Shelley Winters, Gary Merrill, Keenan Wynn in "Phone Call from a Stranger" (1952) -feat. Bette Davis

After his wife Jane (Helen Westcott) admits to an extramarital affair, Iowa attorney David Trask (Gary Merrill) 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 (Michael Rennie), haunted by his responsibility for a car accident in which a colleague, Dr. Tim Brooks (Hugh Beaumont) was killed, is returning home to his wife Claire (Beatrice Straight) and teenage son Jerry (Ted Donaldson), and plans to tell the district attorney the truth about the accident.
Aspiring actress Binky Gay (Shelley Winters) is hoping to free her husband Mike Carr (Craig Stevens) from the clutches of his domineering mother, former vaudevillian Sally Carr (Evelyn Varden), who looks down on Binky. Boisterous traveling salesman Eddie Hoke (Keenan Wynn), who is always ready with a bad joke or a silly idea, shares a photograph of his young, attractive wife Marie (Bette Davis) 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.
A 1952 American Black & White film-noir drama film directed by Jean Negulesco, produced by Nunnally Johnson, screenplay by Nunnally Johnson, based on I. A. R. Wylie's 1950 novelette of the same name, cinematography by Milton Krasner A.S.C., starring Shelley Winters, Gary Merrill, Michael Rennie, Keenan Wynn, Evelyn Varden, Warren Stevens, Ted Donaldson, Craig Stevens, Helen Westcott, and Bette Davis. Screen debut appearances of Betty Francine and Broadway actress Beatrice Straight.
Hugh Beaumont appears uncredited as Dr. Tim Brooks.
Keenan Wynn was borrowed from MGM and Shelley Winters was borrowed from Universal.
This was the third and final on-screen pairing of real life husband and wife Gary Merrill and Bette Davis. The other two pictures are "All About Eve" (1950) and "Another Man's Poison" (1951).
When Gary Merrill's wife Bette Davis read the script, she asked if she could play the small role of Marie Hoke, feeling "it would be a change of pace for me. I believed in the part more than its length. I have never understood why stars should object to playing smaller parts if they were good ones. Marie Hoke was such a part."
The plane used in the film is a former U.S. Army Air Force Douglas C-47A, no. 42-23853, built in 1943. After the war it was converted to civilian use with registration NC79077 as seen in this film.
The New York Times, Bosley Crowther said, "So slick, indeed, is the whole thing-so smooth and efficiently contrived to fit and run with the precision of a beautifully made machine-that it very soon gives the impression of being wholly mechanical, picked up from a story-teller's blueprints rather than from the scroll of life ... that is the nature of the picture - mechanically intriguing but unreal."

[@susanfaulkner2304]

Shelley Winters characters always bring an ease to the movies she's in. She was a natural and endearing.😊

[@ChrisCarlin-is8wv]

Well her ease slacked off a bit in “ Bloody Mama”. 😂 versatile actress she was.

[@Vejur9000]

So true! She was a very good actress.

[@kimlienle8783]

Every one was EXCELLENT. Even the doctor's wife, who had lied for her husband's sake. Bette Davis, the 4 musketeers...and all the members of the 4 families. The other subordinate roles too. What a movie! Who was the director of this. I will have to Google to get all the details...

[@lbar9720]

Really?? I never got "ease" from her; any movie I've ever seen with her in it, she's always worried or panicked! lol

[@Vejur9000]

@@lbar9720 She as actually pretty good in this one. Very natural acting in this one.

[@jeanettehinds4253]

It doesn't get any better than a Bette Davis movie.

[@ashleykenney]

Don’t often watch a movie more than once, but this is the third time I’ve watched this, love it.

[@pointman1261]

Sure knew how to tell stories back then... Darn sure knew how to cast a role, and portray the part.. All around gold!

[@markantrobus8782]

I really appreciate the human scale philosophy in these period films ... Treating with real issues folks go through in the morals and depth of relationships, loyalties, frailties, and sorry to see the hardness of people's hearts and cynicism evident in some of the comments here.

