vincentlynch-moonoi This was really the first film in which Red Skelton was the star, rather than a supporting character. And while it was a B movie, it was a good one that received a fair amount of acclaim for Skelton. The general shtick is a good, but common one in that era -- a sort of twist between gangsters and spooks.Here, Red plays Wally Benton, the star of a radio mystery series; he's "The Fox", an expert criminologist (and accidentally a goofball). He plans to elope with his girlfriend Ann Rutherford, but his agent urges him to also date the sponsor's daughter to assure that his show is not canceled. Meanwhile, Conrad Veidt runs a religious cult that preys on the wills of oldsters, mostly women. One member has died and bequeathed a life interest in $1,000,000 to a nephew (Lloyd Corrigan), with the principal going to Silver Haven only after Upshaw's death. Veidt is determined to have Upshaw murdered so that the money will come straight to the cult. Members of the cult develop a plan to have "The Fox" develop a fool proof murder. Kidnappings ensure, and the bumbling Skeleton tries to save himself and his two female paramours. Can "The Fox" save the women and prevent the murder? How he does it is rather clever.Red Skelton, in his first starring vehicle, is very good here, although he got even better in the two sequels. This is a good role for Conrad Veidt as the head of the phony religion; must have been a nice change not playing a Nazi in the World War II era! Ann Rutherford was a good romantic interest for Red. "Rags" Ragland, who later played Red's pal, in this film was one of the reprobates, but did so nicely. Venerable character actor Henry O'Neill is along as the sponsor of Red's radio program. Eve Arden is here as Red's manager, but has little to do, and that's a shame...but she was a known scene stealer.If there's a criticism here it's that about two-thirds of the way through the film it lags a bit, but then comes on stronger at the end. Aside from that, it's a pretty refreshing B movie. Recommended, particularly to see the young Red Skelton.

edwagreen With the exception of the last 15 minutes or so, this was a pretty awful film.Red Skelton, as Walter Benton, radio show star of a crime show who along with his boss's daughter and fiancée is kidnapped by a sinister cult leader, Conrad Veidt, who wants Skelton to come up with a perfect murder so that he can kill the heir of a fortune left by one of his devotees.The film just plods along with ridiculous lines by Skelton and Crew. Eve Arden is given very little to do as Skelton's agent, her wise-cracking is sorely missed here by the writers. Ironically, Skelton is Walter Benton in this film; years later, we had the character of Walter Denton in Arden's hit television series "Our Miss Brooks." Richard Crenna played Denton.The film picks up in pace and comedy when the radio is able to be connected and everyone finds out about the plight of Skelton and the two women.

bkoganbing Like the Road To Singapore which was the debut and yet the weakest of the Road films for Crosby and Hope, Whistling In The Dark which was Red Skelton's starring debut was overall rather weak, but definitely shows Red Skelton's zany comedy style. He did two more films as radio detective Wally Benton aka the Fox, Whistling In Dixie and Whistling In Brooklyn that were better than this one.The fact that smooth and clever villain Conrad Veidt who runs a spiritualist racket would need help from Red Skelton to construct a perfect murder is dopey on the face of it. Still Skelton is kidnapped by Veidt and along with him are two women that he's been seeing, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey, and he's got to come up with a foolproof method of homicide. Nobody notices that in addition to being a performer and writer, Skelton is also something of a fool.But that's what makes the weak premised film provide a lot of laughs with Grey, Rutherford, and even Veidt joining in on the general hilarity. And I do love the way Red apparently has a knowledge of electronics and makes the villain's radio receiver set a broadcast method. Can't be a complete fool to devise that.Though the succeeding Fox films were better, Whistling In The Dark will provide a great introduction to the comedy stylings of Red Skelton.

preppy-3 Red Skelton (in his first starring role) plays Wally Benton who plays 'The Fox' on a radio show. He writes the murder mysteries and as 'The Fox' solves them. Joseph Jones (Conrad Veidt) is trying to figure out how to perform the perfect murder on someone. He kidnaps Benton, his girlfriend (Ann Rutherford) and another girlfriend (Virginia Grey). He tells Benton to write out the perfect murder...or his girlfriends get it...Very funny and enjoyable movie. Fast-moving (it's only 77 minutes), a good script and perfect casting really puts this across. Skelton is very good in his first starring role--very funny, fast, handsome and intelligent. Veidt is excellent as the evil Jones. Rutherford and Grey are lots of fun as Skelton's girlfriends. All three of them play off each other perfectly--their verbal sparring is the highlight of this pic. Also fun to see Eve Arden in a small role.Well worth your time.