Whispers in the Dark (1937) User Reviews

Whispers in the Dark was just an amusing, not hilarious, Max Flesicher Screen Song cartoon

[tavm · 6/10 · 1 December 2009]

Just watched this Max Fleischer Screen Song cartoon on YouTube. In this one, a movie theatre is presenting a newsreel called "Believe It or Leave It". Admission is free plus "one dollar tax". Plenty of amusing, if not hilarious, gags abound before the live action segment of Gus Arnheim and his Band from Movieland play the title song with June Robbins singing it. It's after Ms. Robbins leaves the screen and the band keep playing that Mr. Arnheim gives us the instruction to sing (no, he doesn't mention the Bouncing Ball) as the words appear on screen. Like I said, I chuckled as opposed to laughing hard, at many of the gags here. Still, Whispers in the Dark is worth a look.

Whispers in the Dark (1937)

[Michael_Elliott · 29 September 2017]

Whispers in the Dark (1937)

*** (out of 4)

The Fleischer Studio produced a number of these animated short films where the "bouncing ball" would have audience members singing together. The animation skit starts off with a "Believe It or Leave It", which was obviously a take off on the Believe It or Not series. We get some funny jokes here including a chicken that lays ham and eggs without the ham. From here Gus Arnheim performs a quick number with June Robbins singing the title song. If you're a fan of the Fleischer series then you'll enjoy this one as once again we're given some very good animation and the skits here were also pretty good. The highlight was certainly the song towards the end and especially the vocal performance by Robbins.