New Books Network Jason Isralowitz, "Nothing to Fear: Alfred Hitchcock and the Wrong Men" (Fayetteville Mafia Press, 2023)
Jan 5, 2026
Jason Isralowitz, a partner at Hogan Lovells and author of *Nothing to Fear: Alfred Hitchcock and the Wrong Men*, dives deep into the themes of wrongful conviction in the context of Hitchcock's film *The Wrong Man*. He shares insights on the true story of Manny Balestrero and discusses how eyewitness misidentifications and institutional denial contribute to miscarriages of justice. Isralowitz also reflects on Hitchcock's cinematic techniques and the emotional impact on families, urging a renewed appreciation for the film and its relevance to today's justice issues.
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Eyewitness Testimony Was Overvalued
- Eyewitness IDs were treated as infallible in mid-century prosecutions, driving wrongful convictions.
- Police used suggestive procedures that created confident but contaminated identifications.
How Identification Procedures Bias Witnesses
- A show-up displays one suspect alone and signals police belief, making it inherently suggestive.
- Lineups can work only if fillers are appropriate and procedures avoid cues that mark the suspect.
The Jackson Heights Holdup That Sparked It
- On July 9, 1952, a man robbed the Prudential office in Jackson Heights and took about $200.
- Detectives later attributed that robbery, and a December follow-up, mistakenly to Manny Balestrero.
