Crime,Drama,Mystery
United States of America
The Wrong Man is a 1956 American film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. It is based on the true story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero, a musician who was mistaken for an armed robber and arrested and put on trial for crimes he did not commit.
The film begins with Balestrero (Fonda) going about his daily routine, including a visit to an insurance company to borrow money against his wife's life insurance policy to pay for her dental work. While there, the clerk recognizes him as the man who had robbed the place twice before and calls the police.
Balestrero is arrested and charged with several robberies. Despite his innocence, he is unable to convince the police or the witnesses that he did not commit the crimes. He is also unable to afford a lawyer and gets appointed a public defender who does not believe him.
As the trial progresses, Balestrero's wife (Miles) suffers a nervous breakdown due to the stress and the realization that their lives will never be the same. In the end, the real criminal is caught and Balestrero is exonerated, but the damage has already been done.
The Wrong Man is a departure from Hitchcock's usual suspenseful thrillers and is a stark depiction of the justice system and the toll it can take on innocent people. The film received critical acclaim for its realism and powerful performances by Fonda and Miles.
