Whirlpool's primary photo
  • Whirlpool (1934)
  • Passed
    80 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Whirlpool (1934)
Passed
80 min | Crime, Drama, Romance

Carnie owner Buck Rankin marries local girl Helen and plans to go straight, but after a brawl ends up with a twenty-year sentence for manslaughter. When a pregnant Helen vows to wait for him Rankin forges a letter from the warden's office ...See moreCarnie owner Buck Rankin marries local girl Helen and plans to go straight, but after a brawl ends up with a twenty-year sentence for manslaughter. When a pregnant Helen vows to wait for him Rankin forges a letter from the warden's office informing Helen that Rankin drowned while attempting to escape. Twenty years later Rankin is released from prison, changes his name to "Duke Sheldon", and eventually becomes a nightclub owner with ties to the mob. Helen has remarried - to a local judge - and daughter Sandra has become a reporter. When it's learned that notoriously camera-shy "Duke Sheldon" will be providing a mobster's alibi at a high-profile trial Sandra is sent to write an exposé. She immediately recognizes Rankin from a photo her mother kept, and father and daughter have a tearful reunion. Now Rankin must decide what to do: testify at the trial, revealing his identity and exposing Helen as an unintentional bigamist. Or refuse to testify, protecting Helen and Sandra but angering the mob. Written by sienel See less
Read more: Plot summary
Writers
Dorothy Howell (screen play) | Ethel Hill (screen play) | Howard Emmett Rogers (story)
Cinematographer
Benjamin H. Kline (photography) (as Benjamin Kline)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Apr 10, 1934

Release date
Apr 10, 1934 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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56 cast members
Name Known for
Jack Holt
Buck Rankin Buck Rankin   See fewer
Lila Lee
Helen Helen   See fewer
John Miljan
Barney Gaige Barney Gaige   See fewer
Rita La Roy
Thelma Thelma   See fewer
Oscar Apfel
Editor Editor   See fewer
Willard Robertson
Morrison Morrison   See fewer
Ward Bond
Farley Farley   See fewer
Ernie Adams
Ben (uncredited) Ben (uncredited)   See fewer
Lowden Adams
Davis (uncredited) Davis (uncredited)   See fewer
Maidena Armstrong
Fat Woman (uncredited) Fat Woman (uncredited)   See fewer
Max Barwyn
Head Waiter (uncredited) Head Waiter (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Baxley
Carnival Barker (uncredited) Carnival Barker (uncredited)   See fewer
Brooks Benedict
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Eddie Borden
Annoyed Carnival Customer (uncredited) Annoyed Carnival Customer (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Bowen
Chauffeur (uncredited) Chauffeur (uncredited)   See fewer
James Bradbury Jr.
Small Town Nance at Carnival (uncredited) Small Town Nance at Carnival (uncredited)   See fewer
Edward Cecil
Waiter (uncredited) Waiter (uncredited)   See fewer
Calvin Coolidge
Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited)   See fewer
Gino Corrado
Tony (uncredited) Tony (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Curtis
Policeman (uncredited) Policeman (uncredited)   See fewer
Bud Davies
Contortionist (uncredited) Contortionist (uncredited)   See fewer
Jimmy Dime
Carnival Brawl Victim (uncredited) Carnival Brawl Victim (uncredited)   See fewer
Phil Dunham
John (uncredited) John (uncredited)   See fewer
Margaret Ehrlich
Bashful Girl (uncredited) Bashful Girl (uncredited)   See fewer
Rosita Foucher
Telephone Operator (uncredited) Telephone Operator (uncredited)   See fewer
Harrison Greene
Carnival Barker (uncredited) Carnival Barker (uncredited)   See fewer
Warren G. Harding
Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Self (archive footage) (uncredited)   See fewer
Jolly Lee Harvey
Fat Girl at Circus (uncredited) Fat Girl at Circus (uncredited)   See fewer
A.R. Haysel
Warden J.R. Mackenzie (uncredited) Warden J.R. Mackenzie (uncredited)   See fewer
Lottie Hildebrand
Small Town Woman at Carnival (uncredited) Small Town Woman at Carnival (uncredited)   See fewer
Al Hill
Spike (uncredited) Spike (uncredited)   See fewer
Earle Hodgins
Carnival Barker (uncredited) Carnival Barker (uncredited)   See fewer
Kenner G. Kemp
Nightclub Patron (uncredited) Nightclub Patron (uncredited)   See fewer
Rosalie Lincoln
Maid (uncredited) Maid (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Long
Double (uncredited) Double (uncredited)   See fewer
Nelson McDowell
Townsman at Carnival (uncredited) Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles McMurphy
Policeman (uncredited) Policeman (uncredited)   See fewer
Lu Ann Meredith
Bashful Girl (uncredited) Bashful Girl (uncredited)   See fewer
Tony Merlo
Waiter (uncredited) Waiter (uncredited)   See fewer
Frank O'Connor
Sheriff (uncredited) Sheriff (uncredited)   See fewer
Blanche Payson
John's Henpecking Wife (uncredited) John's Henpecking Wife (uncredited)   See fewer
Hal Price
Traffic Cop (uncredited) Traffic Cop (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Raymond
Carnival Vendor (uncredited) Carnival Vendor (uncredited)   See fewer
Ed Schaefer
Policeman (uncredited) Policeman (uncredited)   See fewer
Jerome Storm
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Strang
Taxicab Driver (uncredited) Taxicab Driver (uncredited)   See fewer
John M. Sullivan
Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited)   See fewer
Richard Sumner
Clerk (uncredited) Clerk (uncredited)   See fewer
Ethel Sykes
Girl at Duke's Table (uncredited) Girl at Duke's Table (uncredited)   See fewer
Billie Van Every
Girl at Duke's Table (uncredited) Girl at Duke's Table (uncredited)   See fewer
Monte Vandergrift
Prison Guard (uncredited) Prison Guard (uncredited)   See fewer
Lillian West
Nurse (uncredited) Nurse (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Wilson
Carnival Customer in Brawl (uncredited) Carnival Customer in Brawl (uncredited)   See fewer
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