Call Northside 777

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Call Northside 777

1948

1h 51m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

74%

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.

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

07/21/2021

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

03/25/2006

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

01/01/2000

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

05/03/2024

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

02/01/2023

...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)

08/16/2021

One of the year's most arresting motion pictures.

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bao s

@RT77741678 06/17/2025

Technology via 1948! Wow!

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Abhijit S

@RT51512306 02/16/2025

Brilliant brilliant film. Loved it from start to finish. In this era of cynicism, lies, deepfakes it’s refreshing to see a film based on simple human values, decency and doing the right thing.

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug 01/26/2025

Well done drama, I especially liked the fact that there was no musical soundtrack, only dialogue and acting to convey the movie's emotional aspects. That's pretty rare in a movie from the forties and I really liked that. And of course, it's got Jimmy Stewart in it, which automatically makes it worth watching.

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Melissa L

@Agent99 12/16/2024

This movie is a great classic film noir shot entirely on location in Chicago...where the true-life story took place in 1932 in which a man was wrongfully convicted for killing a police officer. Jimmy Stewart plays the newspaper journalist who played a large part in having the conviction overturned. I loved it and think everyone should see it since it is history, and prospective journalists should check it out, particularly.

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j f

@LiberteBurrows 06/19/2024

Jimmy Stewart’s character makes those hacks Woodward and Bernstein look like dumb stooges and liars. Real news. Heck of a picture.

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Bill B

@RT01438538 05/29/2024

Interesting mostly because it is faithfully based on a true story, and Stewart does a good job with his role. Some scenes are more effective than others. The lesson by Leonard Keeler in use of the polygraph machine will drive anyone to the intermission lounge.

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Henry Hathaway

Director

James Stewart

McNeal

Richard Conte

Frank Wiecek

Lee J. Cobb

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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