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The Bat Whispers

30 votes

Infamous burglar "The Bat" commits a daring jewelry theft despite heavy police presence. Soon after, a bank theft occurs, which may be the work of the criminal as well. Meanwhile, Cornelia Van Gorder has various people arrive at her old mansion, including her niece, Dale, a bank employee, and police detective Anderson. When guests start turning up dead, Cornelia begins to suspect that The Bat may be lurking around the estate.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1930-11-13

Runtime: 83 mins

Director: Roland West

Writer: Roland West

Spoken language: English

Genres: Mystery, Comedy, Crime, Horror

Original title: The Bat Whispers

Production Companies: Art Cinema Corporation, Joseph M. Schenck Productions

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Chester Morris

Chance Ward

Una Merkel

Richard Tucker

Wilson Benge

DeWitt Jennings

Sidney D'Albrook

S.E. Jennings

Miss Cornelia van Gorder

Grayce Hampton

Maude Eburne

Spencer Charters

William Bakewell

Gustav von Seyffertitz

Richard Fleming

Hugh Huntley

Reviews

Geronimo1967

When a diamond necklace is stolen from under the very noses of the police, the perpetrator - "the Bat" - leaves them a note saying they can relax - he is off to pastures new... Shortly afterwards, suspicious things start going on at a country house where a mystery unfolds that leads the assembled group to try to track down a satchel with half a million bucks in it! The antics in the house are well paced and entertaining - especially the completely over the top Una Merkel "Dale van Gorder" who is quite literally scared by her own shadow. The lighting and settings are very stage bound, but in this instance that helps keep the production tight and engaging. The action is plentiful, if a little slapstick at times - and the ending straight out of a Laurel and Hardy film. It's worth sticking with it right to the ending though - quite an innovative invitation to the audience not to leak the identity of the "Bat" to their friends lest they, too, risk becoming his next victims. It's fun, this - not great, but fun.

2022-06-13

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