Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal re-opens a decade-old murder case.Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal re-opens a decade-old murder case.Chicago reporter P.J. McNeal re-opens a decade-old murder case.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 2 nominations total
Joanne De Bergh
- Helen Wiecek
- (as Joanne de Bergh)
Robert Adler
- Taxicab Driver
- (uncredited)
Richard Bishop
- Warden of Stateville Prison
- (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake
- Police Photographic Technician
- (uncredited)
John Bleifer
- Jan Gruska
- (uncredited)
Truman Bradley
- Narrator
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Dollie Caillet
- Secretary
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe man administering the polygraph test to convict Richard Conte was the inventor of the polygraph or lie detector machine, Leonarde Keeler. He played himself in the movie.
- GoofsThere was enough of the newspaper showing by the newspaper boy to identify the issue date without seeing the date due to the images shown below the headlines. They just needed to match the pictures in the newspaper held in the background to a newspaper from the same date and see if the photographs match.
Look at the example from the photographs for the film (slide 93 of 118). There is enough to compare newspapers.
- Quotes
[McNeal is trying to get Zaleska to name his real partner in the crime and get a chance at parole]
P.J. McNeal: What have you got to lose? You're in for life now. C'mon, tell us the truth.
Tomek Zaleska: Sure, I could say I did it. Then maybe have a chance of getting out, like you say. But if I confessed, who would I name as my partner, Joe Doakes? I couldn't make it stick for one minute. That's the trouble with being innocent. You don't know what really happened. I didn't do it. Me and Frank had nothin' to do with it.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are printed on the pages of a book; it is also stated that this is a true story.
- ConnectionsEdited from In Old Chicago (1938)
- SoundtracksChicago (That Toddlin' Town)
(1922) (uncredited)
Music by Fred Fisher
Played during the Prohibition montage
Featured review
It's 1932 Chicago during prohibition. A policeman is murdered by 2 men in a speakeasy. Frank Wiecek (Richard Conte) is sentenced to 99 years. Eleven years later, Frank's mother offers $5k reward in a newspaper ad for the real killers. Cynical reporter P.J. O'Neal (James Stewart) is assigned the story. He is pushed to dig into the case by his editor Kelly (Lee J. Cobb). He starts to change his mind about the case and gets pressure from the establishment.
The based-on-a-true-story worked on me a little in this movie. With the matter of fact narration and the trusted face of Stewart, it becomes quite compelling. Stewart especially is the perfect guy for the role. His early cynicism is a great starting point. This is a compelling rip-from-the-headlines story led by a great actor.
The based-on-a-true-story worked on me a little in this movie. With the matter of fact narration and the trusted face of Stewart, it becomes quite compelling. Stewart especially is the perfect guy for the role. His early cynicism is a great starting point. This is a compelling rip-from-the-headlines story led by a great actor.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jul 1, 2015
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Calling Northside 777
- Filming locations
- Stateville Correctional Center - 16830 South Broadway Street, Joliet, Illinois, USA(Illinois State Penitentiary: panopticon & cells interiors; entrance exteriors)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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