Whispering Footsteps (1943) User Reviews

Short but sweet enough

[XhcnoirX · 6/10 · 15 March 2016]

Bank teller John Hubbard resembles the description given by the authorities of a murderer. Because he was on vacation in the area where the murders took place, he becomes a suspect, and is constantly tailed by investigator Cy Kendall. When murders start happening in his own town, he soon finds himself the talk to the town, even tho his neighbor Joan Blair and his bosses daughter Rita Quigley provide him with alibis for the murders.

The story is really basic and doesn't need a lot of time to be told. Which is maybe why this movie needs only just over 50 minutes. It feels like a movie adaptation of an episode of a radio play series like 'Suspense', including a (literally) last minute twist. The acting is decent enough, but there's an annoying part for a girl (Rita's sister Juanita Quigley) who screams every time she's scared, which is really often.

The movie has plenty of dark/night-time scenes, which aren't shot in a noir way really but are atmospheric nevertheless. Director Howard Bretherton and DoP Jack Marta, who both did tons of westerns, do decent work here but don't expect magic. Overall the movie is entertaining tho and with its small town gossip angle even manages to sneak in some social commentary (altho I doubt that was intentional). 6/10

underrated entertaining film

[arthur_tafero · 5/10 · 25 July 2018]

This is a flawed film in several respects. It has poor production values, B actors, and a really annoying little brat actress who never made another film (hopefully). The one saving grace of this film is the story and the script. It is a very intelligent script for the time period (the middle of WW 2). And it was almost impossible to find a film from that era that didn't mention the war.

The story of a man who is accused as a serial killer, keeps you guessing all the way to the end of the film. I will not reveal the ending, but it is interesting. This is just one of your better B movies, especially in the noir genre. After all, we go to the movies to be entertained by a good story; this foots the bill.

A bank clerk matches the description of a serial killer

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 24 October 2021]

John Hubbard plays bank clerk Marcus Borne in "Whispering Footsteps" from 1943. The film also features Rita Quigley, Joan Blair, and Cy Kendall.

Borne comes under suspicion when the description of a serial killer matches him. He lives in a rooming house, and he can sense that the other boarders are suspicious of him, especially as the police keep coming around.

I saw John Hubbard in "Turnabout" costarring Carole Landis, and he turned in a great performance. He was an actor with a good range, as he shows here. You really don't find out whether he's guilty or not until the end, and his performance doesn't give anything away.

Juanita Quigley is on hand, screaming every time something about the killer is even mentioned. Quite a pair of lungs.

A good little Republic Pictures programmer

[searchanddestroy-1 · 20 January 2013]

All has already been told in the plot line. Not bad, much talk, much more than in other Republic Studios movies. Howard Bretherton is a famous B - and mostly grade Z - film maker. Many many westerns and two serials MONSTER AND THE APE, and WHO'S GUILTY, two serials produced by the terrible Sam Katzman. Two serials that I won't recommend to anyone, even to a guy who would slaughter my whole family...

Back to this little film, I guess that's probably his best picture. I won't watch any of his grade Z westerns, even under a gun barrel, because I already know what i would have to deal with. And I am not masochistic. So, I could only enjoy this little film. But maybe I am wrong, maybe there are some little gems among the dozens of features he was guilty of.

Anyway, this film is worth for movie lovers, and gems diggers as I am.

Serial Killer

[boblipton · 6/10 · 3 March 2019]

A maniac is going around Indiana, killing young women. A composite drawing looks like John Hubbard, a bank teller in a town called Medallion and Cy Kendall is a special investigator in town, asking questions. As the movie progresses, we get sketches of the people and their small-town, gossipy manners as they begin to turn on Hubbard, and the suspicions of the audience begin to grow that he may be the killer.

Suggesting in story Hitchcock's THE LODGER and SHADOW OF A DOUBT, it makes some visual use of the growing tropes of film noir -- there's one scene which is heavily shadowed by nearly closed Venetian blinds -- but it looks more like an attempt to copy the Master of Suspense than do film noir -- Juanita Quigley as the daughter of Hitchcock's landlady, Mary Gordon, is quite funny in her snooping and considered, piercing screams.

