Although not noir in the traditional sense, it felt very much in that vein of narratives. The film focuses on an important aspect of journalistic pandering and responsibility as well as the need for a press free from outside influence. We get to see first hand the wheeling/dealing that often took place in publisher offices urging the restriction in flow of information. That we get such a sound rebuke of that policy is a welcome sign.
And I find it most interesting when watching James Stewart that he so frequently takes on roles that seem at odds with his party’s current political philosophy. I’m sure Hollywood conservatives were different animals then than they are now but it’s nice to see Stewart in such an atypical role.
I hope more people have picked this one up to watch as its a real gem of a film.
I’d hate to see this movie get passed by without comments, as I think it is one of the better docu-noirs with its unsentimental, hard-nosed look at police corruption and media buckling. The docu-noir or procedural film noir was a sub-category that emerged in the mid to late 40s. Call Northside 777’s director Henry Hathaway also directed one of the first of this type, The House on 92nd. Street. Others include Naked City, T-Men and Panic in the Streets.
Call Northside 777 was also one of the earliest of the tougher, more cynical personas of James Stewart. This style would serve him well with the Anthony Mann westerns and Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense films of the fifties.
I’d have to say that sylistically, my favorite segment was the “search for Wanda Skutnik montage. It is the most noirish looking part with its on location shots of Chicago’s Polish neighborhoods, bars and tenements – wonderfully gritty and moody.
Some noteworthy cameos include Percy Helton as a mailman, Lionel Stander as the upper bunk cellmate of Richard Conte and Thelma Ritter as a police photo-lab receptionist. If Frank Wiecek’s son (oddly called “the boy” throughout the movie rather than Frank Jr.) looks familiar, he’s Michael Chapin, older brother of Billy Chapin who played the young boy in Night of the Hunter. They were both 12 yrs. old when they made their films. Added trivia, their sister, Lauren Chapin was a regular on Danny Thomas’s TV show Make Room for Daddy
I completely agree. I can see why Tripp picked this one as it provides a grat time capsule of Chicago at the time.
I would single out Kasia Orzazewski, the then 60 year-old non-professional actress who managed a few more interesting credits after her moving portrayal of Richard Conte’s mother.
Now that you’ve (hopefully) had a chance to watch Call Northside 777, please join us in discussing this film by posting your comments below.
Leave a Reply to Wesley LovellCancel reply