Themes: Golden Years, Fantasy Life, Woman In Jeopardy
Main Cast: Edith Evans, Eric Portman, Nanette Newman, Gerald Sim, Avis Bunnage
Release Year: 1967
Country: UK
Run Time: 106 minutes
Plot
The Whisperers stars Dame Edith Evans as a lonely old woman whose imagination is getting the better of her sanity. She insists that she hears "whisperers" plotting and planning against her at all times; she also believes that these imaginary entities are spying on her. So suspicious is Ms. Evans of her nonexistent whisperers that she fails to notice the very real predators around her. She is robbed of her life's savings by a nasty "friend" (Avis Brunnage), and is exploited by her estranged con-artist husband (Eric Portman) and her no-good son (Ronald Fraser) Even when she catches on to the duplicity of others, Ms. Evans is so far gone with her "whisperers" that the authorities refuse to believe her. Seedy and sordid though it may be, The Whisperers won Edith Evans the Best Actress award from the New York Critics' Circle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Whisperers is shamelessly manipulative, but no less effective for that. Bryan Forbes adaptation of Robert Nicolson's novel plays with the audience's emotions to the point that it becomes increasingly painful, making this uncompromising film too difficult for many viewers. Those who stick with it will be rewarded, however, not because the movie is actually conveying a deep or new message but because it provides the incomparable Dame Edith Evans with one of the few onscreen roles that demonstrated her amazing range and ability. Too often this treasure of an actress was given screen roles that played up her inclination toward haughtiness and/or dottiness. While she always imbued those roles with more than was required, they rarely taxed her. Whisperers calls upon her innermost resources, demanding a tour de force, and Evans rises to the challenge brilliantly and chillingly. Onscreen for almost the entire film, Evans is riveting throughout, whether stuffing tinned slices of bread into her mouth or heartbreakingly asking "Are you there?" of her voices after her husband has once again left her to her pathetic existence. Evans elicits an enormous amount of pity for the character, yet makes it clear that much of her problems are of her own doing. Her performance is haunting and mesmerizing, one of the finest of its decade. The film as a whole is merely good, not great, but Evans' work is a gem of impossible purity. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Ronald Fraser - Charlie Ross; Harry Baird - Earl; Robert Russell - Andy; Kenneth Griffith - Mr. Weaver; Max Bacon - Mr. Fish; Robin Bailey - Psychiatrist; Sarah Forbes - Mrs. Ross (younger); Michael Lees; Michael Robbins - Mr. Noonan; Leonard Rossiter - National Assistance Official; Margaret Tyzack - Almoner; Tom Kempinski; George Spence; Clare Kelly - Prostitute; Peter Thompson - Publican
Credit
Ray Simm - Art Director, Bryan Forbes - Director, Anthony Harvey - Editor, John Barry - Composer (Music Score), John Barry - Musical Direction/Supervision, Basil Newall - Makeup, Gerry Turpin - Cinematographer, Michael Laughlin - Producer, Ronald Shedlo - Producer, Peter James - Set Designer, Bryan Forbes - Screenwriter, Robert Nicolson - Book Author
