The Wrong Man

How this film uses it

Manny only wants to borrow money on his wife's insurance policy. The office staff think he is the man who robbed them twice. The police find that he matches the descriptions, so everything he does makes him look guiltier.

Where to see it

The insurance office. Staff mistake Manny for a robber when he walks in, and the police later match his handwriting to a holdup note, including the same misspelling.

How this film uses it

Hitchcock holds back his usual flourishes. Bernard Herrmann wrote one of his most subdued scores for the film. The camera watches Manny get processed by a system, and the plain approach makes the injustice feel real.

Where to see it

The arrest and lineup. Manny is picked out of a police lineup by a witness and arrested for armed robbery.

How this film uses it

Before the credits, Hitchcock appears in silhouette in a darkened studio and tells you the story is true. It is a short, quiet piece of speaking to the audience, and it sets a serious tone. You are told to treat what follows as fact.

Where to see it

The prologue. Hitchcock stands in silhouette and tells the audience that what they are about to see is a true story.

How this film uses it

Hitchcock filmed in the real places from the case, including Jackson Heights in Queens where Manny lived. The Stork Club owner played himself, and the prison scenes were shot among actual convicts in a New York prison. It looks and feels like a record.

Where to see it

The Stork Club. Manny plays in the band at the real club, and its owner appears as himself.

How this film uses it

The crisis breaks Manny's wife Rose as much as it threatens him. She loses her grip on reality and is institutionalized. Even after Manny is cleared, she stays unresponsive, and the film shows the cost.

Where to see it

Rose's breakdown. Rose suffers a psychotic break and is sent to an institution, while Manny's legal troubles continue.