Call Northside 777

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Call Northside 777

1948,

1h 51m,

Crime/

Drama

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Watchlist

81%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In 1932, Frank Wiecek (Richard Conte) is convicted of the murder of a Chicago policeman in a mob-connected speakeasy. Eleven years later, his mother, Tillie (Kasia Orzazewski), takes out a newspaper classified ad asking for information about the crime. Hard-bitten city editor Brian Kelly (Lee J. Cobb) assigns skeptical reporter P.J. McNeal (James Stewart) to investigate. The first studio feature ever shot on location in Chicago, the film is based on a true story.

TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

Jul 21, 2021

Honestly and resourcefully filmed, the picture was shot, for the most part, against the Chicago backgrounds where the actual events took place.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Mar 25, 2006

2/5

In short, there is nothing in this picture except a whopping shortcut towards the end -- and a few false parochialisms -- to keep it from banging the bell.

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Noel Murray

Nashville Scene

Jan 1, 2000

The true measure of a star is his ability to transform ordinary material into movie magic. James Stewart's presence in this routine crime-drama gives a plain film a complex core.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

May 3, 2024

7/10

It is a film noir that never loses its share of intrigue with the presence of James Stewart and, in addition, has a sharp plot that documents the effectiveness of investigative journalism in clarifying the truth. [Full review in Spanish]

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Feb 1, 2023

...a prime example of the quasi-documentary style that beginning to add a more realistic, procedural edge to some crime dramas...

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Howard Pearson

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

Aug 16, 2021

One of the year's most arresting motion pictures.

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Jan 27, 2019

The best thrilling movie ever made!

Harry M

Dec 10, 2017

Call Northside 777 is an excellent performances. It is about Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal who re-opens a ten year old murder case. James Stewart and Richard Conte give incredible performances. The screenplay is well written. Henry Hathaway did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and mystery. Call Northside 777 is a must see.

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Ron S

Apr 9, 2017

This was dull and ultimately predictable. The worst part of the story was how it relied upon a sort of deus ex machina moment to drive the conclusion. That's never particularly satisfying. The one person on a crusade genre has been done so much better in other movies.

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George P

Apr 6, 2017

Docu / drama. James Stewart is good as relentless reporter. Photo sent via early photo fax machine

Harry S

Mar 18, 2017

Interesting if overlong noir with Stewart characteristically in command. Pity we didn't see more of the excellent Lee J Cobb as editor Kelly who's relationship with Stewart's character, McNeal, could have been the influence for the similar tension between Jason Robards portrayal of Washington Post editor Ben Bradley and Woodward and Bernstein in All The Presidents Men.

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Finn M

Jan 5, 2017

"Call Northside 777" is not as good as you might think from reading the synopsis. I appreciate that the film is based on a true story but I expected a riveting thriller and got a slow-paced look at the newspaper world. The ending is fascinating... it's just too bad that the method of getting to the last 20 minutes is painfully slow. Those 20 minutes combined with the performances by Stewart, Lee J. Cobb, Helen Walker, and Richard Conte are enjoyable, but that's about it. I suppose that each piece of the puzzle is interesting if you look at it individually but in context, it seems like we're moving in slow motion to get from one point to the next. I found issues with the film from the very start, particularly the opening narration about prohibition for the first 10 minutes. If I hadn't known that Jimmy Stewart was in it, I likely would have assumed it was a documentary and turned it off. Even the title of the film has very little to do with the story. Once you start watching "Call Northside 777," you can't stop because you have to find out if Stewart can prove the prisoner innocent. But if you never start, you probably won't be missing much.

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Henry Hathaway

Director

James Stewart

McNeal

Richard Conte

Frank Wiecek

Lee J. Cobb

Brian Kelly

Helen Walker

Laura McNeal

Betty Garde

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Synopsis

In 1932, Frank Wiecek (Richard Conte) is convicted of the murder of a Chicago policeman in a mob-connected speakeasy. Eleven years later, his mother, Tillie (Kasia Orzazewski), takes out a newspaper classified ad asking for information about the crime. Hard-bitten city editor Brian Kelly (Lee J. Cobb) assigns skeptical reporter P.J. McNeal (James Stewart) to investigate. The first studio feature ever shot on location in Chicago, the film is based on a true story.

Director: Henry Hathaway
Producer: Otto Lang
Screenwriter: Jerome Cady, Jay Dratler
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2015
Runtime: 1h 51m

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