The Wrong Man
Alfred Hitchcock is better known for his suspense thrillers, but he did make one or two social problem films in the course of his remarkable career. The finest of these is The Wrong Man, an almost neo-realist look at false accusations and the devastating effects of the criminal justice system on innocent people.
Henry Fonda stars as Manny Balestrero, a musician in New York in dire need of money to help his wife Rose (Vera Miles) pay for having her wisdom teeth out. When he goes to his insurance company to try and borrow against his wife’s insurance policy, he’s incorrectly recognized as the man who tried to hold up the insurance office. The film then turns into an extended procedural, as Manny is arrested and shuttled from place to place to try and establish his identity as a criminal.
The Wrong Man unflinchingly chronicles Manny’s distress and the suffering of his wife as the result of an entirely chance occurrence. Hitchcock’s subdued camera highlights the terror and surreality of what the characters undergo. It’s a universal story, one that offers no clear solutions and no clear critique, but a frightening glimpse into a world where an honest man can wind up in prison for something he did not do.
Published: Apr 15, 2015 09:22 am