Posted on Monday, 4 July 2011

CALL NORTHSIDE 777 (Hathaway, 1948) - James Stewart sure does dogged well, doesn’t he? In this film he attempts to exonerate Richard Conte, and the film shows just how tedious the search for details can be. It’s a procedural, really - not that that’s a bad thing, especially when the focus is so relentless and the cinematography so crisp. I also enjoyed the local flavor: like the previous film, it takes place in Chicago (and was filmed on location), much of it in the Polish neighborhoods, and this helps make the film less generic. My favorite element was the interaction between Stewart and his wife (Helen Walker), who functions as a true partner, brainstorming with him while they’re assembling a puzzle together (I know, how symbolic). 

CALL NORTHSIDE 777 (Hathaway, 1948) - James Stewart sure does dogged well, doesn’t he? In this film he attempts to exonerate Richard Conte, and the film shows just how tedious the search for details can be. It’s a procedural, really - not that that’s a bad thing, especially when the focus is so relentless and the cinematography so crisp. I also enjoyed the local flavor: like the previous film, it takes place in Chicago (and was filmed on location), much of it in the Polish neighborhoods, and this helps make the film less generic. My favorite element was the interaction between Stewart and his wife (Helen Walker), who functions as a true partner, brainstorming with him while they’re assembling a puzzle together (I know, how symbolic). 

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