The Whispering Chorus

The Whispering Chorus is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille.[1]

The Whispering Chorus
Newspaper advertisement
Directed byCecil B. DeMille
Produced byCecil B. DeMille
Written byJeanie MacPherson
Perley Poore Sheehan
StarringRaymond Hatton
CinematographyAlvin Wyckoff
Edited byCecil B. DeMille
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • March 28, 1918 (1918-03-28)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

John Tremble (Hatton), an impoverished cashier in a contracting concern, listens to the voice of evil and succumbs to temptation, stealing $1000 from his employer. When he begins to fear detection, he runs away and hides on an isolated island where he becomes a piece of human driftwood. While fishing he finds the body of a dead man and, again listening to the voice of evil, he exchanges clothes and then mutilates the head of the corpse, to suggest he himself has been murdered. The finding of the body is reported to his family and Tremble begins life anew. The police search for the murderer and Tremble is finally brought to trial. Meanwhile, Jane Tremble (Williams), his former wife, has married the state governor and does not recognize John Tremble when she sees him in court. After a dramatic trial, John Tremble is found guilty of his own murder. He nobly meets death in the electric chair rather than bring unhappiness to his former wife.[2]

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The Whispering Chorus was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 2, a closeup of the alteration of the ledger, theft of money, Reel 4, striking man in face with bottle, two scenes of young woman in kimono enticing man and pulling him towards room, Reel 5, policeman striking man in face twice, and, Reel 7, two scenes of pulling lever for electric chair.[3]

gollark: That's now illegal.
gollark: It just sent reminder 3200 twice. This is NOT good.
gollark: Which apparently entirely broke at some point in the last few weeks.
gollark: Now I need to fix Reminding 2™.
gollark: Okay, bridging appears to be fully functional again.

See also

References
  1. "Progressive Silent Film List: The Whispering Chorus". silentera.com. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
  2. "Reviews: The Whispering Chorus". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (16): 25. April 13, 1918.
  3. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (17): 31. April 20, 1918.
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