I have seen a majority of Hitchcock's films, and though "The Wrong Man" may not be in the same league as movies like "Shadow Of A Doubt", "Notorious", "Vertigo" and "Rear Window", it's a classic in it's own right.
I have read some of the critic's reviews of this film, stating how it was a failure as a "Neorealist" film. While it is certainly true that the film was inspired by the Italian Neorealistic movement, it was equally inspired by the elements of classic film noir. There are three major elements that makes this film such a chilling, engrossing, uneasy film to watch: 1) Alfred Hitchcock's masterly command of this genre, combined with its stark realism; 2) the way both Hitchcock and Henry Fonda make us identify with the character through his entire ordeal; and 3) the way Hitchcock makes it appears as if this could happen to anyone, given the right set of circumstances.
Few circumstances are more compelling than a good man unjustly accused of terrible crimes. And few filmmakers illustrate this concept better than Hitchcock.
I have read some of the critic's reviews of this film, stating how it was a failure as a "Neorealist" film. While it is certainly true that the film was inspired by the Italian Neorealistic movement, it was equally inspired by the elements of classic film noir. There are three major elements that makes this film such a chilling, engrossing, uneasy film to watch: 1) Alfred Hitchcock's masterly command of this genre, combined with its stark realism; 2) the way both Hitchcock and Henry Fonda make us identify with the character through his entire ordeal; and 3) the way Hitchcock makes it appears as if this could happen to anyone, given the right set of circumstances.
Few circumstances are more compelling than a good man unjustly accused of terrible crimes. And few filmmakers illustrate this concept better than Hitchcock.