Call Northside 777 (1948)

My Review

James Stewart plays a reporter who is convinced that a man in prison for eleven years is indeed innocent, and goes on a crusade to prove it in “Call Northside 777.” This noir movie is based on a true story, made to order for Stewart, who specializes in these every-man roles.

It was brilliantly directed by Henry Hathaway (“Kiss of Death” 1947) with a marvelous script penned by Quentin Reynolds, Leonard Hoffman, Jay Dratler, and Jerome Cady. It was based on some 1944 Chicago Daily Times articles by James P. McGuire.

The cast includes Jimmy Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb, Moroni Olsen, John McGuire, Paul Harvey, Howard Smith, Helen Walker, E. G. Marshall, Thelma Ritter, Lionel Stander, and Charles Lane. “Call Northside 777” was a box office sensation for 20th Century Fox.