WHISTLE STOP

US, 1946, 84 minutes, Black and white.
George Raft, Ava Gardner, Victor Mc Laglan, Tom Conway, Florence Bates, Charles Drake.
Directed by Leonide Moguy.

Whistle Stop is a little-known film noir of 1946. It is a star vehicle for George Raft in his early 50s, playing the kind of role that he always played. It is also a star vehicle for Ava Gardner who was about to become a star at MGM with such films as The Hucksters. Tom Conway who had been appearing as The Falcon is the suave villain. Victor Mc Laglan does his usual rough role as a barman. Florence Bates, usually up-market and haughty, is the down-to-earth mother.

The screenplay was written by Philip Yordan who went on to write much better screenplays. The trouble is in the casting, the credibility of Ava Gardner, looking beautiful, actually being in love with George Raft.

The film, of its time, is really just a curiosity item.

1. A little-known film noir of the mid 1940s? Interest and entertainment value?

2. The US after the war, the small towns, hopes for better life in Chicago? The black and white photography, homes, the town, railway station, clubs? The county fair? The musical score? The song?

3. The title, the town as a whistle stop? The people stuck in this kind of town? Kenny, lazy, gambling? Lew, entrepreneur, owning the club? Making money? Mary, her life in the town, going to Chicago?

4. The focus on Mary, Ava Gardner at this stage of her career, just before stardom? Her beauty? Screen presence? Her arrival, the mink coat, going home, being welcomed? Kenny coming back? The past relationship? The flashbacks of the relationship? His edginess, wanting to know how she succeeded? The on-and-of relationship after her return? Her relationship with Lew? His devotion to her? Not reciprocated? Being tangled in the affairs of the club? The planned robbery? The murder? Her going to the police? Saving Kenny from being present and giving him a way out with the police? Going off with him at the end?

5. The focus on Kenny, George Raft and his career? In a small town, gambling, antagonism towards Lew? At home, mother? In and out of the club, his being banned? His love for Mary, yet his manner, Gitlo persuading him to participate in the robbery, the discussions? His backing out? Mary’s support? With her at the end?

6. Lew, suave, his manner, at the club, his staff, the county fair, the amount of money he took in? Antagonism towards Kenny, towards Gitlo, his driving, the train, the plan? The murder of the bouncer? His framing Kenny and Gitlo? His shooting kept low, Gitlo choking him?

7. Gitlo, friendship with Kenny, playing cards, his explanation for the robbery, it’s not happening, the setup, blue shooting him, his killing Lew?

8. Ernie, his engagement, the girl and her liveliness, his wondering about her family? The preparation for the wedding?

9. The mother, welcoming, care for Mary, praising Kenny?

10. The screenplay and the construction of events? The credibility of Ava Gardner, 24, in love with George Raft, 51?