Drama,Thriller United States of America
In the film "Sorry, Wrong Number," Leona Stevenson, a wealthy and bedridden woman, becomes the accidental eavesdropper of a murder plot when she picks up the phone and overhears two men discussing their criminal intentions. Frantic and unable to leave her room, Leona's dependence on her telephone becomes her only way to investigate the situation and prevent the impending crime.
As Leona listens to the conversation, she pieces together fragments of the plan and comes to realize that she herself might be the intended victim. Terrified and desperate for help, she tries to reach her husband Henry, who is conveniently away on a business trip. However, her attempts to reach him fail.
Leona recognizes the voice of one of the conspirators as that of a man named Waldo Evans, whom she had recently encountered while dealing with a phone company issue. She contacts the operator to trace the call and informs the police about what she overheard, desperately urging them to take action.
Simultaneously, the film provides flashbacks that shed light on Leona's past. These scenes reveal her unhappy marriage to Henry and her relationship with her father, James Cotterell. Leona's dependency on the telephone is also explored, as she is frequently seen using it to control and manipulate people around her.
As the night goes on, the tension intensifies for Leona. She makes multiple phone calls, trying to reach her maid, her husband, and even Waldo Evans himself, inadvertently tipping off both the police and the criminals about her knowledge of their plan.
With every call, Leona's desperation becomes more palpable, while the clock ticks closer to the anticipated murder. The narrative builds suspense by constantly switching between scenes of Leona's confined room and the outside world, where the plot unfolds.
In a climactic sequence, the police manage to locate the phone booth where Waldo is making his calls. However, they arrive too late, as Waldo has been killed by the other conspirator, Morano, who had discovered his betrayal. The police track down Morano and apprehend him just in time to prevent him from carrying out the murder.
Finally, Henry returns home, unaware of the dramatic events that have unfolded. Leona jubilantly informs him about the murderous plot she overheard, and the realization hits that she was, in fact, the intended victim. The film ends with Leona's victory over her adversaries and her reunion with Henry, as she reveals a newfound strength and determination against a life that has kept her confined and powerless.
"Sorry, Wrong Number" skillfully crafts a suspenseful and nerve-wracking atmosphere, effectively keeping the audience engaged in Leona's desperate quest to unravel the identity of the intended victim and the murderers involved.