Whispering Tongues

WHISPERING TONGUES is a short British crime film made at Twickenham Film Studios and featuring a rather novel, revenge-style plot line. The hero of the piece, played by the charismatic Reginald Tate, is both the protagonist and antagonist of the piece! Tate begins the film by returning to England from South America, where he literally stumbles upon the corpse of his father who has just committed suicide. How's that for bad timing?

Tate discovers that idle gossip was responsible for his old man's death, so with the aid of his ex-con butler he decides a revenge plot is in order. What follows is a cat and mouse game with police and a fair few suspenseful moments as Tate sets his plan into action. The low budget of WHISPERING TONGUES is apparent in the dearth of action and the way only a couple of sets are used, but I found it oddly engaging. The unusual story makes it stand out from the typical contemporary fare and one scene in particular has some quite wonderful writing between Tate and Malcolm Keen's dogged detective. Felix Aylmer plays in support as the police chief.

A vintage British crime drama which sees suave playboy Reginald Tate vow to have his revenge on those he holds responsible for driving his father to suicide. Quite what most of his victims did is a little vague, and Tate's revenge - robbing them of their jewels (which, no doubt, are insured) seems just a little insubstantial. It's to keep him likeable, of course, with villain duties transferred to his dad's manservant, who was once a jewel thief and shows Tate the tricks of the trade. An insignificant trifle, but not without moments of interest.

There are some interesting names in this quota quickie.Reginald Tate was the original Professor Quatermass.Russell Thorndyke brother of Sybil,Malcolm Keen father of Geoffrey,not forgetting Felix Aylmer.The film was directed by the veteran George Pearson whose career had fallen on hard times.His last few feature films were quota quickie.In this film Tate sets out to avenge his late father who committed suicide as he has been swindled out of his money.He goes into partnership with his father's butler,a reformed crook to take revenge on the people who swindled his father.Everything goes fine for 3 years ,however when he thinks he has squared accounts he finds that there is one person remaining and that really throws a spanner in the works.Really quite a notch above the average quota quickie.