The Wrong Man

THE WRONG MAN [1956 / 2016] [Blu-ray] Have You Seen ‘The Wrong Man’ . . . Alfred Hitchcock’s Newest Adventure In Terror! The First Hitchcock Film Based On A True Story!‘THE WRONG MAN’ is like and unlike any other Alfred Hitchcock movie. The story packs tension; the images are spellbinding and the dilemma genuinely frightening. But this time, the master of suspense dramatizes the harrowing true experience of a man tried for crimes committed by a look-alike robber.Musician Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero [Henry Fonda] needs money to pay for his wife Rose Balestrero's [Vera Miles] dental procedure. When he tries to borrow money from their insurance policy, someone at the office mistakes him for a man who had robbed them twice at gunpoint. After Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested, his defence attorney, Frank O'Connor [Anthony Quayle], works to demonstrate Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero has an alibi for the crimes. The stress of the case, however, threatens to destroy Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero's family before his name can be cleared. Prologue Narrator: Alfred Hitchcock.FILM FACT: Actors appearing in the film, but not listed in the credits, include Harry Dean Stanton, Werner Klemperer, Tuesday Weld, Bonnie Franklin, and Barney Martin. Tuesday Weld and Bonnie Franklin made their film debuts as two giggly girls answering the door when the Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero’s are seeking witnesses to prove his innocence.Cast: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Harold J. Stone, Charles Cooper, John Heldabrand, Esther Minciotti, Doreen Lang, Laurinda Barrett, Norma Connolly, Nehemiah Persoff, Lola D'Annunzio, Kippy Campbell, Robert Essen, Richard Robbins, Dayton Lummis, Peggy Webber, Charles Aidman (uncredited), Sammy Armaro (uncredited), Henry Beckman (uncredited), Ray Bennett (uncredited), Harry Bergman (uncredited), Sherman Billingsley (uncredited), Paul Bryar (uncredited), Ed Bryce (uncredited), John Caler (uncredited), Gordon B. Clarke (uncredited), William Crane (uncredited), Spencer Davis (uncredited), M'el Dowd (uncredited), Josef Draper (uncredited), Richard Durham (uncredited), Chris Gampel (uncredited), Will Gregory (uncredited), Charles J. Guiotta (uncredited), Rhodelle Heller (uncredited), William Hudson (uncredited), Mike Keene (uncredited), David Kelly (uncredited), Werner Klemperer (uncredited), Walter Kohler (uncredited), Maurice Manson (uncredited), Barney Martin (uncredited), Donald May (uncredited), John McKee (uncredited), Thomas J. Murphy (uncredited), Daniel Ocko (uncredited), Allan Ray (uncredited), Frank Schofield (uncredited), Harry Dean Stanton (uncredited), (uncredited), John Stephen (uncredited), Clarence Straight (uncredited), John Truax (uncredited), Don Turner (uncredited), John Vivyan (uncredited) and Maurice Wells (uncredited)Director: Alfred HitchcockProducers: Alfred Hitchcock and Herbert ColemanScreenplay: Angus MacPhail and Maxwell AndersonComposer: Bernard HerrmannCinematography: Robert BurksVideo Resolution: 1080p [Black-and-White]Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio, French: 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish: 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish [Latin American]: 2.0 Dolby Digital and Japanese: 2.0 Dolby DigitalSubtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Japanese, Czech and PolishRunning Time: 105 minutesRegion: All RegionsNumber of discs: 1Studio: Warner Archive CollectionAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: The opening shot of ‘THE WRONG MAN,’ in which Alfred Hitchcock makes his customary appearance, immediately lets us know this is not going to be a typical Alfred Hitchcock film. Not only does Alfred Hitchcock come right out and say so, addressing the audience directly just as he did in his television series, but the shot itself, with an unidentifiable Alfred Hitchcock walking onto a dark sound stage lighted in extreme chiaroscuro, emphasises how different this is going to be from the escapist fare we expect from this director. Even though Alfred Hitchcock was closely identified with movies of suspense, he clearly liked a change of pace now and then, for he regularly dabbled in other genres than the suspense film, especially again the opening shot of ‘THE WRONG MAN,’ announces in the strongest visual terms that this movie is going to be Alfred Hitchcock's deepest and bleakest foray into the territory of “film noir.”The theory that truth can be more striking than fiction is not too forcefully supported by the saga of ‘THE WRONG MAN’ which was unfolds before your very eyes. Alfred Hitchcock's long-standing fear of the police is what originally attracted him to a newspaper account of a family man wrongly identified as an armed robber. ‘THE WRONG MAN’ pays scrupulous attention to such things as the details of police procedure and the eventual apprehension of the real culprit before the conviction of the wrongly accused man Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero [Henry Fonda, but after the stress has driven his wife Rose Balestrero [Vera Miles] to mental breakdown.As has been noted, Alfred Hitchcock apparently was not interested primarily in developing tension. Maxwell Anderson and Angus MacPhail, his writers, capture the-flavour of natural dialogue used by their distressed principals and the technical conversation of the police and lawyers. Alfred Hitchcock’s