Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

Whilst on the telephone, an invalid woman overhears what she thinks is a plot to murder her.

Director:

Anatole Litvak

Writers:

Lucille Fletcher (radio play), Lucille Fletcher (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Leona Stevenson
Burt Lancaster	...	Henry J. Stevenson
Ann Richards	...	Sally Hunt Lord
Wendell Corey	...	Dr. Philip Alexander
Harold Vermilyea	...	Waldo Evans
Ed Begley	...	James 'J.B.' Cotterell
Leif Erickson	...	Fred Lord
William Conrad	...	Morano
John Bromfield	...	Joe - Detective
Jimmy Hunt	...	Peter Lord
Dorothy Neumann	...	Elizabeth Jennings
Paul Fierro	...	Harpootlian

Storyline

Leona Stevenson is sick and confined to her bed. One night, whilst waiting for her husband to return home, she picks up the phone and accidentally overhears a conversation between two men planning a murder. She becomes increasingly desperate as she tries to work out who the victim is so the crime can be prevented.

---

Plot Keywords:

murder | telephone | apartment | trapped | police | 

---

Taglines:

Heiress to millions...who bought everything she wanted...including this man!

---

Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Du lebst noch 105 Minuten

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barbara Stanwyck claimed that the terror she played in the bedroom scenes is actually what made her hair begin to prematurely gray.

---

Goofs

Shortly before the end of the movie the bedside telephone is shown in closeups and the paint is chipped in several places. However, at the end of the film, the telephone is pristine.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Leona Stevenson: Operator! Operator! Operator!
Voice of Operator: Your call please?
Leona Stevenson: Operator, I've been ringing Murray Hill 35097 for the last half hour and the line is always busy. Will you ring it for me, please?

---

Connections

Version of Sorry, Wrong Number (1946)

---

Soundtracks

"Passacaglia"
by Franz Waxman
Performed by the Paramount studio orchestra

User Reviews

Stanwyck Barely Watchable In This Noir Soaper

This kept my interest in the early going but almost lost me as it turns into too much of a soap opera instead of a film noir, in which it is classified.

There are some good touches film noir cinematography here and there which I enjoyed. Barbara Stanwyck, whom I usually like to watch, was nothing but a whining hypochondriac and not somebody you root for because of her constant demanding of everything. Yet, I somehow found her character at least bearable.

I did like the ending and I thought it made the film more memorable and credible.