BBC2 screening - The Whisperers (1967) Discussion

[–] ukjf 14 years ago

Just spotted it in the small print of my TV Guide - almost the one that got away...

Have set the old Freeview box to record - bit of a late start to watch live!

"I kick arse for the Lord!"

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[–] sat-elite 14 years ago

Thanks for the heads up. Watching it now.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Gore-Girl 14 years ago

I also caught this one late at night on the Beeb, thinking it might be some sort of supernatural drama, turned out to be classic British kitchen sink drama, but well worth seeing. As a resident of Manchester, I was shocked to see the desolation and bomb sites still visible in the late 1960's? I did not recognise it as the cosmopolitan city I live in today....would love to know more about any of the locations, if anyone has any info. The IMDB info says it was filmed in both Manchester and Oldham. I know Manchester was bombed heavily in WW2 and rebuilt, with very little of the old city remaining. Did it really take 20 years after WW2 to rebuild it all?? Just for that, the film is an interesting slice of British history. The acting in it is superb of course, and the docu-drama style shows British life before there was such a thing as the curent Welfare State. Yes, people really did have to beg for hand-outs back in those days, not like the system today where it is all to easy to live off government welfare. Makes you appreciate how lucky we are all today, people take things for granted now.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] SueBee55 14 years ago

According to reelstreets.com: Many of the scenes of derelict land are in central Manchester, Hulme, which had virtually all been demolished at the time.
The library used was Stretford Library on Stretford Road. This is now a Buddhist Healing Centre.

Yes it took years to rebuild British cities because we were virtually bankrupt after WW2, bit like now!!

"You're not too smart are you? I like that in a man!"

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[–] hannibalmcnee 14 years ago

Next time someone compiles a list of the 'greatest post-apocalypse movies', somewhere between Mad Max, When The Wind Blows and The Road, I nominate the inclusion of 'The Whisperers'.

Cos that's what it felt like to me.

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[–] santafesheriff 14 years ago

Whisperers 1967

This is a very mild, boring, talkative drama lacking any mystery or excitement.
I could not rate it any higher than 2 out of 10.

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[–] ShootHimKurt 14 years ago

Not enough gun battles or explosions in it for you? Dullard.

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[–] hannibalmcnee 14 years ago

I found it mesmerizing. I was just about to head to bed and I was flicking between channels and caught the moment when she finds the money. I was hooked.

First time I've ever seen it. It certainly was depressing, but I can't see how anyone could call it dull. The imagery alone was amazing. And a host of brilliant character actors in a haunting (and believable) world.

It's great to discover little gems like this.

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[–] suburban_hell 14 years ago

Absolutely brilliant... One to add to the likes of 'A Taste of Honey', 'Saturday Night Sunday Morning' and the like... So glad to have caught it

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[–] a_heathen_conceivably 14 years ago

So many of us clearly stayed up to watch it, yet no DVD! Not yet anyhow - I recorded it.

"Oh look - a lovely spider! And it's eating a butterfly!"
'' ,,

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[–] trevpr1 14 years ago

Completely stumbled upon this. Frankly I was just ready for bed but it started and I watched it and... found it fascinating. I was 3 years old when this was made.

I can't recognise the grim England this was made in. I sometimes forget, when I see the poorer side of modern day Preston (where I live) that there's nothing here resembling the bleak landscape the Whisperers portrays.

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[–] santafesheriff 14 years ago

I do not usually waste time with other posters RETARDED comments but for the sake of debate I will elucidate:
The Whisperers 1967 was extremely dull, tedious and talkative because of its
POOR PLOT and unattractive characters. There was nothing to keep a viewer glued to the screen with both Edith Evans And bachelor Eric Portman treating the film like
one of their abysmal stage plays. A LOSER all the way.
Forget this turkey The Whisperers and watch instead some classic murder/mystery.

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[–] a_heathen_conceivably 14 years ago

So you didn't like the film and regret staying up to watch it. "Nothing to keep a viewer glued to the screen"? So, what did you do - go to sleep and set your alarm for 3:35am? Or did you wait up and kill time drinking some cans, just so you could post insulting remarks to those who enjoyed it (yes, enjoyed it enough to stay out of bed a bit longer to post positive comments about it on IMDb), using offensive and objectionable language which was as discriminatory in the sixties as it is now?

"Oh look - a lovely spider! And it's eating a butterfly!"
'' ,,

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[–] santafesheriff 14 years ago

To clarify I was referring to that Shoot Kurt and his comments to myself NOT to
the posters who enjoyed the film and have every right to express those views.
Having said that we all need to REJECT these atrocious, talkative, dull films like
Sunday Bloody Sunday, Schindler's List (dammed propaganda bore), Annie Hall etc ..

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[–] SueBee55 14 years ago

Ha - loved your response to Santafesheriff! I think the name tells us where he lives and therefore he probably expected a blood-soaked horror film. Never mind, we know where real quality lies. Wonder why people like that even feel the need to post.

"You're not too smart are you? I like that in a man!"

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[–] tohu 10 years ago

I was flicking between channels and caught the moment when she finds the money. I was hooked.

That is a wonderful moment isn't it? I watched it last night for the first time in years and that moment was the bit that got me. Just those 2 minutes or so - a sheer delight. The way she steps back a few paces when she first unwraps the package - as though she fears the money is going to bite her or something! She steps back, but never keeps her eyes off it. Those wonderful eyes!
Then the laughter. manic, girlish, but so sad too.

Wonderful moment. Wonderful film.

_____________

'Maybe I should go alone'
- Quint, Jaws.

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[–] danieldeighan 14 years ago

I was about to go to bed, but decided to watch a little bit of this film. I was drawn from the start and watched it through to the end. The shots were beautiful and Edith Evans performance was chilling. A true gem.

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[–] slavethewage 14 years ago

Only caught the first 5 minutes after setting my recorder for Medium, gutted that I missed it as I love classic B & W (British) movies. I've tried looking for it and can't believe it isn't on DVD, I'm hoping the BBC will do what they normally do and repeat it in a years time :o)

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[–] Prismark10 14 years ago

Blooming unusual time to put this on.

Its a slice of social history now, but its a world I can just about relate to and the locations of the North west towns looked familair as well.

Its that man again!!

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[–] psdhart 14 years ago

I agree it was late so I recorded it

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[–] Jazzomaniac 14 years ago

I was about to go to bed and decided to flick through the channels when I caught this beautiful gem. She had just found a huge pile of one pound notes in her home. I was instantly hooked and for the next hour I was totally glued to the tv set. The backgrounds in this movie were so artistic. The bombed out streets, the old woman trying to hang onto the past. It really captures the misery of post war britain. How could such a masterpiece be shown so darn late. When it was over I had a wonderful cosy sleep and dreamt about it.

A True British Classic

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[–] SiggieHolmes 14 years ago

I watched it, but fell asleep in the last five minutes! Can anyone tell me how it ended?

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[–] psdhart 14 years ago

Spoilers
hope this helps

She gets back together with her former husband, but he runs away after a job with the mob goes wrong and at the ens she is all alone

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[–] SueBee55 14 years ago

I was thinking, can you imagine a film made nowadays where the star is a woman in her 70's with no make up or cosmetic surgery? Now it's all pneumatic breasts and Botox! The men get away with it, viz. Eastwood, Ford and Connery, and somehow they usually manage to snare a babe. Odd that!

"You're not too smart are you? I like that in a man!"

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[–] psdhart 12 years ago

it just would not happen. sad

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