Thanks for the memories!

disgusting, overrated, pointless

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Alan Ladd portrays railroad cop Luke 'Whispering' Smith in a starring role that probably got him noticed for the character of Shane a few years later, a favorite Western of mine as well as many others. The low key approach worked better in the latter film, where Ladd's character wasn't looking for trouble once he hung up his holster. As a troubleshooter for the Nebraska & Pacific Railroad, you would think Smith would be a bit more flamboyant, but that's not the title of the story. The significance of his name is dealt with in an early scene just before he makes his first appearance, as the old time railroad hands describe his legendary-like status.The picture gives us the classic, though formulaic love triangle that's a staple of many genres, this time with Smith and his best friend Murray Sinclair (Robert Preston) and Murray's wife Marian (Brenda Marshall). The viewer immediately connects with the unspoken relationship between Smith and Marian, and that dynamic stays center stage throughout the picture. Over the course of the story, Murray gradually transforms from a successful rancher and railroad foreman into outright villainy after being fired for essentially looting crates of goods from a planned train wreck.I think this is the first time I've seen Donald Crisp as an outlaw. It's a tribute to his ability as an actor that he pulls it off rather successfully. However the baddie to keep your eye on here is Frank Faylen as the creepy Rebstock henchman Whitey Du Sang. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I finally realized that he also portrayed Dwayne Hickman's dad in 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'. I don't think I've seen him in any other Westerns, which is too bad because he's got that great Klaus Kinski thing going for him and he looks just plain bada--, if you know what I mean.The picture also confirms something for me that I think about every time I see him. Whenever you need a snake oil salesman for a Western flick, the guy to call on is Earle Hodgins. He's on screen here for only a few seconds, and you don't even get to see his face real clearly, but he's right there in the credits to make it official. The role could have been done by anybody, but I guess back in the day, if you're in the film business and you need a character actor to peddle Cherokee Indian Snake Oil, only Earle Hodgins can do it.Well, not to get sidetracked here, the film resolves about the way you would expect it to. The kicker for me was seeing Alan Ladd in your traditional Randolph Scott outfit (all black) for the final showdown. My only question however, would be how did Smith and partner Bill Dansing (William Demarest) get back to the Sinclair house so quickly? It's like they teleported over into the barn because it was only a matter of seconds before they left and were right back again! The only other characters I've ever seen who could do that with time to spare are Tonto and Lash LaRue. Amazing.The end of the story leaves some wiggle room as to what would happen next, but as the viewer, you'll have to decide for yourself. Happy ending fans will no doubt expect Whispering Smith to hook up with his former sweetheart, but that will have to be your call.

This is a very fine western. Great Technicolor, decent acting and a nice plot. As a fan of the western genre, I appreciate the snappy way the story moves along. Modern westerns (and most films, in fact) drag the exposition out. Here, for example, when Robert Preston's character meets up with his old friend Ladd and mentions Preston's wife's name, the look on Ladd's face instantly tells you "oh-oh, there's a history here." Very quick, but well done and you know what's coming.This is a "railroad western." It's nice to see a western that emphasizes the importance and power of the the railroads in the settlement of the west.

Colorful, but dull, tale of two friends "working on the railroad." Alan Ladd plays the friend who falls a little more to the good side of the tracks - and Robert Preston plays the friend who bends over more on the wrong side of the tracks. Of course, there is a Woman between them… she married one, but longs for the other - or, maybe she loved/loves them both? The sets and photography are lovely. There is a big railroad and train running through town, which means robbers, and a lot of shooting, are obligatory. I guess the ending could be interpreted as a little open-ended, but I think Mr. Preston decides whether Mr. Ladd lives - or dies... ***** Whispering Smith (1948) Leslie Fenton ~ Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall

This is a standard actioner about railroad detective Luke Smith (Alan Ladd) who has to track down an old buddy Murray Sinclair (Robert Preston) whom he believes is involved in a series of railroad hold ups. Murray also happens to have a fine spread and is married to Smith's old love interest, Marion (Brenda Marshall).Smith cut's Murray a lot of breaks and gives him the benefit of the doubt until someone is killed in a railroad hold-up and he can no longer turn a blind eye towards his old friend. Donald Crisp plays the leader the gang that led Murray astray and we have bad guy Whitey (Frank Faylen wearing a blond wig) as the heavy. Paramount gave it an "A" picture look with excellent Technicolor production values, but it deserves a better plot. Preston merely repeats his good-guy-gone-bad role from BLOOD ON THE MOON, and Ladd is capable but low-key to the point of almost being monotonous. Crisp as a bad guy makes no impression while Faylen's blond wig, looks ridiculous.It starts off being filmed up in the beautiful Sierras but winds up towards the end at the same ranch locations that Paramount used for most of it's programmers. Same old locations.It's not bad, but it's nothing special, imo. Average.5 out of 10