camera and sound crews have caught the sights and sounds of such authentic locales as the Stork Club, the IND Roosevelt Avenue Station, Jackson Heights streets and homes, Queens Felony Court and jails and the police station and vans transporting the accused to jail.In re-enacting the role of the real Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero, Henry Fonda gives a disquietingly even portrayal. Only on rare occasions does he depart from a slightly stooped, trancelike attitude as he is arrested, interrogated, finger-printed, booked, jailed and bailed out. However, Vera Miles, as his wife whose mind snaps under this sudden shock, does convey a poignantly pitiful sense of fear of the appalling situation into which they have been cast.The noted Shakespearean actor Anthony Quayle does a fine, incisive job as Henry Fonda's attorney, and Harold J. Stone and Charles Cooper, who make dispassionate but understanding detectives; Doreen Lang and Laurinda Barrett, as terrified witnesses; Esther Minciotti, as Henry Fonda's mother and Nehemiah Persoff, as his brother-in-law, add distinctive supporting stints. Alfred Hitchcock is not setting a precedent with ‘THE WRONG MAN.’ Alfred Hitchcock has done a fine and lucid job with the facts in ‘THE WRONG MAN’ but they have been made more important than the hearts and dramas of the people they affect.The result is Alfred Hitchcock's most sombre film, unrelieved by his usual macabre humour; the black-and-white photography and the persecuted Henry Fonda's sharply chiselled features lend an impressive documentary feel. It's not generally rated among the master's best works, largely because of the intractability of the source material or Alfred Hitchcock's unwillingness to dramatize the events. But there's still plenty here for Hitchcockophiles: a Jesuitical strain, the man happened to be a devout Catholic, a complicity of guilt, as the wife irrationally comes to blame herself; and it's pure “film noir.”‘THE WRONG MAN’ may be one of Alfred Hitchcock's most atypical films, perhaps even his most atypical film. Yet although Hitchcock moves as close as he ever would to the quasi-documentary realism and “film noir” sensibility of films with a similar subject like ‘Boomerang!’ or ‘Call Northside 777,’ and Alfred Hitchcock never goes all the way in that direction and certainly makes little attempt to give the illusion of fading into the background as did the Italian neorealist directors like Roberto Rossellini who in part inspired such an approach. Alfred Hitchcock's presence and his role as the guiding force behind the film, the authority of his personal stylistic vision, his need to control every detail to elicit a specific response from the audience and is very much in evidence and clearly marks ‘THE WRONG MAN’ as a product of The Master, an unusual one certainly, but nevertheless still identifiably as an Alfred Hitchcock film.Blu-ray Video Quality – Warner Archive Collection of ‘THE WRONG MAN’ presents us with a stunningly remastered film on this Blu-ray disc, and ‘THE WRONG MAN’ is another stellar addition to the company's growing collection of catalogue classics. Here we have a brilliant 1080p encoded image transfer that is a definite step up from the previous inferior DVD release, where we get increased clarity and better contrast combining to create a smoother, and more immersive presentation. Grain is an essential aspect of the film's look, supplying essential texture, but it's well integrated, consistent, and never intrusive. The result is a strikingly organic, film-like appearance that heightens the intimacy of this true-life tale. In addition, and especially with an excellent grey scale variance pumps up detail levels and superior shadow delineation allows us to absorb all the subtleties of Robert Burks' stark and brooding cinematography and not a nick or scratches appear with this pristine print, and no noise or crush creeps into the picture. Alfred Hitchcock aficionados will surely cheer this terrific transfer that perfectly represents the director's intentions.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Archive Collection of ‘THE WRONG MAN’ presents this Blu-ray disc with an excellent 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience that nicely renders all of the film's sonic nuances with ease. Shoe soles crunching against concrete, the rumble of subway trains in the tunnel, and the clicking of adding machines in the insurance office add vital atmosphere to the narrative while heightening aural interest. Excellent fidelity and a rich depth of tone boost the impact of the brilliant composer Bernard Herrmann's wonderful sharp, dramatic atmospheric music score, while all the soft-spoken dialogue is well prioritized and easy to comprehend. Any age-related defects, such as hiss, pops, or crackles, have been meticulously erased, and an expansive dynamic scale keeps distortion at bay. Sound always plays an important role in Alfred Hitchcock films, and this superior track properly showcases all the carefully integrated audio touches.