Top Billed Cast

James Stewart
P.J. 'Jim' McNeal
Richard Conte
Frank W. Wiecek
Lee J. Cobb
Brian Kelly
Helen Walker
Laura McNeal
Betty Garde
Wanda Skutnik
Kasia Orzazewski
Tillie Wiecek
Joanne De Bergh
Helen Wiecek
Howard Smith
K.L. Palmer
Moroni Olsen
Parole Board Chairman
John McIntire
Sam Faxon
Paul Harvey
Martin J. Burns
Robert Adler
Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
Truman Bradley
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Chapin
Frank Wiecek Jr. (uncredited)
James Dime
Poker Player (uncredited)
Rex Downing
Copy Boy (uncredited)
Ben Erway
Photo Lab Technician (uncredited)
Helen Foster
Secretary (uncredited)
Jonathan Hale
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Percy Helton
Mailman William Decker (uncredited)
Samuel S. Hinds
Judge Charles Moulton (uncredited)
Charles Lane
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)
E.G. Marshall
Rayska (uncredited)
Addison Richards
State Commissioner John Albertson (uncredited)
Lionel Stander
Wiecek's Cellmate Corrigan (uncredited)
Otto Waldis
Boris Siskovich (uncredited)
Wanda Perry
Chicago Times Telophone Reporter (uncredited)
Richard Bishop
Warden of Stateville Prison (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake
Police Photographic Technician (uncredited)
John Bleifer
Jan Gruska (uncredited)
Dollie Caillet
Secretary (uncredited)
Al Capone
Capone (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Cisar
Policeman (uncredited)
Jane Crowley
Anna Felczak (uncredited)
John Dillinger
Dillinger (archive footage) (uncredited)
Abe Dinovitch
Polish Man (uncredited)
Eddie Dunn
Patrolman John W. Bundy (uncredited)
Lew Eckles
Policeman (uncredited)
Joseph Forte
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Stanley Gordon
Prison Clerk (uncredited)
Walter Greaza
Police Capt. Norris (uncredited)
Buck Harrington
Bartender (uncredited)
Perry Ivins
Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)
Robert Karnes
Pete (uncredited)
Leonarde Keeler
Leonarde Keeler (uncredited)
Cy Kendall
Second Bartender (uncredited)
J.M. Kerrigan
Sullivan - Court Bailiff (uncredited)
Carl Kroenke
Guard (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Detective (uncredited)
Henry Kulky
First Bartender (uncredited)
Philip Lord
Policeman (uncredited)
Jack Mannick
Polish man (uncredited)
Norman McKay
Detective (uncredited)
George Melford
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Charles Miller
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Edward Peil Jr.
Bartender (uncredited)
George Pembroke
Policeman (uncredited)
Arthur Peterson
Keeler's Polygraph Assistant (uncredited)
Joe Ploski
Polish Man (uncredited)
William Post Jr.
Sixth Precinct Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Thelma Ritter
Captain's Secretary (uncredited)
Richard Rober
Sgt. Larson (uncredited)
Dick Ryan
Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Peter Seal
Minor Role (uncredited)
Lester Sharpe
Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)
George Spaulding
Man on Parole Board (uncredited)
Ray Spiker
Barfly (uncredited)
Ann Staunton
Chicago Times Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Freddie Steele
Holdup Man (uncredited)
George Turner
Holdup Man (uncredited)
George Tyne
Tomek Zaleska (uncredited)
Bill Vendetta
Chicago Times Photographer (uncredited)
Duke Watson
Policeman (uncredited)
Robert B. Williams
Illinois State Journal Technician

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Review 2Discussion

A review by John Chard

Written by John Chard on Thu Aug 28 2014

This is a true story. When a patrol cop is shot and killed, small time crook Frank Wiecek is tried for the crime and promptly sentenced to life imprisonment. Some 11 years on, tough cookie reporter P.J. McNeal gets involved with the case, the further he delves, the more he believes that Wiecek is innocent, but can he find evidence to back up his belief? Filmed in semi-documentary style by director Henry Hathaway, this James Stewart led noir thriller oozes realism from start to finish. It's actually the lack of gloss and glamour that is the film's trump card. Based on the real story of the...