utgard14
A man (Richard Dix) is despondent after the death of his wife but can't bring himself to commit suicide.. So he hires a professional hit-man (J. Carrol Naish) to do the deed for him. But suddenly things are looking up for him and he wants to live. The problem is he has a killer after him that he already paid for! An outlandish premise but a fun start to Columbia's Whistler series. The Whistler was a popular radio program of the time. I am way too young to remember the radio show when it first aired, but I have heard many episodes on satellite radio. It's a good show. The movie series is good, as well, with iron-jawed Richard Dix playing the lead in all but one of them. He plays a different role in each movie, just like Lon Chaney, Jr. was doing over at Universal in their Inner Sanctum series.Like I said, this is a fun movie despite the unbelievable premise. Nice supporting cast backing up Dix including Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, William Benedict, and J. Carrol Naish. Benedict first appears on screen reading a Superman comic book. This has to be one of the earliest appearances or mentions of Superman in a live-action movie. It's also one of the earliest directing jobs from William Castle.
gridoon2018
The first entry in the little-known today "Whistler" series is an atmospheric and intriguing little thriller that keeps you watching because you never know what will happen next. However, I think it missed an opportunity of being even better by not keeping the killer's face hidden from the audience for a longer time: the scene where Dix mistakes a phone repairman for his executioner creates a terrific feeling of paranoia that, after the killer goes from a voice and a shadow to a visible face, the film cannot quite recapture. Also, the striking Joan Woodbury's role is far too small. And a trivia note: if IMDb is correct, the guy doing the (hypnotic) voice and, well, whistling of the Whistler is still alive and almost 111 years old!!! **1/2 out of 4.
Robert J. Maxwell
Richard Dix is a depressed businessman who, through a third party, hires an unknown hit man to kill him. When the reason for his depression disappears, Dix prowls around looking for the unknown murderer, trying to stop him. Other movies have used a similar formula, most recently "Bulworth." Dix is a little soggy but otherwise bland, with the voice of an experienced actor. Gloria Stuart is the secretary who loves him and hers is an appealing presence. Pretty, too. J. Carrol Naish is the would-be murderer who first shows up as an annoying and somewhat comic life insurance salesman but, thereafter, is unidimensional as the determined killer who never smiles, is usually interrupted in his attempts to plug Dix, and who is given to reading books with titles like, "The Pleasures of Necrophilia" -- I mean "necrophobia." He conceives the idea of scaring Dix to death. It sounds silly but under the right conditions it can work. Read my ground-breaking article, "Doomed Status", in "Psychiatric Quarterly," where all will be explained.It's a minor B feature based on the popular radio series. "B Feature", as in this case, usually translates into "no time, no money, little talent." The sets are spare. There is, though, one fascinating and repellant scene in a flop house. Twenty-five cents buys a sort of cot for the night. You must watch out for cooties and thieving neighbors. Director Castle makes the most of the scene.I don't know exactly how it's possible for some people to compare this unpretentious, careless minor feature to Val Lewton's psychological horror stories over at RKO. This is a sometimes diverting B movie. Lewton's work was sometimes gripping and always meticulously executed.
BaronBl00d
Solid, low-budget film noirish yarn about a man who takes out a contract on himself and then through a reversal of fortune decides against it. The Whisteler open up the film with that delightfully creepy little tune and a brief narrative and the reigns are handed over to a competent corp of character actors(and Richard Dix and Gloria Stuart). Dix plays the lead well-enough though incredibly lethargically. He literally looks like he hasn't slept in days. Stuart is peppy and pretty in a smallish role, but J. Carrol Naish does an outstanding job as the contracted killer. He gives a layered performance is what was a truly difficult role. The film barely spans an hour and ten minutes or so but never lags. we get suspense, action, and answers rather quickly. The Whistler has a much more subdued role then what you would hear in the radio series. This film would go on to spawn many sequels and was one of the earliest directorial forays of horror icon William Castle. Castle, as always, does a more than workmanlike job.
AD
