The Whistler

Legendary film director Robert Wise called the Whistler features, "examples of budgetfilmmaking at its very best." Noted B movie historian Don Miller cited them as, "the bestB pics of the period from Columbia." Famed film critic/historian Leonard Maltin referredto the series as "one of the most unusual- and one of the best mystery series of the30's and 40's. . ."Based on J. Donald Wilson's hit radio suspense program featuring ironic tales ofterror spun by a mysterious host, The Whistler film series consisted of eight motion picturesproduced by Columbia Pictures between 1944 and 1948 starring legendary, AcademyAward-nominated actor, Richard Dix. Although manufactured quickly andcheaply to fill the bottom half of a mandatory double bill, The Whistler films were suspenseful and well made, engendering wide popularity and surprising critical acclaim. Today historians and movie aficionados frequently cite them for their innovation and style-and as early examples of film noir.This is the story of the making of this landmark Columbia series, and the manyextraordinary individuals who pooled their singular talents to make eight lowbudget movies into film classics. Included are rare profiles of 50 Whistler filmmakers:actors, directors, writers, and technicians.