Love it or loathe it -- and these seem to be the only two options for many viewers -- The Next Voice You Hear is certainly one of the more unusual films to have been made in Hollywood during the 1950s. Those who love Voice are likely drawn to its warm sentimentality (but also appreciate the imperfections it gives characters to make them more real), its depiction of American life and, above all, its message. Those who loathe it find it unbearably preachy, dislike its oversimplification and find the manner of delivering its message terribly hokey. Those able to look at the film as a film, rather than as a means of delivering a message -- admittedly difficult to do in this case -- will probably find Voice a well acted, sensitively directed picture that paints an interesting if not altogether true portrait of "normal" Americans in a quite unusual situation. James Whitmore turns in a solid, affecting performance as the father, very believable as a good-hearted, simple worker but avoiding stereotypical characterizations, and Nancy Davis is also quite good as his agreeable wife. The earnestness of the story becomes tiresome in places, but William Wellman's direction helps to mitigate this somewhat. The score is rather good, while the cinematography competent but uninspired. is Voice is an unusual film in concept; as drama, it's fine, neither deserving the adoration or the contempt it evokes in some.