CALL NORTHSIDE 777
US, 1947, 111 minutes, Black and white.
James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb, Helen Walker.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
Call Northside 777 was a popular and important film of its day 20th. Century Fox commissioned a number of black and white thrillers in the mid '40s, taking current events and presenting them in a semi-documentary way. Henry Hathaway was the main director of these films which included The House on 92nd Street and 13 Rue Madeleine - both about World War Two and espionage. The Street With No Name and Kiss of Death took the genre into the area of the American thriller.
This film shows a newspaper reporter investigating a verdict of an old crime and proving a man imprisoned, innocent. The crisp documentary style retains interest and is reminiscent of the discussions by the jury in Twelve Angry Men. The film gains strength by James Stewart in the leading role and his sincerity as the reporter. Richard Conte is effective as the vindicated criminal. The film is entertaining and instructive and is a good example of Hollywood style of the mid '40s.
1. The quality of this film drama, its enjoyment value?
2. The use of black and white photography. documentary style, commentary, an atmosphere of realism, a case based on facts? This as background to audience response to the human values of the story, the fact of its realism? The qualities of this kind of semi-documentary picture?
3. The presentation of the role of a newspaper editor. his aims, push, influence in society? The film's delineation of the character of the editor, his pushing of McNeal?, his dedication to his job?
4. The presentation of the role of a journalist. his influence on society, the dedication to his work and its fulfilment for him?
5. The character of McNeal? Jams Stewart's portrayal? As a man in himself, his work as a reporter, his cynical attitudes? Attitude toward the assignment. his beginnings. the gradual involvement, his personality in the interviews? The details of the steps that he took,, his style in pursuing the course? The importance of his wife as a character and influencing his work?
6. How did his involvement gather momentum? His meeting with Wiecek, getting to like him. relating well to him? How did his involvement change his outlook on life? The detail of the vindication of his belief in Wiecek?
7. Audience response to Wiecek? Presumptions of his guilt, sympathy for him as a person, interest in the testing of his lying or truth e.g. with the lie detectors. the growing doubt about his guilt? The v-indication of his innocence and audience response to his being saved? The detailed characterisation of Wiecek?
8. The importance of Wiecek's mother, wife, family? Belief in him, doubt in him? over a period of eleven years? The effect of his imprisonment on all of them? Their involvement in saving him?
9. The film's insight into the work of American crime in the '30s and '40s, public reaction to crime, the influence of the media?
10. Themes of justice, legality, prison life, punishment?
11. The film's presentation of evidence, circumstantial evidence, lies, the truth?
12. How valuable the insights into processes, their effect on human beings? A humane document?