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Special Feature: Making-Of Documentary: Guilt Trip: Hitchcock and ‘THE WRONG MAN’ [2004] [480i] [1.33:1] [20:17] This comprehensive and very absorbing piece features comments from directors Peter Bogdanovich and Richard Franklin ['Psycho II'], TCM host Robert Osborne, film critic Richard Schickel, and the film's art director, Paul Sylbert, plus Richard Franklin [Director, Producer and Writer] and Christopher Husted [Manager of Bernard Herrmann Estate]. We find out right at the start of this documentary from Peter Bogdanovich, that when Alfred Hitchcock at the age of 5 years old, was very naughty, and so his father would teach him a lesson, was sent to a police station with a note telling the policeman at the desk to put your Hitchcock in a cell for 5 minutes to teach him a lesson, but of course he thought it was an eternity and always throughout his adult life always had a fear of policemen, which of course helped him when directing the film ‘THE WRONG MAN,’ and make it one of his most dramatic film so far in his filmmaking career. All the participants praise ‘THE WRONG MAN’ and discuss the topic of Alfred Hitchcock and the film's sombre nature and overt religious symbolism, and we also find out that Alfred Hitchcock loved to investigate real police cases of ordinary guys who are wrongly arrested and turn them into his personal films, and Robert Osborne feels this is why this film is one of his best dramatic film, especially reflecting life in a big city, especially in America and of course was helped to make ‘THE WRONG MAN’ such a brilliant film, in having the equally brilliant Maxwell Anderson and Angus MacPhail, who did the screenplay that helped Alfred Hitchcock direct a film with great skill in making it the perfect “film noire” presentation of total brilliance, that also helped Alfred Hitchcock do a very precise storyboard, so that every shot was not wasted and helped to stop the studio heads interfering in not being able to re-editing the film, and in doing so it created so many brilliant frame by frame innovative shots. It also helped by having contributions with the very professional Henry Fonda, who say was a perfect gentleman on and off the set, and also was a very intelligent man and loved to paint and has had several exhibitions of his paintings. There was also great praise from director Richard Franklin of Vera Miles who felt her acting was totally superb, and also made an appearance in his film ‘Psycho II’ and reprieved her performance in the original ‘Psycho’ film. There was of course equal praise for the impact of the brilliant Bernard Herrmann's jazzy atmospheric music score throughout ‘THE WRONG MAN’ film, Alfred Hitchcock loved and loved using sound and music where it mattered most to enhance the atmospheric tension of the film, and of course seeing Alfred Hitchcock unique cameo at the start of the film, was the only time you get to see him in the film and not his usual cameo appearances in all his other films, because he felt it would be too distracting to such a serious subject. Rare on-set photos and examples of Alfred Hitchcock's storyboards, as well as several film clips, enhance this perceptive salute to one of Alfred Hitchcock's lesser known and underrated brilliant film. One thing we find out is that originally it was going to be filmed on location in New York, but at the time of filming it was the height of a very severe winter and Alfred Hitchcock hated the freezing cold, so most of the location work was in New York, but then decided to move everything to California to finish off all the interior shots, that Alfred Hitchcock gave great praise to all workers who built the sets. One bit of information I was shocked about, is that when the film was released in the cinemas, it was not very successful, which makes me feel very angry, as it is a totally brilliant dramatic atmospheric “film noir” Alfred Hitchcock film, and to have people have such a negative attitude at the time was sacrilege, and they must of viewed a different film to the one I watched, but I suppose the reason the film was not a success, because it was not the same style as his other films, that had the same mysterious genre style of directing, whereas this film was told like a real life drama and Alfred Hitchcock could not deviate from the real human tragic story and I for one totally disagree with all the people who gave it such a negative review of the time of its release in the cinema. So all in all this is a really nice informative special feature and also totally fascinating and one not to be missed.Theatrical Trailer [1956] [1080p] [1.85:1] [2:33] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘THE WRONG MAN.’ This is a totally brilliant presentation, but the equally impressive director Alfred Hitchcock, as he often did later in his career, and narrates the film's original preview to great effect, which highlights the gravity and realism of the subject matter, but most important makes this brilliant trailer so atmospheric and so dramatic, it makes you want to view the film to find who is the guilty one.Finally, THE WRONG MAN’ [1956] may not have been one of Alfred Hitchcock's signature films, but this simple, meticulous examination of the devastating impact of mistaken identity on a typical middle class family is a fascinating change of pace for the Master of Suspense. Quiet, understated, but bursting with honest emotion and a gritty realism not usually associated with the director, the movie explores relatable themes and taps into universal fears about the police and an imperfect justice system that often fails its citizens and destroys innocent lives. Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray presentation features top-notch video and audio transfers and an absorbing special feature, all of which enhances the impact of this well-acted, underrated personal drama from the “Master of Suspense” Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

