Review: Sorry, Wrong Number

An Oscar-nominated Barbara Stanwyck plays a wealthy bedridden woman trying to get in touch with her husband (Burt Lancaster) who is at work. Due to a crossed line she overhears a conversation between two men planning a murder that night! Ed Begley plays Stanwyck’s father, Wendell Corey is Stanwyck’s psychiatrist, and William Conrad plays an intimidating criminal.

 

Terrifically tense 1948 Anatole Livak (“Night of the Generals”, “The Snake Pit”) screen version of the famed Agnes Moorehead-headlined radio play, with Stanwyck (one of the all-time greats) arguably giving her finest performance amidst a sea of excellent turns throughout her career (“Double Indemnity” being another standout, as the benchmark femme fatale). She’s is completely commanding, acting her heart out and then some but also playing a more vulnerable character than you might expect from her. Lancaster is terrific and cast against type somewhat as a weak ne’er do well, but he’s better than what is on the printed page for him. Elsewhere, Begley is excellent as her father, Wendell Corey is perfect casting as a dry shrink, and William Conrad steals a few moments in a very intimidating performance as part of a criminal conspiracy Stanwyck starts to uncover.

 

They’ve fleshed out a few things with flashbacks that don’t really need to be there for the film to work, but if they weren’t there, the film would probably be the length of a TV episode. They have the benefit of giving us more time with Lancaster’s character but at the slight expense of maintaining tension. That said, there’s still some unbearably tense moments in the film, especially in the second half. Killer ending in this top-notch suspense-noir, with superb black and white cinematography by Sol Polito (“The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex”) another highlight. Excellent music score by Franz Waxman (“Bride of Frankenstein”, “My Cousin Rachel”) too. The screenplay is by Lucille Fletcher (“Blindfold”), who also wrote the radio play.

 

This might just be one of the best B-movies ever made, albeit with an A-grade cast. Barbara Stanwyck is a tour-de-force here. 

 

Rating: B+

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