There have been two previously posted reviews on IMDb of "Whistling Hills," both thoughtful and right on. But as reviewer Mike-764 asserted, the film is strong, thanks to an imaginative story and well performed script. The film stands proudly beside JMB's earlier films during his heroic and valiant days in the mid 1930's. There is just something always so pleasant in watching JMB go through his paces, seeming nearly implausibly effective for such a nice and affable guy. JMB ws 46 years old in this one, and even though he looked a little jowly and well-fed, he also looked strong and ready for action. His fight scenes were energetic and well choreographed.
I. Stanford Jolley does a smooth job of putting across his character. By contrast, Noel Neill is the least effective; I have never felt that she was comfortable in her performances anywhere, never really natural.
In this film director Derwin Abrahams creates a gorgeous black and white movie and frames each scene with depth and balance of background, whether indoors, on the street, or out in the countryside.
The western town in this one is magnificent in its variety of structure types, too. The narrative related by the reviewer "honker" about the Iverson Ranch is not only charming and valuable, it is also beautifully written. I hope that here in 2023 he is still enjoying these old films, as there are so many now available, many more than in 2002.
Incidentally, I like Mike-764's announced way of rating B-westerns, the implication being that the ratings adhere to a different standard than other A-level features in Hollywood. Unfortunately I have not followed such a two-approach system, and it is too late to change horses in the stream now (even though I must admit I am prone to giving the B's a little more slack when coming up with their rating.
So for "Whistling Hills" I will assign a 7 of 10 rating, but if assigning a rating for B-westerns only I would join Mike in voting for a 9 of 10. For what was going on in B-westerns in and around 1951 with Rex Allen, Monte Hale, Sunset Carson, Wild Bill Elliott, Alan Lane, and others, this was a good picture.
I. Stanford Jolley does a smooth job of putting across his character. By contrast, Noel Neill is the least effective; I have never felt that she was comfortable in her performances anywhere, never really natural.
In this film director Derwin Abrahams creates a gorgeous black and white movie and frames each scene with depth and balance of background, whether indoors, on the street, or out in the countryside.
The western town in this one is magnificent in its variety of structure types, too. The narrative related by the reviewer "honker" about the Iverson Ranch is not only charming and valuable, it is also beautifully written. I hope that here in 2023 he is still enjoying these old films, as there are so many now available, many more than in 2002.
Incidentally, I like Mike-764's announced way of rating B-westerns, the implication being that the ratings adhere to a different standard than other A-level features in Hollywood. Unfortunately I have not followed such a two-approach system, and it is too late to change horses in the stream now (even though I must admit I am prone to giving the B's a little more slack when coming up with their rating.
So for "Whistling Hills" I will assign a 7 of 10 rating, but if assigning a rating for B-westerns only I would join Mike in voting for a 9 of 10. For what was going on in B-westerns in and around 1951 with Rex Allen, Monte Hale, Sunset Carson, Wild Bill Elliott, Alan Lane, and others, this was a good picture.