Whispers

Name: Whispers
Genre: Short
Released: 1941-02-08
Duration: 10 min
Rating: 6.1
Cast: John Nesbitt, William Bailey, Margaret Bert

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

YOUR RATING

Short

This short shows how gossip can be used to spread propaganda or ruin a person's reputation. The story focuses on a businessman who spearheads a drive to tear down slums to make room for low-... Read allThis short shows how gossip can be used to spread propaganda or ruin a person's reputation. The story focuses on a businessman who spearheads a drive to tear down slums to make room for low-cost public housing. His opponents seize upon a small bit of truth and twist it to turn pu... Read allThis short shows how gossip can be used to spread propaganda or ruin a person's reputation. The story focuses on a businessman who spearheads a drive to tear down slums to make room for low-cost public housing. His opponents seize upon a small bit of truth and twist it to turn public opinion against him. The narrator warns moviegoers to be skeptical of rumors, especia... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

YOUR RATING

4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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John Nesbitt

Narrator
(voice)

William Bailey

Eavesdropping Husband
(uncredited)

Margaret Bert

Gossip
(uncredited)

John Burton

Anthony Hubbard
(uncredited)

Ken Christy

Marty Stevens
(uncredited)

Jesse Graves

Minister
(uncredited)

William Irving

Man in Elevator
(uncredited)

May McAvoy

Gossip
(uncredited)

Claire McDowell

Gossip
(uncredited)

Louis Natheaux

Stevens' Assistant
(uncredited)

Director
- Basil Wrangell
Writer
- Herman Boxer
All cast & crew
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Featured review

7/10

Should have been required watching in the 50s

Tail Gunner Joe might have had less success in his attacks on the creative if more people had paid better attention to this title and its message. That era had the bad luck to contain one of the worst whispering campaigns ever visited on our people.

It is sad that humanity still needs the warnings this little gem provides. What made this short worth watching was the message. It warns us about how easy in this day gossip and innuendo can be used to destroy a person or movement. This is even more true today with the arrival of the internet where forwarded email often contains stories that have a gem of truth in them but which overall contain a big lie.

In my opinion this is a good example of what was good about shorts. They were often used to educate as well as entertain and this one managed to do a bit of both.