Der falsche Mann (1956)
9KDer falsche Mann: Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Anthony Quayle, Harold J. Stone. In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emanuel “Manny” Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.
“This is a very underrated Hitchcock film that features amazing performances from itu0026#39;s two stars, Henry Fonda and (especially) Vera Miles. It is a sad, cynical offering from the Master Of Suspense that has a familiar theme (the title says it all), yet it also is perhaps one of Hitchu0026#39;s most unusual works.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe films runs more like a documentary in itu0026#39;s approach, and it feels inherently u0026#39;realu0026#39;. The casting of u0026#39;everymanu0026#39; Fonda in the role of Manny Balestero, a man accused of crimes he did not commit, works very well as we can feel empathy for Fonda and place ourselves in his position. Ditto with Miles. She is so convincing in her role as the mentally fragile wife Rose that her scenes are almost uncomfortable to witness. Portraying a person self-destructing is one of the hardest tasks an actor can face, but Miles does it subtly and movingly. It is a brilliant performance that ranks alongside Bergmanu0026#39;s role in u0026#39;Notoriousu0026#39; and Wrightu0026#39;s u0026#39;Charlieu0026#39; in u0026#39;Shadow Of A Doubtu0026#39; for best female acting honors in a Hitchcock film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;The Wrong Manu0026#39; has a sentimental, tender yet dark atmosphere. The sentimentality is perhaps due to the fact that the central action revolves around a family grouping in this film.There are no elaborate scenes of courtship and romance as in u0026#39;Vertigou0026#39; or sexy double entendres seen in u0026#39;Notoriousu0026#39;- Instead, we get the feeling that this is a real, normal family we are watching unravel at the seams due to the crimes of another.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAppropriately slow-moving to keep in check with Hitchu0026#39;s low-key approach for this one. New York in the 1950u0026#39;s was possibly never photographed so darkly real as it is here. Boasting great performances from the two leads, this is a must-see Hitchcock.”
