Phone Call From A Stranger
directed by Jean Negulesco
directed by Jean Negulesco
Although some might consider this movie a noir film because of its sassy dames, snappy dialogue, tough customers, and frank examination and depiction of human vice, I think ultimately it's too didactic and even too optimistic to be a noir. It has the noir look though.
Watching this film I was reminded of things I have learned over the years about relatives who have passed on or who have entered their golden years. Sometimes this information wasn't always positive. As a child there's stuff that people just won't tell you.
And even when I became an adult many older relatives or family friends weren't willing to discuss their foibles or mistakes with members of the younger generation. Stay out of grown folks' business was a family maxim.
But ultimately it doesn't matter because all of us are trying to do the best we can in our allotted time. Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. That's very much the message that Phone Call From A Stranger conveys.
Knowing and accepting that someone you love isn't all good doesn't mean or rather shouldn't mean that you love them any less. Forgiveness is indeed a virtue. Though some actions are indeed unforgivable, that list is probably smaller than we would think. Each person must decide for themselves which of their relative's or lover's faults they can tolerate or forgive.
David Trask (Gary Merrill) is a Midwest attorney who has discovered that his wife Jane has been playing bang the gong with other men. David and Jane have two daughters. Jane doesn't want divorce. But David's not sure he can let that s*** go. He needs some time alone to think and clear his mind. David gets on a flight to Los Angeles.
Everyone sometimes runs into people who just want to talk or share. For David these are three other passengers:
- Dr. Robert Fortness (Michael Rennie): a tall quiet alcoholic who is haunted by a secret he yearns to reveal.
- Eddie Hoke (Keenan Wynn): a gregarious pushy salesman with an equal appreciation of bad jokes, oversharing, and the female form. Eddie carries a sexy picture of his wife (Bettie Davis-Merrill's real life wife), which he constantly shows to people. Most people take one look at Hoke and think that his wife must have lost a bet to have married him.
- Binky Gay (Shelley Winters): an actress/singer/stripper who is locked in a no-win battle with her snooty mother-in-law who thinks that Binky is talent free. Binky is desperate to prove her mother-in-law wrong and become the primary woman in her husband's life.
During layovers and some harrowing times during flight these people all share their fears and stories with each other. They (well mostly Hoke) decide that they should call themselves the Four Musketeers. They exchange phone numbers and addresses. Maybe they'll have a reunion some day.
But David and friends will have no reunion. The plane crashes because of bad weather and ice. David is one of the few survivors. His three new friends all died. David feels obligated to contact their families to share something about each person. He wants to soften the pain of loss. In the process David learns not to take everything at face value. David also learns a lot about himself.
This was a decent movie that didn't overstay its welcome. There's a small role for Hugh Beaumont, whom I remembered from Leave It To Beaver.
