Product Details

• Actors: Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall, Donald Crisp, William Demarest
• Directors: Leslie Fenton
• Writers: Frank Butler, Frank H. Spearman, Karl Kamb
• Producers: Mel Epstein
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001FVDY6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,250 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Whispering Smith" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

WHISPERING SMITH - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Alan Ladd leads the cast of pistol-packing action - Smith", September 23, 2004

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Whispering Smith (DVD)

Paramount Pictures presents a film based on the novel by Frank H. Spearman, Screenplay by Frank Butler and Karl Kamb, under the direction of director Leslie Fenton in glorious technicolor ~ "Whispering Smith" (1949/89 mins), featuring an all-star cast starting with ~ Alan Ladd (star of "Shane", one of the best westerns ever) as Luke "Whispering" Smith, Robert Preston (star of "Music Man", Broadway and Hollywood Musical as Professor Harold Hill) as Murray Sinclair, Brenda Marshall as Marian Sinclair, Donald Crisp (co-star in "How Green Was My Valley" as Mr. Gwilym Morgan) as Barney Rebstock the hated rancher who wanted to own the whole territory, William Demarest (from "My Three Sons" television series) as Bill Dansing, Faye Holden (Andy Hardy's Mother, Mrs Emily Hardy) as Emmy Dansing, Frank Faylen (cabdriver in "It's A Wonderful Life, one of Jimmy Stewart's good buddies) as Whitey DuSang the blood-thirsty killer with cold and mean snake eyes, Eddy Waller (Allan "Rocky" Lane's sidekick, Nugget) as the railroad conductor ~ all intermingle with a story that twists and turns, keeping the audience spellbound with action and riveting drama.

BIOS:
1. Alan Ladd
Date of Birth: 3 September 1913 - Hot Springs, Arkansas
Date of Death: 29 January 1964 - Palm Springs, California

Opening scene is in a baggage car traveling on a rainy night, Robert Preston (Sinclair) and a group of railroad employees are talking about events of the past involving railroad detective Schmitty (Whispering Smith) ~ when Smith gets on the trail of desperadoes there is not doubt their trails will meet up, and when they do watch out, soft talking Smith is right behind you telling you it's all over and reach for the sky ~ the plot thickens as Ladd and Preston were friends way back when, both loved the same girl Brenda Marshall, but Preston won out ~ now married Preston is looking for easy money and falls in with the wrong crowd ~ stealing from wrecked trains Preston is found out and fired, seeking vengeance he starts robbing and derailing trains, this brings Whispering Smith back into the picture ~ will Smith and Sinclair have a showdown...can Smith turn Sinclair around to see the error of his ways...or will guns blaze leaving one of them standing alone and empty.

Well, I'm not going to give anything away...you'll just have to purchase this and ride the dusty trails or trains to see how this heart-pounding adventure ends --- all my heroes have been cowboys!


Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 89 mins ~ Universal Studios Home Video 25082 ~ (6/01/2004)

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good railroad western has a top cast, June 12, 2004

By A Customer

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This review is from: Whispering Smith (DVD)

One of Alan Ladd's first starring films is this good detective western as the title character who is a railroad investigator assigned to solve the mystery of a rash of train robberies. Luke "Whispering" Smith meets up with old friend Murray Sinclaire [Robert Preston], a railroad employee whose fine ranch and well-to-do lifestyle are not in accord with his workman's salary. Railroad executive George McCloud [John Eldredge] suspects Sinclaire of wrong-doing but can't prove anything until Sinclaire is caught red-handed looting a wrecked train, and is terminated from the railroad on the spot. Sinclaire is now free to rob and plunder trains as part of a gang led by mastermind Barney Rebstock [Donald Crisp]. With Smith closing in on Sinclaire, the two erstwhile friends square off in a showdown at Sinclaire's ranch in the last reel. There is a romantic triangle of sorts involving Smith, Sinclaire and his wife, Marian. Brenda Marshall has a touching, feminine role as Sinclaire's unhappy wife who was Smith's sweetheart at one time and still carries a torch for him. Ray Rennehan's camera and Adolph Deutsch's music top off a first-rate production.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Alan Ladd Western After Shane, January 24, 2005

By 

Terence Allen (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Whispering Smith (DVD)

By far his next great Western after Shane, Alan Ladd starred in this exciting film about Whispering Smith, a hard-bitten railroad detective know for his grit and tenacity. When his longtime friend Murray is justifiably fired for stealing merchandise from train wrecks, Smith doesn't hesistate to go after his friend when Murray becomes involved with the gang responsbile for the train wrecks. Top-notch performances by Ladd and Robert Preston, who played Murray, plus an excellent script and stellar direction from Leslie Fenton, make this film a classic.