
Beautiful Mary returns to her small hometown after many years from Chicago wearing a mink coat and carrying an expensive cigarette case. Her arrival causes long standing enmities to surface between two of her old boyfriends, Kenny Veech, a loafing gambler, and debonair Lew Lentz, owner of a local nightclub. Their deep-seated animosity repeatedly results in antagonism and fights as they compete for Mary's affections. Kenny's friend Gitlo, a bartender in Lentz' club, enlists Ke... (Full plot summary below)
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Beautiful Mary returns to her small hometown after many years from Chicago wearing a mink coat and carrying an expensive cigarette case. Her arrival causes long standing enmities to surface between two of her old boyfriends, Kenny Veech, a loafing gambler, and debonair Lew Lentz, owner of a local nightclub. Their deep-seated animosity repeatedly results in antagonism and fights as they compete for Mary's affections. Kenny's friend Gitlo, a bartender in Lentz' club, enlists Kenny in an aborted plan to rob Lentz of $15,000 in profits from sponsoring a local carnival. Lentz retaliates by framing both men for murder.
Leave your thoughts about Whistle Stop.
| The SpectatorAlexander ShawIt seems a pity to have to criticise adversely any film coming front Hollywood which shows signs of trying to break away from the monotonous routine, but Whistle Stop misses practically all its marks. |
| Ozus' World Movie ReviewsDennis SchwartzThe wannabe film noir is dumber than dumb. |
| User ReviewSteve MMinor but good "B" film noir, notable for an early performance by Ava Gardner, who is radiant. It's easy to see why she became a major star. She certainly has what it takes. Good supporting cast, particularly Victor Mc Laglen. Entertaining. |
| User ReviewEric RWhistle Stop is really just an average film that's most redeeming quality is probably Ava Gardner's presence; cause you know, she's gorgeous and such. Mary is the perfect role for Ava, a woman who returns home to her small town after a stint in Chicago, sparking old lying animosity between two of her old boyfriends, Kenny and Lew. Kenny, played by George Raft, is a flawed character who doesn't have much ambitions; he's a restless soul whose life seems to be given meaning again when Mary gets back into town. Lew, on the other hand, is a wealthy man, who wants to steal Mary away from Kenny. The film plays out pretty much by the numbers and their isnt much to really praise here in terms of cinematography or direction. George Raft's character is somewhat compelling, in that he fights and scraps for Mary's affection but to me the characters infatuation is purely more about Lust than Love so I didn't really find myself all that interested in whether Kenny would end up with Mary. It's not a bad film, and Ava Gardner is beautiful and solid as always but nothing you need to rush out and see either. |
| User ReviewSandy SWith both men in the love triangle seemed to have no redeeming qualities. It seemed a flaw in the plot that Mary would want to get involved with either of them. Perhaps events in Chicago, which led to her return, might explain, but we are left in the dark. The lack of character development made the plot seem silly, but I enjoyed watching it to see what Ava Gardner made of the role. |
| User ReviewDoug CA fair B-noir starring Ava Gardner returning to her whistle stop hometown to play old boyfriends George Raft and Tom Conway against each other until they plot to kill each other. There is little chemistry between either pair, however, and Ava Gardner's character seems to be more obnoxious than the producers realized. Victor McLaglen delivers a great performance as Raft's friend and co-conspirator, but unfortunately he's the only one. |
| User ReviewAaron Bunless your a die hard Ava Gardner fan I'd say stay away. |