Richard Dix had starred in seven of the unrelated films in The Whistler series of noir pictures, but ill-health prevented him from appearing in the eighth and final entry, 1948’s The Return of the Whistler. It’s odd to have a new guy as the lead in film that is supposedly the return of the title […]

1947’s The Thirteenth Hour is the seventh entry of the Whistler series of B-picture noirs, and the last to star Richard Dix.  In fact, this is the last film he would make, period, as he would not live much longer after it was completed. For those unfamiliar with this series, the title character is merely […]

One interesting aspect of watching older features like 1946’s The Secret of the Whistler is how some things are regarded as weird enough to be newsworthy then are completely commonplace nowadays.  In this case, it’s Mary Currier buying a tombstone for herself.  This almost makes news when journalist Ray Walker goes to the funeral home […]

The Voice of the Whistler is the fourth film in the Whistler series, where each film has a different theme. This time it is loneliness.  In his opening narration, The Whistler introduces us to a woman who supposedly lives all alone in an abandoned lighthouse.  But she’s holding some kittens and, let me tell you, […]

I have now seen five of the eight Whistler films Columbia Pictures made in the 1940’s.  By now, I thought I would have memorized the incredibly strange tune The Whistler whistles at the beginning and end of each installment.  Instead, I find myself increasingly frustrated by the piece.  It seems to start with the first […]

Some of the most astounding dialogue I have heard in any movie or TV show is in the first season of True Detective.  There are lines from that I just like to roll around in my head, in the same way there are certain tunes I like to recall.  Sometimes, I like to say one […]

1944’s Mark of the Whistler is the second film in a series that began with The Whistler.  Once again, it is a standalone tale, only a few minutes longer than an hour, and with a title character who only serves as an occasional narrator and observer.  Oh, and all we ever see of him is […]

I had never heard of The Whistler before buying the Powerhouse/Indicator blu-ray box set Columbia Noir #6: The Whistler.  However, this is a series of movies labeled as noir, so I was doubtlessly going to exposed to these sooner or later.  And this would be the way to do it, what with Indicator’s focus on […]