WHISPERING SMITH

US, 1948, 88 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall, Donald Crisp, William Demarest, Fay Holden.
Directed by Leslie Fenton.

Whispering Smith is a routine western, an Alan Ladd vehicle. He tends to be wooden in his manner and appearance but had a certain charm and attraction. Robert Preston, on the other hand, gives a full-blooded performance as a man going to the bad. Brenda Marshall is his wife. Donald Crisp, Oscar winner for How Green Was My Valley, is the local crooked baron. William Demarest is a local authority and Fay Holden (the mother in the Andy Hardy series) is his wife. Leslie Fenton is a director of routine small-budget films.

Luke Smith is a railroad detective. There are various robberies, the stealing of cargo. The local baron is responsible, hires a number of killers – and when Robert Preston is sacked from the railway because of a mix-up, he goes over to the baron. There are pursuits, shootouts, and a happy ending.

1.An entertaining western? The popular ingredients? The town, authorities, villains, railroad robberies?

2.The picture of the west, the town, the railroads? The musical score?

3.Luke Smith, Alan Ladd’s presence and style? Murray explaining him? His reputation? The initial shootout and his surviving? His work for the railroads, the detailed detection? His friendship with Bill and Emmy? His relationship with Marian? Her having married Murray? The antagonism towards Rebstock? The clash with the gangs, especially Whitey? The discussions with Marian, trying to keep Murray on-side? Jovial atmosphere? The change, the robberies, the confronting of Rebstock? The situation with Murray, the goods from the train, their being destroyed? His going over to Rebstock? The build-up to their final confrontation, the sheriff, Smith and his pursuit of the gang? Going back to find Murray, Murray wounded, their talk, pulling the gun, Murray’s death? The pathos? Smith and Marian? His previous advice for her to talk over things with Murray? The happy ending?

4.Murray, jovial, marrying Marian? His moods? Praising Smith, their long friendship? In the town, gambling, drinking? His business, the sheriff, the destruction of the goods, his being fired by the railroads? His anger, taking it out on Marian? Going to Rebstock? The hold-ups? Whitey and the death of the guard? His being in too far, his decisions, the pursuit? His being wounded, the return, confronting Marian, wanting to go away with her? Confronting Smith, his death?

5.Marian, marrying Murray, in love with Luke? Her anxieties, friendship with Bill and Emmy? The treatment by Murray? Her going to Luke? His advice for her to solve the problems? Shielding Murray at the end?

6.Bill and Emmy, the old couple in the west, genial, hospitable? Bill and his riding with Luke, Luke not shooting Murray?

7.Rebstock, arrogant, his gang, the baron, wealth, greed? The final set-up, the men going, being shot by Whitey?

8.The gang, their brutality, trying to kill Smith? Whitey and his arrogance?

9.The sheriff, his place in the town? George McCloud? and the railroads? Their treatment of Smith, of Murray?

10.A glimpse of a particular facet of the west, western settlement, the railroads, law and order?