20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
Call Northside 777
It couldn't happen... but it did!
In 1932, a cop is killed and Frank Wiecek sentenced to life. Eleven years later, a newspaper ad by Frank's mother leads Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal to look into the case. For some time, McNeal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his mind, he meets increased resistance from authorities unwilling to be proved wrong.
- Original title
- Call Northside 777
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Jul 9, 2022 · via TMDB
James Stewart and Lee J. Cobb are both on top form in this crime thriller. The latter, the boss who sends the former, one of his better reporters, to investigate the case of convicted murderer "Frank Wiecek" (Richard Conte) after his mother puts an ad in a newspaper offering $5000 for information that might cast doubt on the voracity of the verdict. Initially sceptical, "McNeal", soon begins to suspect that perhaps the conviction - based solely on the testament of a long lost witness "Wanda Skutnik" - might be flawed. Now, he has to deal with understandable hostility from the Chicago PD as well as manage the hopeful optimism of the man's mother as his search involves some risk to himself, the gut instinct innate to a good journalist and the innovative use of state of the art technology (for the 1940s) to try and get the evidence to enable a pardon board to reverse the sentence. Aside from a slightly over-bearing narrator, Henry Hathaway manages to build the tension and keep it going well for a strong last hour of the picture with a lovely, grittily jazzy score from Alfred Newman. Not seen very often nowadays, but if you get a chance - it's well worth two hours of anyone's time.
John Chard
Aug 28, 2014 · via TMDB
This is a true story. When a patrol cop is shot and killed, small time crook Frank Wiecek is tried for the crime and promptly sentenced to life imprisonment. Some 11 years on, tough cookie reporter P.J. McNeal gets involved with the case, the further he delves, the more he believes that Wiecek is innocent, but can he find evidence to back up his belief? Filmed in semi-documentary style by director Henry Hathaway, this James Stewart led noir thriller oozes realism from start to finish. It's actually the lack of gloss and glamour that is the film's trump card. Based on the real story of the Joe Majczek case in 1933, it's filmed perfectly on location in Chicago {where the actual events happened}, gloriously mood emphasised by Joe MacDonald's superb black & white cinematography, and scored with tonal adroitness by Alfred Newman. As intrepid Chicago Times reporter McNeal (based on real reporter Jim McGuire who was a Pulitzer Prize winner for his investigative efforts on this case), James Stewart lays down a marker for the more edgier character roles that would follow for him in the 50s. Here he plays it perfect as McNeal shifts from mere cynical newsman to an outright crusader of justice; and it's riding along with McNeal that this human interest piece lifts itself to great crime thriller heights. Along the way we find problems are encountered and police procedural techniques are scrutinised. All may not be as it first seemed, and this mysterious element ices what was already a delightful docu-drama based cake. There is not much else to say, it's a film I personally highly recommend, a fascinating story that is given top care and attention from all involved, mean, moody and yes, magnificent. 8/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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James Stewart
P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
Richard Conte
Frank W. Wiecek
Lee J. Cobb
Brian Kelly
Helen Walker
Laura McNeal
Betty Garde
Wanda Skutnik
Kasia Orzazewski
Tillie Wiecek
Joanne De Bergh
Helen Wiecek
Howard Smith
K.L. Palmer
Moroni Olsen
Parole Board Chairman
John McIntire
Sam Faxon
Paul Harvey
Martin J. Burns
Robert Adler
Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
Truman Bradley
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Chapin
Frank Wiecek Jr. (uncredited)
Jimmy Dime
Poker Player (uncredited)
Rex Downing
Copy Boy (uncredited)
Helen Foster
Secretary (uncredited)
Jonathan Hale
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Percy Helton
Mailman William Decker (uncredited)
Samuel S. Hinds
Judge Charles Moulton (uncredited)
Charles Lane
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
E.G. Marshall
Rayska (uncredited)
Addison Richards
State Commissioner John Albertson (uncredited)
Lionel Stander
Wiecek's Cellmate Corrigan (uncredited)
Otto Waldis
Boris Siskovich (uncredited)
Wanda Perry
Chicago Times Telophone Reporter (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake
Police Photographic Technician (uncredited)
John Bleifer
Jan Gruska (uncredited)
Al Capone
Capone (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Cisar
Policeman (uncredited)
John Dillinger
Dillinger (archive footage) (uncredited)
Eddie Dunn
Patrolman John W. Bundy (uncredited)
Joseph Forte
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Walter Greaza
Police Capt. Norris (uncredited)
Robert Karnes
Pete (uncredited)
Cy Kendall
Second Bartender (uncredited)
J.M. Kerrigan
Sullivan - Court Bailiff (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Detective (uncredited)
Henry Kulky
First Bartender (uncredited)
George Melford
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
George Pembroke
Policeman (uncredited)
Arthur Peterson
Keeler's Polygraph Assistant (uncredited)
William Post Jr.
Sixth Precinct Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Thelma Ritter
Captain's Secretary (uncredited)
Richard Rober
Sgt. Larson (uncredited)
Lester Sharpe
Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)
Ray Spiker
Barfly (uncredited)
Freddie Steele
Holdup Man (uncredited)
George Turner
Holdup Man (uncredited)
George Tyne
Tomek Zaleska (uncredited)
Robert B. Williams
Illinois State Journal Technician
Edward Peil Jr.
Bartender (uncredited)
Dick Smith
Makeup Artist
Henry Hathaway
Director
Darryl F. Zanuck
Executive Producer
Alfred Newman
Music Director
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Quentin Reynolds
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Feb 13, 1948
(Baltimore, Maryland)