Whispering Footsteps

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 3 December 2023]

Clearly his parents had aspirations for their son "Marcus Aurelius" when they christened him, but sadly "Mark" (John Hubbard) has progressed little beyond a job as a bank clerk. His life is about to liven up though when he returns from holiday to find he is amidst a killing spree - and the photofits suggest the culprit is the spitting image of himself. Investigators duly arrive and when he fails to prove a conclusive alibi, it looks like "Det. Dolan" (Cy Kendall) has concluded that "Mark" is going to be toast! Now he has to ally himself with the practically-minded "Brook" (Rita Quigley) and try to find out just who is doing the murdering and leaving him to take the blame. It's not the greatest of mysteries this, but what is quite effective is the pervasively odious effect of small-minded gossip. The no smoke without fire mentality amongst the bored and the idle make his life ands his job all but impossible. The story is not really helped by the annoying, screaming, characterisation of "Rose" (Juanita Quigley) who sadly is not one of the victims, nor by the presence of the enigmatic "Helen" (Joan Blair) who has a few rather curious nocturnal habits. It's extremely wordy, too - endless, pointless chatting serves to slow down the pace before the conclusion that isn't half bad, but comes after what felt like quite a long slog. Nobody here leaps off the screen at us, but it passes an hour effortlessly enough.

The horror of a murdering creature coupled with "The Screecher"...

[AlsExGal · 4/10 · 5 February 2022]

...is how I would describe this budget feature.

It's rare for a film from 1943 in that there is no mention of WWII at all. I've even seen a MGM short from that same year about the weather that manages to get a war message shoe-horned into it.

Marcus Aurelius 'Mark" Bourne (John Hubbard) is a teller at the town bank who has just returned from vacation in Indiana. Funny to think of somebody being content with a Hoosier holiday, but I digress. He learns upon his return that somebody who looks just like him has murdered a woman not far from where he was during vacation. And then a woman is murdered not far from the town in which he lives. And the murders continue to get closer to where he actually lives. This brings the interest of an out of town cop as to Mark's whereabouts at the time of the murders, and apparently the municipality for which he works has enough money for the cop to just hang around and pester Mark for weeks on end. So everybody in this small town is looking at Mark with suspicion, and it doesn't help that he has no alibi for the time of any of the murders to the point where Mark wonders if he doesn't have some kind of split personality and is actually the murderer and just doesn't realize it. Complications ensue.

The actor who played Mark was an earnest likeable fellow who gives a good performance, and the supporting players are at least capable. But the dialogue is just not adequate. I can't figure out what the new woman in town wants from Mark and why she just continually insults him and why he comes back for more. It is also never revealed what the bank president' s daughter wants from him either to the point she'll arrange to meet him on a park bench in the middle of the night. Somehow all of these people end up having long conversations in which nothing is said , which is quite a feat in and of itself.

And everything I just mentioned, considering this was a budget production from the start would probably make this a 5 or 6 out of ten. But what kills it is the landlady's daughter who screams at the drop of a hat. Maybe the first time it would be funny, but she does it at least half a dozen times to the point I wince when I see her on camera. It really isn't the actress' fault. She was just doing what she was told by the director, but he should have realized her nerve wracking screeches were having a negative effect on the entire production. If you watch it, have your mute on hand every time she appears.

I agree with Alex da Silva, she IS a screaming nuisance!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 30 March 2018]

And, the Oscar for the most annoying performance goes to...Juanita Quigley, as Rose....the girl who is CONSTANTLY screaming! This reason alone is an excellent reason NOT to watch "Whispering Footsteps"! As another reviewer pointed out, "...she is a screaming nuisance"!

The story itself is a Republic B-movie...clocking in at under 55 minutes. In some small town, there has been a rash of murders...young women are being strangled. Suspicion falls on a guy who works at the bank because he looks like the descriptions of the murderer...but women seem more than willing to vouch for him...even when he's had some blackouts! Is he really the killer? And, if so, does he even know it?!

The story is mildly entertaining...especially when Rose is NOT in the scenes. But she is often and I counted a total of nine times where she screamed...mostly with little provocation. And, there just wasn't enough good to outweigh that annoying brat!

Screaming nuisance

[AAdaSC · 5/10 · 18 May 2016]

John Hubbard (Mark) lives in a guest house and falls under suspicion when his description fits that of a murderer. Not only that, but his behaviour seems to fit someone who may be guilty of a murder spree – he reads strange books and his after dark hours seem to follow the pattern of the murderer. So, is he?

The film is OK – ruined by a few of the cast – but essentially it keeps you guessing so that's a good point. It's a shame that Juanita Quigley (Rose) doesn't get murdered – you will see what I mean. She's the one that screams every time she appears. Not just once, usually 3 times. And it's always at top decibels and very shrill. I think it's meant to be funny. Anyway, she ruins the film. Another oddity is Mary Gordon (Ma) who plays the landlady and who speaks with what sounds like a dreadful Scottish accent. I found out that she is actually Scottish which makes her unlike-able because she shouldn't speak like that!