[@sararunza4768]

Bellissimo...interessante che fa pensare...e splendidi personaggi!!!

[@catdog2706]

Wonderful wonderful movie great actors and actresses thank you much appreciated❤

[@Daisnap]

When are we going to have an Evelyn Vardin film festival? This film, Pinky, Night of the Hunter, The Bad Seed…give the lady some credit - she’s brilliant!!

[@georgezayer2934]

Well done movie with good character actors.Very clear print for 1952 black and white film..

[@user-pr6pi2si9z]

A movie that should have been nominated for an academy award.... Not for the acting but for the story itself!!! How soon we realize not what we HAVEN'T got but what WE HAVE!!! I AM ONE WHO HAS OVERCOME A CRUSHED LOWER BACK IN A COAL MINE CAVE IN PARALYZED WASTE DOWN BREAKING MY TAIL BONE, THROWN FROM VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER STRIKING A ROCK BREAKING MY BACK, THEN STRIKING A SHRUB OAK TAKING THE TOP OF MY HEAD OFF (NEVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS OR WENT INTO SCHOCK EITHER TIME) THEN HAD LAMIDECTOMY THAT WENT SOUTH AGAIN PARAPLEGIC. WENT FROM A PARAPLEGIC TO A QURADAPLEGIC!!!! IN BOTH CASES I LEARNED HOW TO WALK USING NATURAL REFLEXES. I AM STILL LISTED AS A TETRAPLEGIC!!! ALL ALONG I FORGOT & OR DIDN'T KNOW THE IMPORTANT NOT THE MATERIAL THINGS!!! THIS MOVIE BRINGS OUT SOME OF THESE!!!

[@kathylynch9732]

Excellent story. I've watched it several times.

[@tamaralangford6268]

It's a really good movie, I enjoyed the whole story

[@Joeblow-ms3cv]

Indubidubly 🙂

[@deniseellis8715]

I see,Bette Davis name in a movie no matter what I have to watch it (even tho she was only in a small part) Shelly Winters another great actress That voice haha! Good movie 😊 ...

[@markantrobus8782]

When I saw Shelly Winters' name I had to see this. Great cast. Story.

[@bernadettecullinan6841]

Wonderful story .Great acting .

[@michaelregan3914]

A 5 star movie! Simply wonderful!

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

I have never seen this movie before. Shelly Winters and Bette Davis were wonderful

[@joemonteleonezollo4967]

Now that's a Great Movie 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿. Betty was the cherry on the top. Great Cast, a movie with a moral. Very enjoyable!

[@francavan1295]

Good story, great acting! Thank you for posting this movie 🙏

[@ianedwards4400]

Phone Call from a stranger was one of the top-most excellent films of the 50's. Mind you, there were quite a few like 'All about Eve' too. Terrific cast with Shelley Winters essaying her role with a nervous intensity that makes her stand out in startling shades. Bette Davis' character is bed-ridden, but even in her cameo, she gives the performance of a lifetime, recounting her past with a husband she has just lost in a plane-crash, playing back vignettes of their life together, the happy and the sad times, she introspects and relates with a tenacity that only one with her incomparable stature as an actor could deliver. A true tour-de-force in the acting department. A film not to be missed.

[@bethlehemeisenhour8352]

And the confession,

[@EstrafaDC]

Oh brother. Charitably this film wouldn't be in anyone's top 50 best movies of the 1950s. Tearjerker melodrama with some serious ham-acting. Perfectly enjoyable but don't go overselling it.

[@dst2449]

@@EstrafaDC why, what's it to you?

[@justthink5854]

great movie and great print too!

[@jamesnorton8316]

Quite the cast! Very interesting story. Some good came out of the deaths of the three, and even for the living fourth of the four musketeers. Thanks Donald for posting this fine 1952 flick.🥰😃😃

[@nolacook7344]

1st time seeing this great movie what a treat!!!

[@user-lk9sb1ld1p]

A fantastic film with a great moral story.Betty Davis saved his marriage and his life.They don't make films like that was great.Thank you very much

[@BeverlyM52]

EXCELLENT!

