Sorry, Wrong Number

When I was younger I thought I didn’t like old movies. They just never seemed to appeal to me. But as I grow older, I have learned to appreciate older movies. The acting that once seemed wooden to me is now a study of another time and place. I’m always pleased to find an old black and white gem and Sorry, Wrong Number definitely qualifies as a gem.

In this movie we find Leona (Barbara Stanwyck) confined to her bed. She let her nurse have the evening off because her husband, Henry (Burt Lancaster) swore he would be home to care for her. Unfortunately, Henry did not come home and Leona is in need of assistance. She tries to call Henry and ends up overhearing a murder plot on the phone. Naturally, Leona is frightened by what she hears and calls the police. The police have no time to deal with her, so she uses the phone to follow clues about her husband and the murder plot.

As Leona digs deeper into the mysterious call, she discovers that a plot to murder a stranger, may actually be a plot to murder her. We learn in flashbacks that all is not well between Henry and Leona. Henry was dirt poor when he caught the eye of Leona, daughter of a wealthy businessman. Leona’s father gave Henry a job in the family business and the happy couple moved into Daddy’s mansion.

The confines of the marriage began to chafe Henry. He finds his wife annoying and comes to hate working for his father-in-law. He dreams of striking out on his own, but knows his wife will never support it. Does Henry decide to kill his wife? Is he having an affair with his old flame? Is Leona really an invalid? I would never ruin the suspense by telling you.

Sorry, Wrong Number earns four stars. The story is very well written and keeps you guessing until the very end. Barbara Stanwyck is riveting in this role and keeps you at the edge of your seat while she works to unravel the mysterious phone call. Sorry, Wrong Number may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy old movies, you are sure to be drawn into this movie.

Michelle D. Kieffaber