Whispering Smith

A fairly standard Western that feels quite modern for 1948. Alan Ladd's gentle charisma is what holds the attention and glues the film together. Only Gary Cooper shared Ladd's combination of an almost passive calm with a thoughtful and somber demeanor. Perhaps Ladd's greatest attribute was his deep velvet- like voice which allowed him to deliver the simplest line with emotional depth. His greeting when he meets his ex flame (Brenda Marshall) is expressed with a melancholy warmth very few actors ever master. His style of acting was often called wooden, but the depth of character was conveyed in the voice. Glorious Technicolor imagery and fine support from character actors Donald Crisp and William Demarest add to the films ease with which it engages the viewer. The film also boasts one of cinema's nastiest bad guys in Mervyn Vye, who seems to have more in common with modern villains; quiet, sadistic and dangerous looking, he is the counterpoint to Ladd's personable protagonist. Definitely worth a watch for Western fans.

The vertically challenged Tom Cruise of his day, Alan Ladd, plays a cowboy railroad agent who runs afoul his shady friend, Robert Preston. It's a pretty standard westerns, but it has plenty of action, a strong cast (which also features Donald Crisp and William Demarest) and solid production values. Certainly not a classic, but well worth watching for western or Ladd fans.

170420: A surprisingly good film. I never know what to expect from these oldies but this one really satisfied. Good classic acting, decent quality and somewhat fun. Perhaps a bit predictable but happy to have seen it.

Railroad western has fine work by Alan Ladd--Playing the Cards that are Dealt!!

Pretty generic Western melodrama. Alan Ladd isn't the most charismatic.

It's a classic old fashioned Western. If Westerns aren't your thing, you probably won't care much for it. The performances from Ladd and Preston are very good. The plot is more believable as well. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but good nonetheless.

While inferior to Shane, none the less a very good western and well ahead of its time.

A very good movie..Alan Ladd is in it.