[@billstewart9132]

Wise and touching.

[@roberthevern6169]

Great film! Thanks! So many existential questions!

[@Cobbmtngirl]

Good movie, thanks. During the scenes inside the plane I kept thinking, I wish they had seats like that now! And then it crashes🥴

[@christi2993]

Maybe say "Spoiler Alert".

[@markhughes7927]

Beautiful film.

[@debrarenteria8167]

Really wonderful movie. The acting, stories, everything. Thank you so much for the download.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Enjoy viewing the taxi cab/air port/ pay phone/interior lights/Women's hats of that era-!!!🤗.

[@danielfairclough9885]

Classic film

[@johnmckee744]

Wow great Movie Thankyou God Bless all

[@terrymauriello3668]

What a beautiful love story. I really enjoyed it. Thank you

[@markantrobus8782]

Great.

[@senorkapowssite]

I had seen this movie only last year. But it is such a good film that it was great to see it again. Thank you.

[@ebearscanada1302]

Loved it!

[@jenniferjohnson4913]

Fine film. Thank you. 🌼

[@karensealy9782]

Thankyou 🎉

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

Keenan Wynn was so adorable, even as an old man. i love his face.

[@alwaysniccole3810]

I watched this movie years ago on TCM. Thanks for sharing this 🥰

[@Mar-iy8il]

fabulous movie. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you so much.

[@mizfrenchtwist]

hello , shelly winters , was such a jewel......i just can't get enough of her movies🤩🤩🤩🤩, she was a national treasure RIP SHELLY🙏🙏🙏🙏............job well done , thank you for sharing🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰..............

[@tonyanhicks]

Excellent, Excellent this movie is an amazing lesson to us all pay attention we are on borrowed time ...

[@laurakibben4147]

@tonyanhicks Except that no one will listen because they don't use their phone for what could be a pivotal call like these...

[@Barnee1897]

I absolutely loved this movie. Thank you for posting it. Wonderful and unusual story. It takes a good, thoughtful, unique movie to keep my interest and I was riveted. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💕

[@tamaralangford6268]

I absolutely love this beautiful movie. Thank you ❤❤

[@katipohl2431]

Great movie, love, thanks and greetings from Germany

[@jessgarc-sd6oh]

I love this movie. I love a movie that tells a good story. not a movie that uses the musical score to make you jump off your chair, but the music goes with the flow😊

[@biba350]

Can't wait love Betty Davies movie Thanks for uploading

[@lightningbug276]

So good!

[@camillejohnson7035]

I too have seen this movie several times. What brings me back is the story and the superb acting. Each and everyone brought their abilities to so many other films and entertain their fans for decades. Gary Merrill was an actor overlooked by many, but he was a very talented man. Some said at that time he married Bette Davis to get a break in film. Even if true he still could perform and perhaps done more in his career. This is a good film. One can't go wrong with names like Nunnally and Neglonesco attached to a film.

[@cousinevey]

I love to see a doctor lite up in these old movies!

[@MotivationalMinute2024]

Really a good movie ❤

[@jeffolsen4983]

Thanks!

[@sandracloke6268]

I remember when people could actually smoke on planes. So glad that's changed. I've realized that I have seen this before - good movie and worth watching again.

[@Dulcimertunes]

Not surprising that Merrill died of cancer

[@Dulcimertunes]

Wonderful film. Very thought provoking. Slow start but stick with it.

[@ElkoJohn]

Much obliged.

[@patrarus6097]

Thanks for posting this heartfelt movie! I really enjoyed character-driven stories -- rather rare these days. Only a few pesky commercials, which were tolerable. Thank you again and keep on posting, please!

[@audreydaleski1067]

Bette deserves an Oscar for her final scene.

[@challanger275]

I always like Gary Merrill. He was a good actor. I just like he liked him as an actors actor.