It can happen to anyone, anywhere and when you least expect it. Being accused of a crime that you didn't commit can turn your world upside down and that is the main theme of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man"(1956). When Hitchcock brought this real-life story of mistaken identity to the screen in 1956, many people who went to see it probably left the theatre shaking their heads. Expecting the typical "Hitchcock thriller" that they had become accustomed to over the years, they may have felt somewhat let down. The film itself was something quite different compared to the superb classics such as "Strangers on a Train"(1951) and "Rear Window"(1954) that had preceded it during Hitchcock's productive Fifties era. But that may have been his intent all along, taking a real life case of musician Manny Balestrero(who is a bass player at the famous Stork Club) and thus showing an audience that what happened to him could easily have happened to you given the same circumstances. Warner's has now released "The Wrong Man" on Blu-ray for the first time through it's Archive Collection and the results are very good. Since Hitchcock and cinematographer Robert Burk wanted the film to look and feel like a documentary, there is visible grain present throughout the Blu-ray presentation but it is a vast improvement over the standard DVD. Digitally restored(by MPI) in 2K from a fine grain master positive, Warner's has given "The Wrong Man" it's usual high Bitrate(32.91) which results in some scenes being crystal clear(mainly close-ups) with others retaining the grainy documentary feel that Hitchcock and Burk wanted. This is especially apparent in the exteriors which featured the actual New York locations(Queens and Brooklyn) where the story took place. Interiors, including the Balestrero home and the actual Stork Club, are really highlighted now on Blu-ray. Because it was filmed almost as a documentary, the B&W cinematography adds to the sinister and foreboding feel of the film as you watch Manny's world spin out of control through no fault of his own. The Audio is just as compelling with dialogue being easily understood. There are no noise artifacts(hiss, pops, etc.) with sound effects(jail cell doors, ringing telephones, etc.) and Bernard Herrmann's music being especially effective. Performances are top notch with Henry Fonda giving one his most understated performances as Manny. As good as Fonda is, it's Vera Miles who walks away with the picture with an absolutely heartbreaking performance as Manny's wife, Rose. Her descent into madness because of all the external events that surround her which sadly she has no control over, is simply one of the greatest performances ever put on film. The fact that she was overlooked for an Oscar nomination was a crime in itself. "The Wrong Man" is 105 minutes(Aspect ratio: 1.85:1) and contains the following subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Japanese, Czech and Polish. The Audio is English: DTS-HD MA 2.0 and Dolby Digital 2.0 for French, Spanish and Japanese. Special features include a making of documentary "Guilt Trip: Hitchcock and the Wrong Man"(20:19 minutes) and the Original Theatrical Trailer. The Blu-ray disc itself is housed in a standard solid Blu-ray case(not an eco-cutout case). Although "The Wrong Man" is not considered a "classic" Hitchcock film, it is still very compelling and holds up well after sixty years. Collectors and fans of Hitchcock may want to consider upgrading now that it has been released on Blu-ray. It comes recommended.

contains slight spoilersThis is one of the finest Hitchcock films - coming from someone who's not really a fan of Hitchcock. But this one is really a wake-up call to people who may believe in the infallibility of the legal system, or the evidence of witnesses; it shows things are far less reliable than we may suppose, and that people will swear they recognise someone when in fact they can't be certain. Manny Balestrero works as a bass player in the Stork Club in New York; he makes little money and struggles to keep his wife and two sons. One day he is arrested for supposedly having carried out a hold-up in a building society, and then in two further premises. We do not doubt his innocence, but many, including the police, are all too willing to believe the witnesses. The casting of Henry Fonda is uncanny, as he is able to compel attention playing a 'good' character, where others might end up boring viewers. You could never be bored by Fonda's expressions. The film has an almost documentary feel, and seems short on the kind of flourishes Hitchcock generally makes. But the subject demands this, really, having far more of social realism than some of his other films, especially the sophisticated films on voyeurism and obsession he turned to in the same decade. At certain points it seems to reach out towards Robert Bresson's austerity; of course it doesn't go as far in that direction, but the measured pacing and understatement of Manny's style are not so different from the lead in A Man Escaped, and Bresson also focuses on the grimness of prison life as we see here. The stripping of Manny's dignity, all carried out with no feeling whatsoever for him, is truly shocking to see. Hitchcock also shows a further consequence in Manny's life that is even more devastating, but best not to reveal. Nowadays with forensic evidence there is often more conclusive proof, but The Wrong Man is a salutary reminder of human error and the shortcomings of police and legal procedures.

