Whispering Smith
| Whispering Smith | |
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| Directed by | Leslie Fenton |
| Produced by | Sidney Biddell |
| Written by |
Frank Butler Karl Kamb |
| Based on | novel by Frank H. Spearman |
| Starring |
Alan Ladd Robert Preston Brenda Marshall |
| Music by | Adolph Deutsch |
| Cinematography | Ray Rennahan |
| Edited by | Archie Marshek |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
Whispering Smith (1948) is a Western film starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston and Brenda Marshall.
The picture is based on a novel by Frank H. Spearman and a previous 1926 film adaptation starring H.B. Warner in the title role, with Lillian Rich, Lilyan Tashman, John Bowers, and Eugene Pallette as supporting cast.
In 1961, Whispering Smith became a 26-episode NBC series of the same name, with Audie Murphy, film star and World War II hero, in the title role.
The bad Barton boys—Blake, Leroy and Gabby—rob a train and shoot a guard. Luke Smith, known as "Whispering" to some for his quiet, sly ways, is a detective for the railroad, sent to investigate.
Murray Sinclair, an old friend of Smith's, is in charge of the railroad's wrecking crew. He's glad to see Smith, who shoots Leroy and Gabby and is saved when a bullet is deflected by a harmonica in his pocket, given him long ago by his sweetheart Marian, who is now Sinclair's wife.
It saddens Smith to find out that Sinclair might be in cahoots with Barney Rebstock, a rancher with a bad reputation. Rebstock has been hiding the remaining Barton brother, Blake, who is tracked down by Smith.
Whitey DuSang is a hired gun for Rebstock, who wants to see Smith dead. When the railroad's boss gives Sinclair an order, Sinclair rebels and is fired. Rebstock hires him to pull off a string of daring train holdups.
Smith forms a posse. Whitey kills a guard and betrays Rebstock, shooting him. Sinclair is wounded. Smith does away with Whitey but gives his old friend Sinclair a last chance. When Sinclair rides home, he finds Marian packing and strikes her, accusing her of leaving him for Smith.
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Wikipedia