[@Norma-q4u]

A very good movie, thanks! ❤

[@davidhewson8605]

Great dialogue , all smoking . Want Shelley to be my mum and Bettie my grandma ! . Have flown in a DC3 from Cleveland to Indionapolis in 60s , got off and everone was shouting . Top of the range flick Ma !!! . Subscribers are blest . ❤ Thanks all. Dave

[@traditionalgirl5585]

Do these type of men exist any longer? The standard of decorum is in the negative it seems these days..

[@merewynyard5813]

I liked this film THANK YOU very much for this it..

[@jackrice2770]

If you enjoy stories like this one. try The Bridge at San Luis Rey, also similar in plotline. This one is great, so's that one.

[@darrellepickering8433]

That plane landing scene was from You Gotta Stay Happy & likely from others as well.

[@gwen8859]

After reading the summary who needs to watch the movie? You gave away too much😢

[@Huckster-tj9if]

Pleased the movie didn't have to go through the first summary but great movie so far

[@michaelparbatule]

shelly winters my fave actress young old or in between,,,she really knew what she was doing by acting ,,i loved her in the one where she plays william forgot his last name ex gf goes dead,,after she invites him to a snall get together..

[@CarolStJohn-ev9ry]

Good old fashioned movie.

[@tahaduri13]

Keenan Wynn, Keenan Wynn, Keenan Wynn...... have I mentioned the incomparable Keenan Wynn?

[@lindamacdonald2363]

Don’t miss swimming caps, ashtrays, and fur coats!

[@laurakibben4147]

It amuses me that there was a Keenan way back then...

[@Joeblow-ms3cv]

Okay, let's get one thing straight right up front... Jaime is a Goddess of Love. Note to hubby... forgive & forget. 😃

[@brithaddenhadden8383]

can you add little egypt 1951 technicolor film, gallant blade 1948 technicolor film and night in paradise 1946 technicolor film

[@Lorabliss]

Хороший фильм.

[@redsonya3088]

❤

[@86-08]

💫💫💫

[@MrUdayNarainPandeySharadNPande]

A Circumferential lo and behold. Grim n Grime. Tale o the human race with. ALAS. WRITTEN ON ALL. WHAT A FACE I A L ILL TO WATCH

[@herbreid1057]

I thought it was a hastily put together " programmer" movies that were shown during Saturday and Sunday matinees. Winters and Davis is the only reason to watch this. Like the moral subject line as well, but it's not any of the actors best effort.

[@Teewriter]

Gary and Bette were married for a time.

[@MrUdayNarainPandeySharadNPande]

Color n Cigarettes please

[@merewynyard5813]

SHELLEY WINTERS..she was lovely Sassy lady, she was a great Actress first saw her in Alfie, she was really Great as the Rich Bitch😅❤R I P LOVELY LADY

[@audreydaleski1067]

Hi ya beautiful.

[@laurakibben4147]

First movie I've ever seen Winters in. Wasn't impressed sadly. Great movie and plot however.

[@stupotts909]

Nope Shelly Winters was good

[@akrenwinkle]

Evelyn Varden's a hoot, as always, but this dreck is strictly television quality.

[@jakethomas1829]

A phone call from a stranger is just a heavy breathers' booty call.

[@deanadiedrich9304]

Sorry this is one of the worst BORING MOVIES IVE EVER SEEN! ITS ALL BULL TALK AND ZERO ACTION BETTY AND GARY... BLEW THIS ONE... THUMBS DOWN !👎

[@stevencortiella7609]

This movie was so bad and the actors just awful

[@Capo51]

Pretty poor acting from Shelley Winters. Uff. Bette Davis was not so good either. Was nice to see how Berkshire Boulevard looked in 1950''s. Thnx.

[@MrUdayNarainPandeySharadNPande]

One Reader Comment says Moral Stood of saving Marriage and Be that All. Found that Strange. It was the round Robin lawyer whose unthinking minstrel led to unhappiness when he visited unasked uninvited and out of A KEEP AWAY ALL DEAD HERE YOURE SHOOED. TIME. CALLED. HELL IN HELSINKI AND HERE. ⏰️ 🕑 🕙 🕚 🕖 🕘 ⏰️