Watch The Wrong Man

The Wrong Man is a 1956 American film noir directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, and Anthony Quayle. The movie is based on the true story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero, a musician from New York City who was mistakenly accused of a series of robberies in the early 1950s. The film begins with Balestrero (Fonda) struggling to make ends meet as a nightclub musician. He and his wife, Rose (Miles), are barely able to pay their bills and provide for their two young sons. One day, Balestrero goes to an insurance office to borrow money against his wife's policy, but while he is there, the clerks mistakenly identify him as the man who robbed their office a few months prior. Balestrero is taken into custody and put through a series of interrogations and lineup identifications, all of which suggest that he is guilty.

Despite his protestations of innocence, the evidence against Balestrero only mounts. He is eventually charged with several counts of armed robbery and put on trial. As the trial proceeds, Balestrero's attorney (Quayle) begins to realize that there are serious flaws in the prosecution's case. He becomes determined to uncover the truth and exonerate his client, no matter what the cost.

The Wrong Man is a tense and gripping film that explores themes of justice, identity, and society's tendency to judge people based on appearances. Fonda delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as Balestrero, capturing the character's fear, frustration, and sense of helplessness as he finds himself caught up in a nightmare.

Miles is equally impressive as Balestrero's devoted wife, who stands by him throughout the ordeal. Her performance is all the more impressive given that she spends much of the film in a state of panic and distress. Quayle rounds out the cast with a solid portrayal of Balestrero's dedicated attorney, who is determined to uncover the truth and clear his client's name.

Hitchcock's direction is masterful as always, using his trademark visual and narrative techniques to create a sense of unease and uncertainty throughout the film. The Wrong Man is not a typical Hitchcock thriller, but it is no less effective in its ability to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

One notable aspect of the film is its use of actual locations and footage from the case, which adds a sense of realism and authenticity to the proceedings. The movie was shot in and around the actual locations where the events took place, including the insurance office, the police station, and the courtroom.

In addition to its historical significance, The Wrong Man is also a significant film in the context of Hitchcock's career. It marked a departure from the director's usual themes of suspense and intrigue, and was more of a straightforward drama. Nevertheless, the film bears many of the hallmarks of Hitchcock's style, including its use of subjective camera angles, high-contrast lighting, and intense close-ups.

Overall, The Wrong Man is a compelling and thought-provoking film that explores important themes in a powerful and engrossing way. Its strong performances, taut direction, and based-on-a-true-story narrative make it a must-see for fans of Hitchcock and classic cinema.

The Wrong Man is a 1957 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 83.