Without a doubt, Alfred Hitchcock's favorite film theme was the 'Wrong Man', somebody (usually male) falsely accused of a serious crime (usually murder). Often, this unlucky person then tries to evade the law, in order to prove his innocence. He typically romances an icy blonde who hates him at first, but then comes around. Of course, everything works out in the end, and our man is not only vindicated, but proves himself to be a hero.
It was ironic, then, that when Hitchcock finally named a film after his oft-repeated (and highly successful) formula, that it was a very different movie. There were no spy rings to be busted, and no beautiful, unattached strangers in need of seducing. In fact, the comic relief, romance, fast pace and glamour common to most Hitchcock thrillers was nearly absent. While Vera Miles is lovely, she grows more distant as the film progresses. The ending is a happy one, but unsatisfying, as if pasted on to satisfy the marketing demands of the studio.
The Wrong Man is based on the true story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero. Balestrero is a base fiddle player at the Stork Club, a posh nightclub in New York City. He is also a family man, with a devoted wife and two young children. In need of money to pay for his wife's dental work, he visits his insurance company to take out a loan.
There, he is mistaken for a man who recently committed a robbery. His life then falls apart quickly. His co-operation with the unsympathetic police only convinces them further of his guilt. In the pre-Miranda environment, he isn't given a lawyer until his court hearing, and isn't allowed to contact his worried family. When Balestrero is finally able to make bail and hire a competent attorney (Anthony Quail), his long-suffering wife (Vera Miles) has a complete breakdown and must be committed to an institution.
The bleak and grim nature of the story is accentuated by the black and white cinematography. Hitchcock felt compelled to let the audience know what to expect by introducing the film himself, which would be his only speaking role in any of his features. (He would later introduce each of his television series episodes, but these appearances were meant to be humorous.)
Hitchcock's assertion that "every word is true" promises the impossible. Some audience-pleasing dramatic liberties are taken, especially when Fonda's impassioned prayers result in his exoneration when the 'real' hold-up man is captured in the act. However, the script was co-written by Maxwell Anderson, who had authored the book upon which the film was based.
Henry Fonda's innocent yet nearly convicted character may have served as the inspiration for his role in 12 Angry Men the following year. Fonda produced as well as starred in that film, which eventually became one of the best known of his career. Fonda's characters were often associated with injustice, most notably in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and The Ox-Bow Incident (1943).
Useless trivia department: the two giggling girls who answer to the door at the tenement are Tuesday Weld and Bonnie Franklin. Weld would become a 1960s film ingenue, while Franklin would have sitcom fame during the 1970s. Vera Miles, also a favorite of John Ford, was originally cast for the female lead in Vertigo, but her pregnancy gave the role to Kim Novak instead. Miles later played Janet Leigh's nosy sister in Psycho. (70/100).
A bleak and powerful drama THE WRONG MAN tells the story of an innocent man accused of a crime committed by a close look-alike. Based on an actual inc...More at Family Video
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