Call Northside 777 (1948)

"Call Northside 777" (1948) is a classic film noir directed by Henry Hathaway, starring James Stewart, Lee J. Cobb, and Richard Conte. The movie is based on a true story and follows the efforts of a Chicago newspaper reporter named P.J. McNeal (played by Stewart) to prove the innocence of a man wrongly convicted of murder.

Plot Summary:
The film begins with the story of Frank Wiecek (Richard Conte), who has been serving an 11-year sentence for the murder of a police officer during Prohibition. His mother, who works as a cleaning woman, places a classified ad offering a reward for information that could clear her son’s name. The ad catches the attention of P.J. McNeal, a skeptical reporter for the Chicago Times.

As McNeal starts investigating, he uncovers a series of inconsistencies and begins to doubt Wiecek’s guilt. His persistence leads him to new evidence and eventually to a thrilling court showdown. The film builds tension as McNeal faces obstacles and skepticism from the authorities and even his own editor, played by Lee J. Cobb.