Whispering Smith Hits London

Whispering Smith Hits London (U.S. title Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard) is a 1952 British second feature ('B')^[3] crime drama directed by Francis Searle and starring Richard Carlson, Greta Gynt and Herbert Lom.^[4][5] The screenplay was by John Gilling and Steve Fisher, based on a story by Frank H. Spearman. Gilling said in interviews that he had to sue to get his writer's credit on this film, which infuriated James Carreras who was planning to credit only Spearman. It was made at Bray Studios with some location shooting in London. Production ran from May 14, 1951 through June 21, 1951. The original working title for the film was Whispering Smith Investigates, but it was changed to Whispering Smith Hits London just before it was trade shown on Jan. 17, 1952 at the Rialto, then released on Feb. 3rd. The film was distributed in the US in March 1952 by RKO, in a slightly edited version retitled Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard. Michael Carreras was working on the script for a sequel to this film, but plans for a series was dropped.^[6]

Whispering Smith Hits London
Poster for US theatrical release
Directed by	Francis Searle
Written by	Frank H. Spearman (story)
Screenplay by	John Gilling Steve Fisher
Produced by	Anthony Hinds Julian Lesser
Starring	Richard Carlson Greta Gynt Rona Anderson Herbert Lom
Cinematography	Walter Harvey
Edited by	James Needs
Music by	Frank Spencer
Production company	Hammer Film Productions
Distributed by	Exclusive Films RKO Radio Pictures (US)
Release date	3 February 1952 (1952-02-03) (UK)[1]
Running time	82 minutes (UK) 77 minutes (US)[2]
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Whispering Smith (Richard Carlson), an American detective, is summoned to London to investigate the suicide of a young woman named Sylvia Garde. The dead girl's father and his secretary Anne both suspect that Sylvia was murdered. Smith finds a little black book that indicates that Sylvia's lawyer Hector Reith and her fiance Roger Ford (Herbert Lom) had both been blackmailing Sylvia. Her ex-friend Louise was also in on the shenanigans, and Smith rushes to protect Anne who has been temporarily living with Louise. Smith learns that Sylvia is actually still alive, and that it was her friend Louise who was murdered due to a botched blackmail scheme. Sylvia accidentally shoots and kills her own boyfriend Roger Ford while trying to hold Smith and Anne at gunpoint in the film's finale.

Cast

• Richard Carlson as Whispering Smith
• Greta Gynt as Louise
• Herbert Lom as Roger Ford
• Rona Anderson as Anne
• Alan Wheatley as lawyer Hector Reith
• Dora Bryan as Miss La Fosse
• Reginald Beckwith as Manson
• Daniel Wherry as Dr Taren
• Michael Ward as photographer
• Danny Green as Cecil Fleming
• James Raglan as Supintendent Meaker
• Stuart Nichol as Martin
• Laurence Naismith as Parker
• Christine Silver as Mrs. Pearson
• Vic Wise as Maxie
• Stanley Baker in small role as reporter
• Middleton Woods
• Michael Hogarth
• John Wynn

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A fast-moving and quite exciting thriller, well acted by Richard Carlson, and made with modest competence."^[7]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture, staged in and around one of England's ancestral mansions, does not take the shortest cut to its happy and exciting ending, but, although some of the digressions add to its footage without strengthening its entertainment content, its principal players make the most of the red herrings. Richard Carlson, as Smith; is both shrewd and affable, and the well-known British co-stars and supporting artists cooperate effectively. The photography, like the settings, is impeccable."^[8]

Variety wrote: "A hole or two develops in the script, but overall it proves to be acceptable whodunit framing. Carlson does a likeable job of the private eye, and script finds time to permit him some amatory didoes which are customary to private sleuthing. Miss Gynt as the femme menace, and Miss Anderson as the gal who winds up with Carlson, are okay. Lou and Wheatley do well by their dirty work, and others are capable."^[9]

Picturegoer wrote: "Provided you don't expect too much, you'll find it both agreeable and exciting."^[10]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Exciting enough crime drama for those who can keep track of the plot."^[11]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Tolerable programmer of its time: competence without inspiration."^[12]