Film Snail

6.6

Call Northside 777

NR·1948·111m

Crime

Drama

Crime

Drama

Summary

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. O'Neal to look into the case. For some time, O'Neal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his mind, he meets increased resistance from authorities unwilling to be proved wrong.

Cast

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)

James Dime

Poker Player (uncredited)

Rex Downing

Copy Boy (uncredited)

Ben Erway

Photo Lab Technician (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)

Richard Bishop

Warden of Stateville Prison (uncredited)

Larry J. Blake

Police Photographic Technician (uncredited)

John Bleifer

Jan Gruska (uncredited)

Dollie Caillet

Secretary (uncredited)

Al Capone

Capone (archive footage) (uncredited)

George Cisar

Policeman (uncredited)

Jane Crowley

Anna Felczak (uncredited)

John Dillinger

Dillinger (archive footage) (uncredited)

Abe Dinovitch

Polish Man (uncredited)

Eddie Dunn

Patrolman John W. Bundy (uncredited)

Lew Eckles

Policeman (uncredited)

Joseph Forte

Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Stanley Gordon

Prison Clerk (uncredited)

Walter Greaza

Police Capt. Norris (uncredited)

Buck Harrington

Bartender (uncredited)

Perry Ivins

Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)

Robert Karnes

Pete (uncredited)

Leonarde Keeler

Leonarde Keeler (uncredited)

Cy Kendall

Second Bartender (uncredited)

J.M. Kerrigan

Sullivan - Court Bailiff (uncredited)

Carl Kroenke

Guard (uncredited)

Paul Kruger

Detective (uncredited)

Henry Kulky

First Bartender (uncredited)

Philip Lord

Policeman (uncredited)

Jack Mannick

Polish man (uncredited)

Norman McKay

Detective (uncredited)

George Melford

Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Charles Miller

Parole Board Member (uncredited)

George Pembroke

Policeman (uncredited)

Arthur Peterson

Keeler's Polygraph Assistant (uncredited)

Joe Ploski

Polish Man (uncredited)

William Post Jr.

Sixth Precinct Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Thelma Ritter

Captain's Secretary (uncredited)

Richard Rober

Sgt. Larson (uncredited)

Dick Ryan

Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Peter Seal

Minor Role (uncredited)

Lester Sharpe

Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)

George Spaulding

Man on Parole Board (uncredited)

Ray Spiker

Barfly (uncredited)

Ann Staunton

Chicago Times Telephone Operator (uncredited)

Freddie Steele

Holdup Man (uncredited)

George Turner

Holdup Man (uncredited)

George Tyne

Tomek Zaleska (uncredited)

Bill Vendetta

Chicago Times Photographer (uncredited)

Duke Watson

Policeman (uncredited)

Robert B. Williams

Illinois State Journal Technician

Edward Peil Jr.

Bartender (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Henry Hathaway

Adaptation

Quentin Reynolds

Adaptation

Leonard Hoffman

Screenplay

Jay Dratler

Screenplay

Jerome Cady

Story Consultant

Jack McPhaul

Writer

James P. McGuire

Reviews

John Chard

August 28, 2014

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