difficult to find on dvd.

Red Skelton's "Whistling" collection is recorded on demand by Warner Archives and is an excellent product. The studio uses pristine masters and the results is sharp DVD-Rs that look and play just like pressed DVDs. I was thrilled when I saw Warner Video was producing this rare collection. Each movie is recorded on its own disc and the original theatrical trailer is included for each title. The plots of these hilarious comedies are simple: Red plays The Fox, a radio detective who's trying to marry his fiancé, played by Ann Rutherford. In each picture, the marriage plan is interrupted by a murder mystery and The Fox getting involved up to his ears.

Enjoy a good old fashioned who dunnit and a big laugh as well? this could be what you're looking for.

So many of the DVDs available for Red Skelton fans are his TV shows. But personally, I find his movies to be the best of all. If you love old movies but have not checked these out, then you are really missing something good. The three movies in this set all have a continuing theme and characters--these are the movies that gave Red his start. The shows are well written and funny as well as being good clean entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together. I was also very pleased with the quality of the DVDs--they have definitely been remastered and make the viewing experience enjoyable.

It seems bizarre that in all the years that Red Skelton was performing, I've never seen ONE of his films! I vaguely remember seeing the last few minutes of 1965's "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines", closing the film with his brilliant pantomime. Finally, MGM/Warner Bros. has given me the opportunity to see this gifted actor-comedian on DVD.
And we get to see him in the beginning of his film career when the "Whistling" series established him as a major comedy star. A B-movie remake, "Whistling in the Dark" (1941) is an atmospheric & rather claustrophobic "scare" comedy--the type that served Bob Hope and Abbott & Costello so well, and who's success led to this film. As radio star Wally Benton (known to listeners as the clever & heroic "The Fox"), his radio adventures catch the attention of a sinister gang called the Silver Vane mob. Their leader menaces Wally into creating "the perfect murder". The film has some obvious cliches--creepy secret passages & such--but livened by Red's flair for snappy one-liners and his sure-fire physical comedy reactions. Using a radio as a way to communicate to a victim that he's in extreme danger is a stroke of genius. "Whistling in Dixie" (1942) is where the series really hits its stride as Wally & his girl (Ann Rutherford) respond to a distress call from a friend down South. The pace is more even in this one, and Red is given even more good moments to cut loose (when noticing that, while trying to obtain a marriage license, the judge's last name is Panky, he can't resist cracking "Got a Hanky, Panky?"). As "The Fox", Red is given opportunity to use old radio cases to get the gang out of tough spots (ex: when the bad guys lock them in an airtight bunker at an old fort). A great knockabout climax in a barn (with two identical Rags Ragland brothers running amok to make Red's head spin) ends it all. "Whistling in Brooklyn" (1944) bares testimony that the series just gets faster & funnier. Picking up from the last one, Wally & his girl are STILL trying to get married. En route, their plans are ruined when Wally is framed for murder, and he spends the rest of the film trying to clear his name & thwart an assassination at a Dodgers ball game. There's an amusing bit in an elevator shaft that aims for Harold Lloyd-ish thrills, but the real treat has Red--disguised as a ball player--doing some hilarious clowning on the diamond. A riotous slapstick fight at a shipyard brings the film--and the series--to a hysterical end.
Whatever fans thought of Skelton's checkered film career--that he was misused as comedy relief in splashy MGM musicals and alternated that with fleeting little gems of comedy films--there was never any question about Red himself. Despite his surroundings, he always gave his all in what he did, an inspired movie clown at work. The "Whistling" series proved that!

If you love the red head this needs to be in your colection. The Fox comes to life and brings humor and mystery and romance all together to make a series that covers all kinds of movie lovers. This is one even the girls will enjoy while the men hoot and holler. Keep Red's name alive for generations to come by buying this vidio and sharing the talent of one of America's finest.

I've had 2 of these movies on VHS and loved watching them, so when I found this set on DVD I was delighted. I no longer have cable, I watch my shows/movies instead. It's nice to have sequential movies, the characters are never deep in Red Skelton movies but it's still nice to watch the romance bud and grow--such as it is! When I'm in the mood for something light and funny I put these on. I can't watch them too often, though, they are all pretty similar!