Lo que dejo el aire

It's Red's first starring role and he plays it fairly straight only sometimes mugging it up in ways that would become his comedic trademark. It's an excellent supporting cast, especially the unsung Don Costello as the henchman with a bad case of nerves and unsteady loyalties. And whose inspired idea was it to walk the thuggish-looking Hilda (Mariska Aldrich) through several scenes, allowing Red to get off some choice one-liners, ("Didn't I see you on 'Wrestling' last week."). Still, I'm curious why there're two leading ladies instead of one. Grey's character "Fran" seems unnecessary to the comedy set-ups and the storyline, so perhaps there's an inside story on this odd bit of doubling-up.

In my little book, the movie's only fitfully funny, mainly because the two comedy set-ups (the secret room and the radio trick) go on too long and lack the intensity of Red's better comedies. As other reviewers point out, the best parts are the many choice throwaway lines that sometimes fly fast and furious, so keep your ear cocked. All in all, this first of the "Whistling" series is not the best, but it does present a chance to catch one show-biz's brightest comedy acts developing his way up the Hollywood ladder.

Red Skelton plays a radio detective known as "The Fox" in "Whistling in the Dark," also starring Ann Rutherford, Conrad Veidt, Eve Arden, Virgina Grey and Rags Ragland. Wally Benton, aka "The Fox" finds his plans to marry his fiancé Carol (Rutherford) thwarted when he's kidnapped by a the leader of a sham cult (Veidt). Joseph Jones (Veidt) has just learned that his cult, The Silver Haven, is not getting a promised inheritance because of the existence of the old woman's nephew, who is going to be living off of the interest. He wants Wally to devise a perfect murder plot so the man can be killed on the airplane en route to meet with his attorney. For backup, and because he's not sure which one is Wally's fiancé, Jones kidnaps Carol and also the radio sponsor's daughter (Grey).

This, to me anyway, is a superior film to the second entry in this series, "Whistling in Dixie." The plot is better, the cast is better, there is less slapstick and fewer corny jokes. Skelton, when he's not making faces and rolling his eyes, is quite amiable, and Rutherford is very good. Veidt always played these evil men to perfection. Eve Arden is Wally's agent, who arranges a date for him and Grey to make sure his contract is renewed. I had only seen Grey in films from the 1950s onward. She was always a good-looking woman, but who knew she was such a knockout in the '30s and '40s? This is a fun film with a neat cast.

This film was the second done by Vincent Minelli in his movie directing career. Like the first one I DOOD IT he was directing Red Skelton. The two films were assigned to Minelli as a test of his abilities, and he did so well that he was never assigned to B-Features again. Skelton was shown to good advantage (in most of his comedies Skelton usually gave good performances) as a radio personality, "THE FOX" who knows all you need to know about crime to solve cases. He is kidnapped with his girl friend by Conrad Veidt's gang. Veidt is a cult leader, who learns he is a prospective heir to one of his rich followers, provided her direct heir (Lloyd Corrigan)predeceases her. Veidt needs a perfect crime, and "The Fox" is just the man to give it to him.

It is a wonderful comedy. Besides Skelton's comic abilities, Veidt too shows a funny side rarely apparent in his dramatic (and villainous) roles - imagine Major Strasser telling Capt. Reynaud an off-colored joke in CASABLANCA. At the start of the film, having just given his stooge followers his typical guru speech on control and peace and love, Veidt learns about the existance of Corrigan as a threat to his plans for wealth. He starts acting like another notable German of the 1940s, screaming and ranting, and yelling at his followers how can he teach the world of love and peace when this impediment is in his way! Later, when part of the live audience listening to Skelton's "Fox" radio program, he learns that the villain in the program was an imposter that Skelton recognized, because he was wearing a turban the wrong way (it was tied on the left instead of the right, or something like that). A surprised Veidt (who could very well wear a turban among his followers) tells his side-kick, "I didn't know that!" as though anyone is interested.

The lines go fast and furious in this film, up to a surprise at the end of the film from Corrigan, that actually makes much of the frantic antics of the forced "perfect crime" plot seem hopeless from the start. Definitely worthwhile if you want some good laughs.

If WARNER/MGM had their way (of which they DO!)....we will NOT LIKELY ever see these 3 Classic RED SKELTON "Whistling" series comedies on DVD! RED SKELTON stars as Wally Benton, THE FOX ("OOOOOOO!"), a Radio star detective in WHISTLING IN THE DARK, WHISTLING IN DIXIE and WHISTLING IN BRROKLYN. I purchased the VHS copies of these great films quite a few years back (before DVD's) ~ they are definitely 'keepers'! Again, I pass on the film commentaries, because the IMDb reviewers are on target with these flix. What always concerns me is the PUSH needed for someone to read these reviews (from the Production offices of WARNER/MGM)...."HELLO!"....and realize that Classic film fans and consumers WANT (and DEMAND) these films be made available for DVD! And this goes for you other clowns at FOX, COLUMBIA, UNIVERSAL, or whatever corporate names you have absorbed (MCA, SONY, RCA, etc). Pay attention to your fans and show us the respect we deserve by producing MORE quality Classic films!!!!!!! As to quote STAN LEE, "Nuff Said!"

While many pass this off as a B movie it is, indeed, a first class comedy that is well-written and acted. Red Skelton is great as Wally Benton better known to radio fans as The Fox. Ann Rutherford is perfect as Wally's fiance Carol Lambert. Conrad Veidt leads a very well cast gang of criminals. I read one account of this movie which states that Vincente Minelli directed this film, not unless he changed his name to S. Sylvan Simon, who directed all three of the Fox movies. This is a very entertaining film made when imagination was encouraged. So get over your black and white prejudice if you have one, sit back and enjoy a truly great comedy. This was also Red's first starring role. Take note during the climax of the reference to Orson Welles' War Of the Worlds broadcast.