By the mid 50s there was nothing more predictable than a ' Hitchcock film where an innocent character is out of his depth ' e.g. I confess,the 39 steps,saboteur & others.But this is a very different type of film,not just because it's based on a true story ,there are no mcguffins & in many ways while not an experiment in neorealism,it is close in style to some of the Italian or French films from this period. Henry Fonda is perfect as the increasingly pressured ,confused and desperate everyman and is given solid support with many familiar faces from that era,with Anthony Quayle & also Vera Miles who acts as the soul of sadness ,compared to the main character who you watch with empathy ,rising anger & frustration with the fact that being innocent of a crime may not be enough.If you have seen this film there is little I can add, if not sit back and if not 'enjoy' then certainly appreciate one of A .H.s' lesser known but more rewarding stories -special mention to Bernard Herman for an excellent score that fits like a glove.The film (2004 edition) looks good and is in 1.85:1 ratio. Apart from a trailer the disc has a good 20min look at the movie.The film comes with French & Italian language versions & with subtitles in the mentioned languages+Arabic,Dutch & Bulgarian.(Also for amusement in a very serious film,you could 'spot the error' during a line up scene- It's a big one..literally)

You'll probably never get deeper into the psyche of Alfred Hitchcock in this powerful, serious and true tale that is as much about Hitchcock's own personal fears as it is the natural destination of his regular wronged man theme. The story of Manny Balestrero is a sobering case of mistaken identity that put a financially strapped but innocent and hard working family man through the frightening experience of being suspected, accused on circumstantial evidence, treated like a criminal and locked in a tiny, cold cell. Hitchcock spares us nothing as we see the flimsy evidence compiled, the booking procedure, the loneliness in the tiny cell with his wife and mother out of their minds with worry, being locked in jail on remand until the substantial bail is arranged, and the struggle to pay for defence counsel. Portrayed brilliantly by Henry Fonda, Balestrero is shown as a calm, well liked, humble family man pushed to his limits as the evidence mounts up against him and people who could provide him with an alibi either cannot be located or have died. Balestreo's wife Rose, sympathetically played by Vera Miles isn't as strong as Manny and slides into a deep depression, adding more pressure to the cauldron.This is a sobering, beautifully constructed film. The 'Making of' documentary contained on the disc shows just how much this project meant to Hitchcock, with plenty of examples showing storyboards next to scenes from the film, with Hitchcock meticulously planning every shot for maximum effect. The print of this 1956 film is pristine, with many atmospheric shots, particularly of cells and handcuffs, playing on his own fears and leaving the audience thinking "What if". There's no instant happy ending either thanks to the damage done to the couple. Hitchcock used many location shots in and around New York's Jackson Heights where Manny lived. Bernard Herrmann's score is respectful and not intrusive, and features unusually several jazz numbers as Manny plays double bass at The Stork Club, who remained loyal based on their knowledge of Balestrero's personality. A true craftsman is at work here.

I bought this Warner Archive Blu Ray as an upgrade from DVD. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a downgrade. In HD the picture looks slightly grainier than in DVD, but the real problem is that the lip synch is a bit soft. Initially, I just sensed that something was not quite right, but the effect is quite subtle and I was not entirely sure it was a problem of synchronisation. However, when I played my DVD version for comparison I immediately knew I was right. Since the source material was probably the same for both formats, it must be a problem of the Blu Ray transcription.This is not the first time have encountered this problem. Two of the Woody Allen films released on Blu Ray by Arrow (Sleeper and September) have the same issue. Let the buyer beware.

Not one of Hitch's most famous fiom, this is a little classic with all the best qualities of the Master. A focus on a man and a mystery, a context of characters and places which becomes fastly familiar and make viewer feel more and more into it. Great suspense and twists. An excellent blak and white. Music and sound fx that make the atmosphere even more tense. A playful mice and cat chase with a human drama perfectly embodied by the expressive and sympatethique performance of Henry Fonda. Waitin for the blu ray release