Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)
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64% of users liked it
(205 ratings)
David Trask (Gary Merrill), the sole survivor of an airplane crash, takes it upon himself to contact the families of the various victims. Though he's already formed preconceived notions of his deceased fellow passengers, he's in for quite a few surprises when he meets the relatives. His… More David Trask (Gary Merrill), the sole survivor of an airplane crash, takes it upon himself to contact the families of the various victims. Though he's already formed preconceived notions of his deceased fellow passengers, he's in for quite a few surprises when he meets the relatives. His first visit is to the wife (Beatrice Straight) and son (Ted Donaldson) of a profoundly troubled doctor (Michael Rennie). His second stop is at a nightclub managed by the domineering mother-in-law (Evelyn Varden) of an aspiring actress (Shelley Winters). Finally, he meets the invalid wife (Bette Davis) of an outwardly obnoxious travelling salesman (Keenan Wynn). After his odyssey into other people's lives, Trask gains a new perspective on his own personal travails. Few studios could pull off the "multi-story film" format as well as 20th Century-Fox, and Phone Call From a Stranger is a grade-A example of that format. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jean Negulesco
- Written By
- Nunnally Johnson
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 1, 1952 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Strained melodrama.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Shelley Winters
as Binky Gay
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Gary Merrill
as David Trask
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Michael Rennie
as Dr. Fortness
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Keenan Wynn
as Eddie Hoke
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Bette Davis
as Marie Hoke
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Warren Stevens
as Marty Nelson
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Evelyn Varden
as Sally Carr
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Beatrice Straight
as Mrs. Fortness
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Ted Donaldson
as Jerry Fortness
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Craig Stevens
as Mike Gay
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Helen Westcott
as Jane Trask
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Sydney Perkins
as Stewardess
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Hugh Beaumont
as Dr. Brooks
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Harry V. Cheshire
as Dr. Fletcher
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Tom Powers
as Dr. Fernwood
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Freeman Lusk
as Thompson
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George Eldredge
as Doctor
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Nestor Paiva
as Headwaiter
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Perdita Chandler
as Mrs. Brooks
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Genevieve Bell
as Mrs. Fletcher
- Robert A. Davis
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John Doucette
as Bartender
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George Nader
as Pilot
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William Neff
as Copilot
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Ruth Robinson
as Nurse
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Thomas E. Jackson
as Mr. Sawyer
