Call Northside 777

Call Northside 777. James Stewart stars in this 1948 film as a newspaperman who reluctantly investigates the case of a convict who has already spent eleven years in prison for the murder of a policeman. Richard Conte plays the convict, and Helen Walker and Lee J. Cobb are featured along with some superb character actors. Henry Hathaway directed this very naturalistic film that was shot on location in Chicago and based on a true story. 111 minutes. CC.

Jimmy Stewart is excellent in a rare film noir appearance, and Helen Walker, usually cast as a femme fatale, is fine as his sympathetic wife. Richard Conte, often cast in ethnic roles, is outstanding as the Polish convict. He is especially good in a scene where he undergoes a lie detector test. Finally, the two relatively unknown actresses who play Conte's mother and wife turn in extraordinary performances. ###

Helen Walker and James Stewart

Boomerang

Boomerang.  Director Elia Kazan won critical acclaim for this 1947 true crime drama set in Stamford CT. Dana Andrews stars as a District Attorney out to bring the suspected murderer of a beloved priest to justice. Jane Wyatt and Lee J. Cobb play supporting roles.  85 minutes. CC.

This film was based on a case in the career of Homer Cummings, then a local D.A. in Connecticut, who would go on to become Attorney General of the United States during the first two administrations of Franklin Roosevelt. Cummings would eventually found the prestigious Bridgeport law firm of Cummings and Lockwood. 

The murder actually took place in Bridgeport in 1924, but in 1947 the City of Bridgeport would not give permission to shoot the film there, and so the filmmakers chose Stamford instead. It is interesting to see how Stamford, now a booming metropolis, looked almost 80 years ago.

Dana Andrews and Jane Wyatt