Mysterious Intruder (1946)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Did you people see the same film I saw?

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Some great character actors liven up this convoluted entry in a series that started off intelligent and clever, and over the time has gotten full of itself to where much of the proceedings are incomprehensible. Murders surrounding a rare record shop and missing persons result in a lot of headaches in trying to keep up with what is going on. Some clever historical references add a bit of interest, but by that time, a momentary blink can cause one to loose track again. In this entry, Richard Dix is a cynical private investigator, often at odds with detectives Barton MacLane and Charles Lane, out to solve the sudden death of an elderly music store owner, the disappearance of the girl he was searching for, and the odd assortment of characters coming in and out searching for valuable musical artifacts. In addition to MacLane and Lane are Kathleen Howard, Regis Toomey and Mike Mazurki, but the intrusion of too many characters leads to a seeming dead end in the plot. Even at just over an hour, this gets puzzling and ultimately frustrating, especially after watching two previous entries in "The Whistler" series that showed its smarts. I can only guess that while whistling, that shadowy figure saw somebody sucking on a lemon, because this one is out of tune with previous entries in the series. This lacks the artistic genius of the cult director William Castle who moved from series writer to behind the camera.

A nice old gentleman hires private detective Don Gale (Richard Dix) to find a girl named Elora Lund he hasn't seen in seven years. Gale tries to rip the old man off by sending an impostor to pose as Elora. But then the old man is murdered (in a surprisingly brutal scene) and Gale finds himself on the spot.Another entertaining entry in Columbia's always-fun Whistler franchise. A contender for best in the series. Dix is terrific as the sleazeball private eye. Good supporting cast includes Barton MacLane, Mike Mazurki, Regis Toomey, and Charles Lane. Nice direction from William Castle. The plot in this one takes several twists and turns. It's a pretty good story, especially for a B movie. You should definitely check it out, even if you are new to The Whistler.

The fifth of the seven Richard Dix Whistler's is a complicated hard boiled affair, coming in at just under an hour with the usual high quota of dizzying plot twists to keep you on your toes. Although be warned if you've never seen it before the IMDb plot summary just about gives it all away, not the ideal thing to do with these films. Nicely noirish and a good print lend a doom-laden atmosphere which the excellent cast make the most of, and at warp speed.Seedy private eye Dix is hired by a trusting old shop owner to find his friend a missing girl who has an intriguing if extremely improbable present worth USD 200,000 awaiting her. From there it unravels in the best sleazy Chandleresque fashion, the sequence of events all logical and believable … mostly. Favourite bits: Dix and his lady … friend tracking down and finding manic Mike Mazurki's house at night; the greed in weak-willed but still a goodie Dix's eyes when the real Elora Lund shows up. Ker-ching! I believe the Whistler himself was never as amused as by the ending of this episode judging by his gleeful sneering at the end. Tremendous fun for the fan, one of my favourites in a series that never failed to deliver.

Here's another fine entry in Columbia's noirish Whistler series, the fifth chronologically, and fourth directed by soon-to-be schlockmeister William Castle. Like the first in the series, Castle imbues the film with an especially sleazy atmosphere. The shadowy b&w photography, threatening background detail and desperate lowlife characters evince a cynical view of the urban world, and the writers obliquely hint at sordid relationships and motivations which simmer below the surface of the story. Series lead actor Richard Dix, normally emotively challenged, gives a rather eccentric interpretation of a venal, socially inept gumshoe seeking a big score, who is ironically given the opportunity for redemption. Buffs will certainly savor the parade of iconic supporting actors like Mike Mazurki and Charles Lane. Much better than one would expect from a mystery series, this picture reflects the seamy side of life usually glossed over by the Hollywood veneer.