Tuesday, March 26, 2013

311. The Wrong Man

The Wrong Man
1956
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock












Alfred Hitchcock often makes films that are our nightmares, whether it be birds attacking the human race or being attacked by a serial killer.  However, a lot of people's worst nightmare is the idea of wrongly being accused of a crime and Hitchcock fully explores that idea in this film.

This movie is based on the true story of a jazz musician wrongly identified as a man who held up an insurance office. This leads to his entire family falling apart.

This is a chilling film, if not outright scary, at least one that will resonate with you.  This movie is shot in semi documentary style.  The camera stays on Henry Fonda as he fingerprinted and booked.  Most movies would cut away but Hitchcock forces us to watch the entire process which made me extremely uncomfortable.

Like the book said, this is one of the bleakest Hitchcock movies yet. Actually, I think it is safe to say THE bleakest movie.  Still, it is an entertaining movie; Fonda is always great.  We are really on a great streak of movies.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

HITCHCOCK RADAR: He narrates the prologue.

One of the prisoner's shouts "What'd they get ya for, Henry" when Fonda walks by the cells.

2 comments:

  1. I suppose they should have caught that outcry...
    Great movie and underated, I think, compared to the other great Hitchcock movies. This is such a normal family that you cannot help relating to them.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed. Even the most obscure Hitchcock films are great.

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