The Whisperers

The Whisperers

Year: 1967

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Bryan Forbes

DramaThrillerIntense violence and sexual transgressionEnduring stories of family and marital dramaShow All…

Margaret Ross, an impoverished elderly woman, lives alone in a rundown apartment where she escapes her bleak reality by imagining herself a wealthy heiress. When she unexpectedly uncovers a stash of stolen cash hidden by her son, she becomes convinced that her long‑held fantasy has finally become real.

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Timeline & Setting – The Whisperers (1967)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Whisperers (1967). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1966

The events unfold in 1966, a year of welfare-state shifts in Britain. National Assistance is being replaced by Supplementary Benefit during this period, shaping how characters seek and receive help. The mid-60s setting anchors the social context of poverty, dependence, and the evolving role of social services.

Location

Unnamed town in northern England

The story centers on a ground-floor flat in an unnamed town in northern England, a compact urban space that mirrors Mrs Ross's precarious life. The location highlights the austerity of a working-class environment and the intimate, claustrophobic feel of a home under social welfare. Neighbors and professionals pass through the space, exposing how a single residence becomes a stage for vulnerability, crime, and fragile care.

🏙️ Northern England 🏠 Ground-floor flat 🧓 Working-class setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

Main Characters – The Whisperers (1967)

Meet the key characters of The Whisperers (1967), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mrs Margaret Ross

An impoverished, elderly, and eccentric woman living alone in a ground-floor flat, who hears disembodied voices and navigates a frail existence on welfare. Her isolation and stubborn independence drive the plot as she clings to a potential windfall, while strangers draw near with dangerous intentions.

🧓 Elderly 💔 Vulnerable

Archie Ross (Eric Portman)

Mrs Ross's husband who deserted her decades ago and later returns only briefly to move back in before drifting into gambler circles and stealing money, prompting further abandonment.

💔 Absent Husband 🎲 Gambler

Charlie Ross (Ronald Fraser)

Mrs Ross's criminal son who hides a large sum of money and confesses to the police; his actions trigger the chain of events that endanger her.

💣 Criminal 👨‍👦 Family conflict

The Girl Upstairs (Nanette Newman)

A stranger who befriends Mrs Ross, feeds her with spirits, and collaborates in abducting and robbing her of the money, illustrating predation on vulnerability.

🕵️ Stranger

Mrs Noonan (Avis Bunnage)

A figure in the Noonan family network encountered in the welfare milieu; part of the social web surrounding Mrs Ross and the broader story of dependence.

👩‍🦰 Family member 🧭 Welfare context

Mr Noonan (Michael Robbins)

A husband character present in the Noonan sub-plot who interacts with the welfare social circle; his choices intersect with crime and care.

💔 Spouse 🕵️‍♂️ Social context

Mr Conrad (Gerald Sim)

A figure encountered by Mrs Ross within the social and hospital environment, contributing to the film's portrayal of institutional interactions.

🏥 Authority 🗂️ Institutions

Hospital Almoner (Margaret Tyzack)

A hospital almoner who becomes involved in Mrs Ross's case in the medical and welfare network surrounding her care.

🏥 Care provider

Psychiatrist (Robin Bailey)

A psychiatrist who evaluates Mrs Ross as part of the care system, highlighting the film's exploration of mental health and welfare.

🧠 Mental health

Publican (Peter Thompson)

A social space figure who interacts with characters within the town setting, reflecting the everyday world surrounding Mrs Ross.

🍺 Social space

The Man Upstairs (Harry Baird)

An upstairs neighbor who embodies the proximity of danger and the social environment of the building where Mrs Ross lives.

🏢 Neighbors

1st Attacker (Allan O'Keefe)

One of the violent figures who participates in the crime against Mrs Ross, reinforcing the film's danger-laden atmosphere.

🗡️ Attacker

2nd Attacker (Francis Flynn)

Another participant in the assault on Mrs Ross, contributing to the film's sense of threat and vulnerability.

🗡️ Attacker

3rd Young Man (Roy Maxwell)

A youthful assailant involved in the central crime and the danger facing Mrs Ross during the events.

👦 Attacker

Nurse (Shona Lesley)

A nurse who appears in the hospital setting, symbolizing the care network around Mrs Ross.

🏥 Nurse

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

Major Themes – The Whisperers (1967)

Explore the central themes of The Whisperers (1967), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💷 Poverty

Mrs Ross's dependence on National Assistance reveals the fragile finances of a late-life, low-income existence. The lure of a windfall and the intrusion of crime expose how poverty can trap vulnerable individuals. The film uses the cramped flat and the surrounding street to critique welfare gaps and the human cost of economic precarity.

🕯️ Isolation

The elderly protagonist is isolated by age, poverty, and a lack of stable support. Her whispered voices and the strangers who drift into her life illuminate her vulnerability. Contacts with neighbors, hospital staff, and social workers become lifelines that underscore both care and danger.

⚖️ Care

Doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, and social workers focus on Mrs Ross's case, illustrating the social safety net at work. The welfare apparatus attempts to mediate crime, dependency, and recovery, but care is imperfect and complex. The narrative questions the extent of duty and the efficacy of institutional help in protecting the vulnerable.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

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The Whisperers Summary

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The Whisperers Summary

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The Whisperers Timeline

More About The Whisperers

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