The Wrong Man 1

Movie Clip
Reflection Four:
The Wrong Man
Florida International University
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Abstract

This paper will be focused on analyzing The wrong man, ​and how it is a film noir. How film noir

shows darkness and fatalism moods causing characters to fall and break without any control of

the situation. Also the effects of camera angles, music, and lighting. Lasting how Hitchcock

shows himself as a narrator, also known as his signator.

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Reflection Four: The Wrong Man

The movie ​The Wrong Man​ directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a noir film. Film noir is a

genre of film made by fatalism and menace mood (Prince 2014 pg 265). The film stars with an

average man named Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero (Chris) on his way home to his wife, who

has been having teeth pain, and his kids. But this state of normalcy is quickly devoured by Chris

being mistaking at an insurance bank as a robber. Hitchcock uses this to emphasize how

everything is out of Chri’s control, and how one mishap can cause a deterioration of a character

causing the character ( and his family) to completely fall apart. A common theme of noir films

(Prince 2014 pg 265).

But unlike most ​The wrong Man​ does not have a femme fatale, a female manipulator that

brings about or enforces the falling of the mean character. It does, however, show the falling of

the whole family not just Chris as an individual. Increasing the tragedy.

Alfred Hitchcock focuses on camera angles, lighting, and music to create a menacing

mood. This is easily seen when the cops come to his house, the focus on the rear-view mirror and

the music (Prince 2014 pg 266). All indicating the tragedy and mistake that’s about to happen.
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Another example of this use is when Chris and Rose are talking in the bedroom about her lack of

sleep and hunger. The darkness of the room and how little the light shines plus how the scene is

focused on their face to face conversation shows how serious the matter is.

In the opening scene, Hitchcock walks in complete darkness with only one line of light as

his shadow figured is in the center, foreshadowing of the dark path Chris will have to go through.

At that moment Hitchcock narrates explaining to the audience that this movie is based on a true

story (Prince 2014 pg 242). The lack of narration throughout the following of the movie

emphasizes the importance of the fact that the movie is based on truth.
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References

Prince, S.R. (2014). Movies and Meaning: An Introduction to Film. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.