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The Wrong Man

The Wrong Man

Crime · Drama · 1956

In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.

Movie details

The Wrong Man

“HITCHCOCK'S FIRST REAL-LIFE THRILLER!”

1956 Crime · Drama 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Wrong Man?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Richard Jewell

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alfred Hitchcock

Written by

Angus MacPhail · Maxwell Anderson

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda

Manny Balestrero

Vera Miles

Vera Miles

Rose Balestrero

Anthony Quayle

Anthony Quayle

Frank D. O'Connor

Harold J. Stone

Harold J. Stone

. Bowers

Charles Cooper

Charles Cooper

Matthews

John Heldabrand

John Heldabrand

Tomasini

Esther Minciotti

Esther Minciotti

Mama Balestrero

Court is in session

Put The Wrong Man on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.