Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)

Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)

„Phone Call from a Stranger“ is a 1952 Black & White film-noir drama film directed by Jean Negulesco. The screenplay by Nunnally Johnson ist based on a story by I.A.R. Wylie.

After his wife Jane admits to an extramarital affair, Iowa attorney David Trask abandons her and their daughters and heads for Los Angeles. His flight is delayed, and while waiting in the airport restaurant he meets a few of his fellow passengers. Troubled alcoholic Dr. Robert Fortness, haunted by his responsibility for a car accident in which a colleague, Dr. Tim Brooks was killed, is returning home to his wife Claire and teenage son Jerry, and plans to tell the district attorney the truth about the accident.

Aspiring actress Binky Gay is hoping to free her husband Mike Carr from the clutches of his domineering mother, former vaudevillian Sally Carr, who looks down on Binky. Boisterous traveling salesman Eddie Hoke, who is always ready with a bad joke or a silly idea, shares a photograph of his young, attractive wife Marie wearing a swimsuit. When a storm forces the aircraft (Douglas DC-3) to land en route, they continue to share their life stories during the unexpected four-hour layover. They exchange home phone numbers with the idea that they may one day have a reunion.

Upon resuming their journey, the aircraft crashes and Trask is one of a handful of survivors; including Trask’s three acquaintances.

Claire confides that Jerry has run off because he blames her for his father’s frequent absences and drinking. Trask finds the young man and convinces him to return home, to hear what he has to say about his father. Claire objects to Jerry learning about how she went along with a lie to protect both her husband and her son, but when Trask explains Fortness’ deep sense of guilt and his determination to right the wrong he had committed, Jerry has a change of attitude.

Hoping to change Sally’s opinion of her late daughter-in-law, he tells her Binky had been cast as Mary Martin’s replacement in South Pacific on Broadway and had recommended Sally for a role. Mike thanks Trask for giving Binky „such a beautiful success. The kind she always dreamed about, but never could have“.

Trask’s final visit is to Marie. He discovers she is not the beautiful girl of Eddie’s photograph, but an invalid paralyzed from the waist down. Marie reveals that early in her marriage she had left Eddie, whom she found to be vulgar and tiresome, for another man, Marty Nelson (Warren Stevens). The two planned to drive to Chicago, and enjoy their new freedom together. During a stopover at a lake, however, Marie hit her head on the underside of a dock while swimming and received her paralyzing injury. Marty initially saved her life, but when he found out she would be paralyzed, he abandoned her. While Marie was in the hospital, confined to an iron lung and feeling hopeless, Eddie, completely forgiving her and saying, „Hiya, beautiful,“ came to take her home. Marie tells Trask that despite his often obnoxious behavior, Eddie was the most decent man she had ever known, and had taught her the true meaning of love.

Marie’s story teaches Trask a lesson about marital infidelity and true reconciliation; he calls Jane to tell her he is returning home.

Cast:

• Shelley Winters – Binky Gay
• Gary Merrill – David L. Trask
• Michael Rennie – Dr. Robert Fortness
• Bette Davis – Marie Hoke
• Keenan Wynn – Eddie Hoke
• Evelyn Varden – Sally Carr
• Warren Stevens – Marty Nelson
• Beatrice Straight – Claire Fortness
• Ted Donaldson – Jerry Fortness
• Craig Stevens – Mike Carr
• Helen Westcott – Jane Trask
• Charles Sherlock – Airline Passenger
• Ralph Brooks – Airplane Passenger
• Bess Flowers – Airport Cafeteria Customer
• Charles Fogel – Airport Cafeteria Customer
• Herschel Graham – Airport Cafeteria Customer
• Charles Tannen – Airport Intercom Announcer (voice)
• Steve Pendleton – Airport Official
• John Doucette – Arthur
• Freeman Lusk – Assistant District Attorney Thompson
• Chester Jones – Baggage Man
• Bill McLean – Bellhop
• Nestor Paiva – Carl, Headwaiter
• Foster H. Phinney – Clerk
• Bill Hickman – Club Patron
• Bill Neff – Co-Pilot
• George Eldredge – Doctor
• Tom Powers – Dr. Fernwood
• Harry Cheshire – Dr. Luther Fletcher
• Hugh Beaumont – Dr. Tim Brooks
• Jack Narz – Flight Announcer (voice)
• Jane Howard – Hat Check Girl
• Davis Roberts – Henry
• Ruth Robinson – Home Nurse
• Jack Daley – Hotel Doorman
• Franklyn Farnum – Man at Airport
• Thomas E. Jackson – Mr. Sawyer
• Perdita Chandler – Mrs. Brooks
• Genevieve Bell – Mrs. Fletcher
• Forbes Murray – Nightclub Patron
• Bernard Sell – Nightclub Patron
• Lillian Hamilton – Nurse
• Ken Christy – Pier Watchman
• George Nader – Pilot
• Kay Garrett – Plane Passenger
• Harold Miller – Plane Passenger
• Sally Yarnell – Plane Passenger
• Elizabeth Flournoy – Restaurant Hostess
• Lulu Mae Bohrman – Restaurant Patron
• Steve Carruthers – Restaurant Patron
• Leota Lorraine – Restaurant Patron
• Frank McLure – Restaurant Patron
• Paul Power – Restaurant Patron
• Sydney Perkins – Stewardess
• John Hedloe – Ticket Agent
• Keith Hetherington – Travel Agent
• Douglas Brooks – Undetermined Secondary Role
• Robert B. Williams – Waiter
• Cliff Clark – Watchman
• Betty Francine

„Ein Fremder ruft an“ (Phone Call from a Stranger) ist ein Film-Noir-Drama in Schwarz-Weiß aus dem Jahr 1952 unter der Regie von Jean Negulesco.

Nachdem seine Frau Jane eine außereheliche Affäre zugegeben hat, verlässt der Anwalt David Trask aus Iowa sie und die gemeinsamen Töchter und fliegt nach Los Angeles. Sein Flug hat Verspätung, und während er im Flughafenrestaurant wartet, trifft er ein paar seiner Mitreisenden. Der Alkoholiker Dr. Robert Fortness, der von seiner Verantwortung für einen Autounfall heimgesucht wird, bei dem sein Kollege Dr. Tim Brooks ums Leben kam, kehrt nach Hause zu seiner Frau Claire und seinem Teenager-Sohn Jerry zurück und plant, dem Staatsanwalt die Wahrheit über den Unfall zu sagen.