Columbia’s The Whistler series. Some of the best cheap movies ever made. Some of William Castle’s finest work. And now one of the greatest DVD sets to come out in a long, long time.
Castle’s second film as director, The Whistler (1944) is a tight little mini-noir that put him on the B-movie map. It was a hit for Columbia Pictures and spawned an eight-picture series that’s been on collectors’ Want Lists for decades. They were available through Sony’s on-demand program, but $20 each was pretty steep.
The Whistler (1944)
Directed by William Castle
Starring Richard Dix, J. Carrol Naish, Gloria Stuart
The Power Of The Whistler (1945)
Directed by Lew Landers
Starring Richard Dix, Janis Carter
Voice Of The Whistler (1945)
Directed by William Castle
Starring Richard Dix, Lynn Merrick
Mysterious Intruder (1946)
Directed by William Castle
Starring Richard Dix, Nina Vale
Secret Of The Whistler (1946)
Directed by George Sherman
Starring Richard Dix, Leslie Brooks
The Thirteenth Hour (1947)
Directed by William Clemens
Starring Richard Dix, Karen Morley
The Return Of The Whistler (1948)
Directed by Ross Lederman
Starring Michael Duane, Lenore Aubert, Dick Lane
Based on the popular CBS radio program, each Whistler movie is a stand-alone story, with Richard Dix starring in all but the last one. He’s a different character every time — sometimes a good guy, sometimes a bad guy.
This Critics’ Choice Collection gives you all of the series, except for Mark Of The Whistler (1944), the second picture in the series. Hate this it’s missing, but this is essential, people!
Thanks to Kevin Deany for the news.
