The Whisperers (1967)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Bryan Forbes (screenplay)
Robert Nicolson (novel)

Release Date:

1967 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Whisperers, who are they?

Plot:

The title refers to the creatures a very poor addled old lady (Dame Edith Evans) imagines in her paranoid fantasies...

Plot Keywords:

Old Lady | Radio | Social Realism | Husband Wife Relationship | Welfare Office

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Edith Evans	...	Mrs. Maggie Ross
Eric Portman	...	Archie Ross
Nanette Newman	...	The Girl Upstairs
Avis Bunnage	...	Mrs. Noonan
Gerald Sim	...	Mr. Conrad
Ronald Fraser	...	Charlie Ross
Robin Bailey	...	Psychiatrist
Kenneth Griffith	...	Mr. Weaver
Leonard Rossiter	...	Assistance Board Officer
Margaret Tyzack	...	Hospital Almoner
Clare Kelly	...	Prostitute
Michael Lees	...	First Young Man
Lionel Gamlin	...	Mr. Conrad's Colleague
Robert Russell	...	Andy
Harry Baird	...	Earl, The Man Upstairs
Oliver MacGreevy	...	Second Redeemer
Frank Singuineau	...	Negro Doctor
Glen Farmer	...	First Redeemer
Jack Austin	...	Police Sergeant
Michael Robbins	...	Mr. Noonan
Max Bacon	...	Mr. Fish
George Hillsden	...	Ticket Collector
Tom Kempinski	...	Second Young Man
Allan O'Keefe	...	First Attacker (as Allan O'Keefe)
Michael Francis	...	Plain-Clothes Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Bird	...	Man in N.A.B. Office (as Charles Bird)
Terry Eliot	...	Nurse
Helen Fleming	...	Nurse
Francis Flynn	...	Second Attacker
Sarah Forbes	...	Mrs. Ross When Young
Roy Herrick	...	Young Doctor
Shona Lesley	...	Nurse
Rosemary Lord	...	Nurse
John Orchard	...	Grogan
Beth Owen	...	Nurse
Max Rawnsley	...	Man in Street
George Spence	...	Caretaker
Peter Thompson	...	Publican
Kaplan Kaye	...	Jimmie Noonan (uncredited)
Roy Maxwell	...	Third Young Man (uncredited)
Penny Spencer	...	Mavis Noonan (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Forbes

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bryan Forbes		screenplay
Robert Nicolson		novel

Produced by
Michael Laughlin	....	producer (as Michael S. Laughlin)
Jack Rix	....	associate producer
Ronald Shedlo	....	producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Gerry Turpin

Film Editing by
Anthony Harvey

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Ray Simm

Set Decoration by
Peter James

Costume Design by
Julie Harris

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christopher Dryhurst	....	assistant director
Michael Guest	....	third assistant director
Ray Freeborn	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Richard Bamber	....	props
George Hill	....	construction manager
Alfred Waye	....	props
E.W. Brister	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Jim Morahan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound recordist
Bill Daniels	....	sound recordist
Janet Davidson	....	dubbing editor
Gus Lloyd	....	sound assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Garfath	....	clapper loader (as Mike Garfath)
Ted Lockhart	....	camera grip
Michael Sarafian	....	assistant camera
Ronald Taylor	....	camera operator
Ronnie Taylor	....	camera operator (as Ronald Taylor)
George Courtney Ward	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe mistress
Ben Foster	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Lucy O'Sullivan	....	second assistant editor
Denis Whitehouse	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
John Barry	....	music arranger
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Teresa Bolland	....	location manager
Penny Daniels	....	continuity
Robert Ellis	....	title designer
Bryan Forbes	....	publicist
John L. Hargreaves	....	assistant to producer
Noreen Hipwell	....	production secretary
Christopher Nixon	....	publicist
Edna Tromans	....	publicist

Production Companies

• Seven Pines

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Lopert Pictures Corporation (1967) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video)
• United Artists (1967) (USA)

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded at
• Workshop for the Elderly  the producers wish to acknowledge with thanks the co-operation of

Also Known As:

The Whisperers (USA)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-7 (new rating: 2001) | France:U | UK:A (original rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Seven Pines

Quotes:

Mrs. Ross: Are you there?

My brief review of the film

There are many good qualities in this study of paranoia, loneliness, ageing and exploitation, among other themes, with its virtues ranging from a great mood setting score by John Barry, to excellent camera angles and aptly stark sets, all of which fit in with the general atmosphere of the film. In an Oscar nominated role, Edith Evans also gives off a fine performance, and there is some good work with extended dissolves to edit between different shots. It is not an easy film to like and admire in spite of its virtues though. There are excesses of melodrama thrown in, such as cops and robbers, and these subplots serve to distract from the protagonist. The lack of dialogue at times is distracting in itself too, and there are also odd characters in small segments thrown in here and there that do nothing at all. The dual spoken narration is also rather awkward. Yes, there are some things that can be complained about here - one could also complain that the nastiness is excessive. There is still a lot that makes this a good film however, and these virtues definitely show through. It is an excellent film, but it may not satisfy all tastes. Bryan Forbes is a great director, and almost all his films are worth a look if one is interested in good directing regardless of the plot or characters.