It's a compact film that is more of a study of human nature rather than a straightforward whodunnit.

Noirish Hypocrisy of Small Town Life!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 26 May 2019]

Gripping little thriller that manages to expose the hypocrisies of small town life in less than 55 minutes. Because of the brevity there is really no time for characterization so the "shady lady" who arrives in the town and whose ostracism sees her reaching out a helping hand to hapless Marcus remains unexplored. Marcus is a bank teller whose two week vacation in Cambridge coincides with a murder in that town. His appearance fits the murderer's description and after a while his shy personality begins to be viewed with suspicion by the towns people who initially were so eager to defend him. Even the local sheriff who at first was on his side - now his shyness is seen as moodiness.

Also just arrived is a mystery lady Helen La Salle who is having not so discreet meetings with the bank manager who not only has the final decision to okay her loan but his shares in the department store where she works means he can also jeopardize her employment if he wishes. Joan Blair gives a strong performance and if the film had been longer she may have been able to flesh out her "strange lady in town" characterization. Another ally in Marcus' corner is Brooke, the bank manager's daughter - they have been friends since childhood and she is the only person to rage against the the small town sanctimoniousness

• people are quick to suspect Marcus but turn a blind eye to her father's

philandering. There is a thrilling scene midway, Brook is supposed to meet Marcus in the park, he doesn't show but someone else is there in the shadows, she is chased home and the next day.....there are more bodies found!!

I found the ending interesting as Marcus rebelled more and more about being put into a suspect's convenient pigeon hole. He faces down the boarding house denizens and tells them individually just what he thinks of them.... he slowly climbs the stairs.....

Also agree with the comments about that annoying Juanita Quigley - her's was a piercing scream and I cannot imagine cinema patrons being very appreciative of her presence.

Wartime Programmer

[Henchman_Number1 · 3/10 · 25 November 2018]

Small town bank teller Marcus Borne (John Hubbard ) returns from vacation to find he is a suspect in a murder investigation based on a composite drawing of the killer. As the murders continue and lacking a solid alibi, even Borne's employer and fellow renters at his boarding house suspect his guilt.

Presented as a crime feature, 'Whispering Footsteps' is more of a drama and a statement on small town prejudice. For the most part the movie is a plodding and shallow take on the human condition. Perhaps the wartime footing in the country at the time might have been a contributing influence.The ending of the movie is a letdown and feels like little more than a quick, convenient exit. Of special note this movie features screaming kid actor Rita Quigley as one of the most annoying characters to ever grace the silver screen. Inexplicably out of the blue she lets out a shrill ear piecing scream in most every scene she appears.

A lesser entry into the crime quickie venue, somebody looking for a murder mystery will likely be disappointed.

nice quiet little noir (until that girl screams again and again!)

[brtor222 · 19 September 2018]

That scream as others have noted gets not only predictable but annoying as well. A short little early noir, at least it's classified as a noir if at best a sub-par one. Not sure why but this film made it to the list of "Classic Period Film Noir". The title implies the gossip (whispers) but the footsteps doesn't really fit. Would like to have actually seen the guy who did the murders meet face to face with Marcus. Hitchcock did it better with The Wrong Man.

The scream is on!

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 18 January 2019]

Pretty much everybody in the small town where John Hubbard lives thinks all of a sudden that he is guilty of murder. In fact it's become a series of murders and because of circumstantial evidence (similar looks claimed by someone who saw the killer), he becomes a curio at the bank that he works at. Newcomer to town Rita Quigley moves into the boarding house where he lives and they become friends, but when it becomes clear that he's having blackouts, even he begins to doubt whether or not he is guilty.

While the temptation may be strong, don't attempt a drinking game for every time preteen Juanita Quigley screams, particularly every time the word murder is mentioned or anything surrounding it. She screams in the first scene and had she been in the last scene, she obviously would have been screaming there too. We're supposed to believe that she is the daughter of boarding house owner Mary Gordon who is certainly of her grandmother's age. The bottom line is Quigley is ultra annoying and had she not been present, I might have ranked this at a higher rating.

Hubbard gives a very good performance as the troubled young man with Charles Halton also very good as his loyal boss who becomes more troubled by his presence as the rumors become more rapid. Future "Grandma Addams" Mary Blake is present as one of the boarding house tenants. At less than an hour, this has a very quick pace and is enjoyable other than those times when Juanita Quigley screeches. She had a career as a B child actress and perhaps her performance here is not her fault but that of the script. A scream is funny once like this, but to happen more than a dozen times in a 54 minute movie is just simply absurd. One of the reasons why her character does not become a victim is that they knew that the audience would have no sympathy.