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.

Remake of 1933 movie is the first in a series of three movies. Wally "The Fox" Benton (Red Skelton) is the star of a popular radio mystery program who is kidnapped by criminals. They plan to kill somebody and want Wally to plan the perfect murder. As added incentive for him to do as they want, they also kidnap Wally's fiancée (Ann Rutherford) and another girl who likes him (Virginia Grey).Fast-paced enjoyable Red Skelton comedy hits on all cylinders. Great direction, great script, superb cast. Skelton is wonderful in his first starring role. Ann Rutherford is absolutely adorable as his fiancée. Something about her I've always loved since I first saw her in the Andy Hardy films. Virginia Grey is the other girl who wants Red and she's fiery and spunky and lots of fun as well. The way the three of them team up to handle the bad guys is terrific. Conrad Veidt is excellent as the heavy, as are all of his henchman. There's more support from the likes of the great Eve Arden, Lloyd Corrigan, and Henry O'Neill. It's really a first-rate cast in a very fun and funny movie.

Red Skelton, achingly young but as engaging and comically flexible as ever, is ideally-cast as Wally Benton, a radio personality and fictional sleuth nicknamed "The Fox", who is kidnapped for real by a nefarious cult leader eager to get his hands on an inheritance--which means implicating Benton in a murder. Adaptation of the play by Laurence Gross and Edward Childs Carpenter is pure fun, with an exceptionally strong supporting cast running high on adrenaline. Conrad Veidt, that great eternal-villain, is the amusingly icy con-man who robs the rich and keeps for himself, while Ann Rutherford is charming as Skelton's girlfriend. She and Red were quickly re-teamed for two more "Whistling" comedies. Well-produced and often ridiculously funny. *** from ****

If WARNER/MGM had their way (of which they DO!)....we will NOT LIKELY ever see these 3 Classic RED SKELTON "Whistling" series comedies on DVD! RED SKELTON stars as Wally Benton, THE FOX ("OOOOOOO!"), a Radio star detective in WHISTLING IN THE DARK, WHISTLING IN DIXIE and WHISTLING IN BRROKLYN. I purchased the VHS copies of these great films quite a few years back (before DVD's) ~ they are definitely 'keepers'! Again, I pass on the film commentaries, because the IMDb reviewers are on target with these flix. What always concerns me is the PUSH needed for someone to read these reviews (from the Production offices of WARNER/MGM)...."HELLO!"....and realize that Classic film fans and consumers WANT (and DEMAND) these films be made available for DVD! And this goes for you other clowns at FOX, COLUMBIA, UNIVERSAL, or whatever corporate names you have absorbed (MCA, SONY, RCA, etc). Pay attention to your fans and show us the respect we deserve by producing MORE quality Classic films!!!!!!! As to quote STAN LEE, "Nuff Said!"