THE WHISTLER ran for only one season, which at that time meant 39 episodes, and this third entry from Oct 14 1954 is a nifty one starring Lon Chaney as ex con Carl, who has spent the past year earning a living as chauffeur to wealthy wife Amy Pearson (Dorothy Green), whose husband Arnold (Dayton Lummis) spends much time away on business. Once Amy begins dining out with Carl at a swanky nightclub he eventually becomes infatuated with her, only to learn that she's interested not in him but with nightclub pianist Terry Larkin (Will J. White). Arnold Pearson soon hears rumors of his wife having an affair, but doesn't suspect Carl, whom he confides in as a trusted ally. The jilted Carl forms a vengeful plan to incriminate Amy, after the mechanic (Roy Engel) makes a chance remark about keeping an eye on the speedometer. Everything seems to go according to plan, but there's a surprise twist that proves most intriguing, this show virtually paving the way for the better known Hitchcock series to come. Fans of the radio series or the 8 film Columbia series, seven starring Richard Dix, may find this TV incarnation quite satisfying. A solid effort from Lon Chaney, still rather new to television, but over the next decade extremely prolific.
3 Reviews
A Hit and A Miss
gordonl5614 October 2014
Warning: Spoilers
THE WHISTLER – Backfire –1954
This is episode 3 from the 39 episode run of, THE WHISTLER television series. The series ran during 1954 and 1955. It is based on the popular radio and film series of the same name. Each episode begins with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The episodes followed the same formula, in that someone's criminal acts were undone, either by an overlooked detail, or by their own stupidity. During the episodes, the Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action.
Lon Chaney Jr. is an ex con who is hired by wealthy business type, Dayton Lummis, to be a chauffeur for Lummis' wife, Dorothy Green. Lummis is out of town on business quite often and does not like Green to be alone.
Everything seems to go smooth till Chaney starts to take a shine to Green. Whenever Lummis is out on business, Green has Chaney go with her to high end clubs for drinks and a bit of dancing. Chaney takes this as Green is likewise interested in him. Chaney is somewhat shattered, when he discovers that Green is just using him as cover while she steps out with one of the club band members.
Chaney stews on this, and decides to get even with Green somehow. He decides to hint to Lummis that maybe the wife is stepping out on him. This goes with rumors Lummis had heard at the office about Green. A big argument happens, that the staff, Chaney and the maid, Dot Neumann, can't help but overhear.
Green leaves in a huff and drives off. The next day Chaney takes the car in for service. He has a plan grinding away in his head. The service man takes a record of the mileage. That evening after Green has driven off to see her lover. Chaney takes a fireplace poker and gives hubby Lummis more than a few whacks to the head. He leaves the stiff in the study. He waits for Green to return that night and then hits the car and rolls back the mileage.
The next morning, the maid finds Lummis in the study. The Police are called and Miss Green is grabbed up as the main suspect. She says she went out driving that evening. Chaney says he was the only one to drive the car. "Check the mileage." He says there is only enough on it to prove it came from the service station to the house. The Police do just that and slam the cuffs on Green. The maid has also told the Police about the loud argument. Chaney has a big grin on as he returns to his rooms.
The next morning the Police show up again. They have a few questions for Chaney. It seems that there had been a hit and run the day before several blocks away. The person hit had died. Witnesses had gotten the number of the car and it was traced here. A check of the bumper had found all the evidence they needed. Since Chaney has stated that he was the only one to drive the car, he is grabbed up as the driver. The perfect plan has come unglued. Even though it was Green who had the hit and run, Chaney cannot claim he is innocent without admitting to killing Lummis.
This is the third episode I've seen of the series, and every one is a crackerjack tale with a nice twist at the end. Well worth seeking out if you can find them.
This is episode 3 from the 39 episode run of, THE WHISTLER television series. The series ran during 1954 and 1955. It is based on the popular radio and film series of the same name. Each episode begins with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The episodes followed the same formula, in that someone's criminal acts were undone, either by an overlooked detail, or by their own stupidity. During the episodes, the Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action.
Lon Chaney Jr. is an ex con who is hired by wealthy business type, Dayton Lummis, to be a chauffeur for Lummis' wife, Dorothy Green. Lummis is out of town on business quite often and does not like Green to be alone.
Everything seems to go smooth till Chaney starts to take a shine to Green. Whenever Lummis is out on business, Green has Chaney go with her to high end clubs for drinks and a bit of dancing. Chaney takes this as Green is likewise interested in him. Chaney is somewhat shattered, when he discovers that Green is just using him as cover while she steps out with one of the club band members.
Chaney stews on this, and decides to get even with Green somehow. He decides to hint to Lummis that maybe the wife is stepping out on him. This goes with rumors Lummis had heard at the office about Green. A big argument happens, that the staff, Chaney and the maid, Dot Neumann, can't help but overhear.
Green leaves in a huff and drives off. The next day Chaney takes the car in for service. He has a plan grinding away in his head. The service man takes a record of the mileage. That evening after Green has driven off to see her lover. Chaney takes a fireplace poker and gives hubby Lummis more than a few whacks to the head. He leaves the stiff in the study. He waits for Green to return that night and then hits the car and rolls back the mileage.
The next morning, the maid finds Lummis in the study. The Police are called and Miss Green is grabbed up as the main suspect. She says she went out driving that evening. Chaney says he was the only one to drive the car. "Check the mileage." He says there is only enough on it to prove it came from the service station to the house. The Police do just that and slam the cuffs on Green. The maid has also told the Police about the loud argument. Chaney has a big grin on as he returns to his rooms.
The next morning the Police show up again. They have a few questions for Chaney. It seems that there had been a hit and run the day before several blocks away. The person hit had died. Witnesses had gotten the number of the car and it was traced here. A check of the bumper had found all the evidence they needed. Since Chaney has stated that he was the only one to drive the car, he is grabbed up as the driver. The perfect plan has come unglued. Even though it was Green who had the hit and run, Chaney cannot claim he is innocent without admitting to killing Lummis.
This is the third episode I've seen of the series, and every one is a crackerjack tale with a nice twist at the end. Well worth seeking out if you can find them.
Another priceless little gem.
searchanddestroy-15 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was directed by the vet Franck Mc Donald, a prolific film maker who mostly worked for the movie industry before turning towards TV shows.
This one is above average, it could be a very good B picture. Lon Chaney plays here a driver for a wealthy woman and he is in love with her. But she ignores him. She despises him. He suffers to death because of this. He plans to kill her, a perfect murder. He plans everything to the last detail.
The following is absolutely outstanding, breathtaking, for this kind of unknown episode. I think there may be dozens like this among the TV productions. I'll check out in the thousand of episodes I have at home - and I have not watched yet...
This one is above average, it could be a very good B picture. Lon Chaney plays here a driver for a wealthy woman and he is in love with her. But she ignores him. She despises him. He suffers to death because of this. He plans to kill her, a perfect murder. He plans everything to the last detail.
The following is absolutely outstanding, breathtaking, for this kind of unknown episode. I think there may be dozens like this among the TV productions. I'll check out in the thousand of episodes I have at home - and I have not watched yet...
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