"The Whispering Chorus" produced and directed by Cecil B. De Mille, tells the tragic story of John Tremble and his descent into oblivion.
Tremble (Raymond Hatton) is stuck in a low paying dead end job. He wants the better things in life for his wife Jane (Kathlyn Williams) and his ailing mother (Edythe Chapman). One day he decides to embezzle $10,000 from his boss Chemley (James Neill). Fearing arrest, Tremble goes into hiding.
Jane goes to State investigator George Coggeswell (Elliot Dexter) for help. He is immediately attracted to her. He is called in to investigate the Chemley embezzlement but keeps the information of John's involvement from her.
Tremble meanwhile is living in an old shack where one day a body of one Eric Smith, a known criminal washes up on shore. Tremble decides to switch identifies with him and stages his own murder scene.
Tremble lives the good life until the money runs out and is forced to seek work as a longshoreman. He is partially crippled in an accident and is about to be arrested when a co-worker (Noah Beery) helps him to escape.
Years go by and Coggeswell continues to pursue Jane. However Mrs. Tremble still believes her son to be alive even though the body of Smith had been identified as that of Tremble. Finally the old woman relents and gives her consent to the marriage of Jane and Coggeswell.
Coggeswell becomes governor and he and Jane live the good life. Still later we see Tremble now reduced to a tramp trying to eke out a living on the street. He decides to go to his mother to reveal the truth. She at first doesn't recognize him. When she finally does, she collapses and dies shortly thereafter.
After seeing Jane who also doesn't recognize hum, Tremble is arrested and charged with his own murder. The case come to trial, Jane is asked to testify and.....................................................
Melodramatic to be sure, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The performances were excellent particularly that of Hatton. The trial sequence is very well done and the finale very touching.
Raymond Hatton is probably best remembered as the crusty old "B" western sidekick of the 30s, 40s and 50s but he had a long and varied career lasting over 60 years. In addition to his work with De Mille, he also appeared in several films with Lon Chaney in the 20s.
A good movie.
Tremble (Raymond Hatton) is stuck in a low paying dead end job. He wants the better things in life for his wife Jane (Kathlyn Williams) and his ailing mother (Edythe Chapman). One day he decides to embezzle $10,000 from his boss Chemley (James Neill). Fearing arrest, Tremble goes into hiding.
Jane goes to State investigator George Coggeswell (Elliot Dexter) for help. He is immediately attracted to her. He is called in to investigate the Chemley embezzlement but keeps the information of John's involvement from her.
Tremble meanwhile is living in an old shack where one day a body of one Eric Smith, a known criminal washes up on shore. Tremble decides to switch identifies with him and stages his own murder scene.
Tremble lives the good life until the money runs out and is forced to seek work as a longshoreman. He is partially crippled in an accident and is about to be arrested when a co-worker (Noah Beery) helps him to escape.
Years go by and Coggeswell continues to pursue Jane. However Mrs. Tremble still believes her son to be alive even though the body of Smith had been identified as that of Tremble. Finally the old woman relents and gives her consent to the marriage of Jane and Coggeswell.
Coggeswell becomes governor and he and Jane live the good life. Still later we see Tremble now reduced to a tramp trying to eke out a living on the street. He decides to go to his mother to reveal the truth. She at first doesn't recognize him. When she finally does, she collapses and dies shortly thereafter.
After seeing Jane who also doesn't recognize hum, Tremble is arrested and charged with his own murder. The case come to trial, Jane is asked to testify and.....................................................
Melodramatic to be sure, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The performances were excellent particularly that of Hatton. The trial sequence is very well done and the finale very touching.
Raymond Hatton is probably best remembered as the crusty old "B" western sidekick of the 30s, 40s and 50s but he had a long and varied career lasting over 60 years. In addition to his work with De Mille, he also appeared in several films with Lon Chaney in the 20s.
A good movie.