A forgotten gem of a film is Call Northside 777. Based upon a true story, go here to read about it, the film depicts how the faith of a mother in the innocence of her son, plus a crusading reporter, caused the reversal of the wrongful conviction of her son. Jimmy Stewart gives his usual bravura performance as the crusading reporter. Richard Conte is first rate as the man wrongfully convicted of murder and serving a 99 year sentence. Lee J. Cobb, the most underrated actor of his generation, gives a stirling performance as Stewart’s editor, The inventor of the polygraph, Leonard Keeler, is the man administering the “lie detector” test to Conte;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAFcytAAt6w
Keeler died a year after the film was released of a stroke at age 46. James McGuire, the real life crusading reporter, died of a heart attack at age 51 in 1955. Joseph M. Majczek, the exonerated man, would live to be 73 and die in 1983.
The film may be viewed on YouTube. It is still gripping after all these years and has become an interesting time capsule of Chicago, it was the first major Hollywood movie to be filmed on location in Chicago, in the post war forties. I highly recommend it.
Bonus:
[…] University Wins Exemption from Title IX’s Sexual Harassment Provisions – Fiona André Call Northside 777 – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic Blog Putting a Spotlight On: Blue Light […]