MovieChat Forums > The Wrong Man (1957) Discussion > If it's a true story, why...?

If it's a true story, why...?

posted 13 years ago by gulija
13 replies | jump to latest

According to Wikipedia: "The film is based on a true story of an innocent man charged for a crime he did not commit. The story was based on the book The True Story of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero by Maxwell Anderson and the article "A Case of Identity" (Life magazine, June 29, 1953) by Herbert Brean. It was one of the few Hitchcock films based on a true story, and unusually for Hitchcock, the facts of the story were not changed much". Indeed, Hitchcock says more or less the same thing in his introductory cameo.

Why, therefore, do we read that "The story, all names, characters and incidents portrayed in this production are ficticious. No identification with actual persons, living or dead is intended or should be inferred"?

Can anyone explain?

Thanks

[–] ocalamike510 13 years ago

gulija, that is standard "boilerplate" language used for legal purposes. Let me assure you that the story was indeed true. My father was the musician mentioned peripherally in the film as Manny's pal from the band that he would play the horses with (true). In fact, my father was paid a small amount of money from Warner Bros. and had to sign a release stating in so many words that he would not sue them for anything, even though he is not named in the movie.

Ocala Mike

[–] skipster 13 years ago

It's based on a true story, but it's not a documentary of the actual story. It just tells a story that was based on a true story.

John Grisham did the same thing with his book "An Innocent Man" and caught all kinds of flak over it from the DA in the case, even though the facts in the story, right down to and including trial records and court transcriptions were spot on the money.

[–] rsgre 13 years ago

Thanks for your comments everyone. How interesting Ocalamike that you have a personal connection with the real story. Does the Stork Club still exist ? Did your father work there until he retired ? How much did they make in salary in those days ? Great film...Henry Fonda is so believable...but a lot of water under the bridge since then !

RSGRE

[–] ocalamike510 13 years ago

The Stork Club closed its doors for the last time in 1965. Go here for more of the story: http://www.storkclub.com

My father worked there until sometime in the mid to late 50's when Sherman Billingsley busted the Mucician's Union and brought in non-union live musicians.
My dad continued in the music business doing club dates right up until the day he died in 1989.

I don't know what he earned, but we lived a middle-class life through the 50's, and my mom never worked.

Ocala Mike

[–] rsgre 13 years ago

Thanks Ocala Mike, went to the website, very nice, glossy overview without any nitty gritty details. Interesting picture of Toots Shores who ran a similar place too. Nice memorabilia of an older generation, now all faded away. A lot of old time self-made men were anti-union, like Billingsley, glad you father did fine anyway. Was he one of the members of the band in the film ?
Thanks for all the information...!

RSGRE

[–] ocalamike510 13 years ago

rsgre:

When the movie was being shot, they were considering using the actual Stork Club band in the filming. Unfortunately, they ultimately did not go this way.

My Dad had to sign a release with Warner Bros. stating something to the effect that he wouldn't sue them over the movie. I believe they paid him a (very) small amount of money for his signature.

Ocala Mike

[–] advice31765 13 years ago

It was indeed filmed in the Stork Club.

After "The End", the next screen says:

"We are grateful to Mr. Sherman Billingsley for his gracious cooperation in permitting scenes of this picture to be photographed at the Stork Club in New York City."

[–] ocalamike510 13 years ago

Right, advice31765, the scenes of the Stork Club were actually filmed there. The band shown, however, was made up of musicians other than those who regularly worked there, or at least other than those who actually played with Manny.

Ocala Mike

[–] BlondeVixen 13 years ago

Ocalamike, thank's for sharing this info, very interesting.

[–] advice31765 13 years ago

My goodness, I completely missed the word "band" in your post!

[–] syranger101 13 years ago

What was the actual year when Manny was arrested?

When he wanted to call his wife h was told that had been done by the authorities. So if at Hitchcock said it was true does that mean that they could do it for him??

[–] ocalamike510 13 years ago

It happened in 1953. The year before, my dad took me to the Polo Grounds with Manny and his son to see a NY Giants baseball game. I remember Monte Irvin hit a long home run.

[–] kst3 8 years ago

Your insight on this movie gives it a realistic perspective that some reviewers seem to be missing. Thank you.

On an unrelated note, I think you saw the Giants play the Pirates on Sep 9, 1952. Every record book lists Monte Irvin's home run as "long". It was of three he hit at the Polo grounds that year.