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Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,391
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

"PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

8:00 p.m. Eastern--  "Phone Call from a Stranger"  Gary Merrill, Bette Davis, Shelley Winters, Michael Rennie, Keenan Wynn

 

Classic Hollywood drama gold, gang!  This award- winning film directed by Jean Negulesco just hooks us in from the start.

 

Gary Merrill is a lawyer who has just discovered the infidelity of his wife.  He's on the lam, shattered, and grabs a plane to get away.  Through a series of long delays, he meets and gets to know several other passengers with equally complex back stories....

 

Warning-- what follows gives some of the plot away.  If you want to go into the film blissfully unaware of what happens, don't read on!

 

After the plane crashes and Gary is one of the few survivors, he decides to visit some of the homes of people he briefly met, and bonded with, on the flight.  He learns plenty, and imparts plenty.  He's able to give some comfort to alcoholic doctor Michael Rennie's bereaved family, and he also visits show biz aspirant Shelley Winters' troubled home, and the new widow (Bette Davis) of ebullient salesman Keenan Wynn.

 

Bette Davis gives one of her patented killer performances in this one.  (Incidentally, she was married to virile lead actor Gary Merrill at the time.)  It's a small part, but she wallops it.  (She requested the small part, saying it was the quality of the role she was always after, not the length...)

 

Lay in your hanky supply.  You'll be glad you watched or DVR'd this absorbing tale.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,391
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

The passengers begin to coalesce as a group in a crowded coffee shop:

 

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/1423665/Phone-Call-From-A-Stranger-Movie-Clip-You-re-All-Married....

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,921
Registered: ‎02-07-2011

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

Thanks for the heads up, Oznell.  Haven't seen this one and it sounds like a goodie but with BD and Shelley Winters in it that's no surprise.  Two superior actressess,

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,391
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

Bingo, @kaydee50, and I love Shelley in this too.  She's so fresh and natural in that scene I linked, where she's meeting the three other passengers.  A cutie pie!  And a sometimes (although not often, b/c she really was so good) underrated actress...

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,391
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

I got hubs to watch while I did other things and only peeked in occasionally.

 

It's interesting how you remember films.  This time around, I was most impressed by Shelley Winters.  She was very affecting.  I also like the strength and masculine authority of Gary Merrill. It's always a bit surprising to me that he didn't have an even bigger career.  Probably another case of Hollywood not knowing quite what to do with him, since he wasn't quite the conventional leading man type...

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Registered: ‎08-20-2012

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

Watched most of the movie. Shelley Winters did stand out in the movie. She did so well in Hollywood because she was a lady who was going to be heard. Never a shrinking violet. She had talent and a big personality.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,921
Registered: ‎02-07-2011

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

I thought that was Beatrice Straight as the widow.  She has a distinctive voice.  She is one of the reasons Network is one of my favorite movies, along with William Holden of course.

 

Thanks, Oznell, for mentioning this movie.  It was engrossing and Shelley was the standout.

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 31,986
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: "PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER" GARY MERRILL, BETTE DAVIS SUNDAY 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TCM

Saw it last night for the first time, well done, and well acted!!

Beatrice Straight was a newcomer at the time.

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