The Bat Whispers

I don't think I've never seen a movie from 1930 try this hard to be this visually exciting - various impossible camera shots give this a look all its own, and serve as a direct counterpoint to the old dark house thriller mechanics that were probably pretty dusty even 86…

Joe

2nd Roland West (after The Monster) Somewhere, Maude Eburne is being scolded in Actor's Purgatory for her abomination of her performance. Beautifully made in fits and starts, when the need for sound is at a minimum. There, West can let his camera fly into an Old Dark…

Doc Lyon

“Say, what kind of joint is this?” On the one hand, Roland West’s The Bat Whispers is a mess. Based on a play by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood, the film resembles a creaky stage transfer too often, with characters constantly running on and off stage. The…

noir1946

🟠 ‘I don't like that doctor. One look at him would cure anybody!’ 🟢 The best performance was from Maude Eburne - hilarious! 🔵 The best film aspect was the cinematography - really impressive for a film released in 1930! It’s clear that The Bat Whispers is one of the OG…

Tom Saunders

Watched with the Golden Reel Gin Joint An example of film that has not aged well. A hybrid horror-mystery-comedy, it’s an adaptation of a wildly successful 1920 Broadway play. The play was based on a mystery novel by Mary Roberts Rhinehart, who is sometimes described…

Stephen M

The opening scenes are incredibly promising, as a dizzying array of miniatures, matte paintings, and rear-projection are cleverly integrated with traditional footage to depict a master criminal—“The Bat”—stealing a necklace from a penthouse apartment right under the nose of…

atmartin

It doesn't help that I'm smitten by the 1959 version of this story with Vincent Price, but even without the comparison, I doubt The Bat Whispers would do much for me. An innovative use of miniatures and some inspired cinematography is the only thing keeping this from a…

MushiMinion

Watched with the Golden Reel Gin Joint 🎞️ 🍹 AAAAAH. Nevermind me, I'm just overly excited over how good the shots in this film were. Chester Morris leaping over the balustrade and running past the tall hedges in the garden was gorgeous (@43:39). It's not that this film…

𝔸ℕℕ𝔸

The Bat Whispers is a truly remarkable piece of filmmaking, featuring widescreen photography (!!!) and stunning work with miniatures that’s as dynamic as anything you’d hope find decades in the future. In order to bring his vision for the film to fruition, director Roland…

sakana1