Nebraska-Pacific Trains are being derailed, and the wrecks looted of cargo. Whispering Smith, a well-known railroad detective is on the case, and he suspects that his old friend and romantic rival, Murray, is involved. Alan Ladd is "Whispering Smith," a kissing cousin to "Shane;" handsome, mild tempered, and popular with the ladies, Smith is fast with a gun and quick to charm with a toothy grin. Based on a 1906 novel by Frank H. Spearman, the story was twice filmed in the silent era before Paramount produced this 1948 version, which was Alan Ladd's first color western. Alan Ladd looks great in Technicolor, and two-time Oscar winner Ray Rennahan's camera perfectly captures and flatters the star's blonde good looks.
Smith's crooked friend, Murray, played by Robert Preston, is a showier part than Ladd's, and Preston shades the character as basically decent. However, Murray has been corrupted by temptation and lured astray by Donald Crisp as Rebstock, leader of the bandit gang. Icy cool Brenda Marshall is Preston's wife, Marian, who has a past with Smith that she has never shaken; unfortunately, glycerin tears fall on her high cheekbones and fail to evoke any hint of genuine emotion that might mar her makeup. William Demarest and Fay Holden are welcome support as the amiable Dansings, loyal friends to both Smith and Marian. Sporting a long white-blonde wig, an almost unrecognizable Frank Faylen chews scenery as the dastardly Whitey Du Sang, a cruel and cunning henchman for Rebstock.
A former actor turned director, Leslie Fenton helmed a few well-regarded westerns during his career, and "Whispering Smith" is a fairly good film that climaxes with an action-filled chase and shoot-out. The romantic triangle is kept to a minimalist subplot, and the focus is fixed on the relationship between Smith and Murray and on bringing the bad guys to justice, Old West style. Fans of Alan Ladd will not want to miss him at his physical best in this entertaining Technicolor western.
Smith's crooked friend, Murray, played by Robert Preston, is a showier part than Ladd's, and Preston shades the character as basically decent. However, Murray has been corrupted by temptation and lured astray by Donald Crisp as Rebstock, leader of the bandit gang. Icy cool Brenda Marshall is Preston's wife, Marian, who has a past with Smith that she has never shaken; unfortunately, glycerin tears fall on her high cheekbones and fail to evoke any hint of genuine emotion that might mar her makeup. William Demarest and Fay Holden are welcome support as the amiable Dansings, loyal friends to both Smith and Marian. Sporting a long white-blonde wig, an almost unrecognizable Frank Faylen chews scenery as the dastardly Whitey Du Sang, a cruel and cunning henchman for Rebstock.
A former actor turned director, Leslie Fenton helmed a few well-regarded westerns during his career, and "Whispering Smith" is a fairly good film that climaxes with an action-filled chase and shoot-out. The romantic triangle is kept to a minimalist subplot, and the focus is fixed on the relationship between Smith and Murray and on bringing the bad guys to justice, Old West style. Fans of Alan Ladd will not want to miss him at his physical best in this entertaining Technicolor western.