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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

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Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 28
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 3

Remaking his own 1934 film, Hitchcock imbues The Man Who Knew Too Much with picturesque locales and international intrigue, and is helped by a brilliantly befuddled performance from James Stewart.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

Remaking his own 1934 film, Hitchcock imbues The Man Who Knew Too Much with picturesque locales and international intrigue, and is helped by a brilliantly befuddled performance from James Stewart.

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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 31,498

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Movie Info

The debate still rages as to whether Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much is superior to his own original 1934 version. This two-hour remake (45 minutes longer than the first film) features more stars, a lusher budget, and the plaintive music of Bernard Herrmann (who appears on-camera, typecast as a symphony conductor). Though the locale of the opening scenes shifts from Switzerland to French Morocco in the newer version, the basic plot remains the same. American tourists

PG, 2 hr.

Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Written By: John Michael Hayes, Charles Bennett, Angus MacPhail

On DVD: Mar 6, 2001

MCA Universal Home Video

The Man Who Knew Too Much Trailer & Photos

Cast

James Stewart
Dr. Ben MacKenna
Doris Day
Jo McKenna
Brenda De Banzie
Mrs. Drayton
Bernard Miles
Mr. Drayton
Daniel G�lin
Louis Bernard
Ralph Truman
Insp. Buchanan
Mogens Wieth
The Ambassador
Alan Mowbray
Val Pamell
Hillary Brooke
Jan Peterson
Christopher Olsen
Little Hank MacKenna
Reggie Nalder
Rien the assassin
Richard Wattis
Assistant Manager
Noel Willman
Woburn
Alix Talton
Helen Parnell
Yves Brainville
Police Inspector
Carolyn Jones
Cindy Fontaine
Patrick Aherne
English Handyman
Frank Atkinson
Barbara Burke
Girlfriend of the Assas...
Peter Camlin
Headwaiter
Albert Carrier
French Policeman
Alex Frazer
Man
Milton Frome
Leo Gordon
Chauffeur
Walter Gotell
Guard
Gladys Holland
Bernard's Girlfriend
George Howe
Ambrose Chappell Sr.
Harold Kasket
Butler
Barry Keegan
Patterson
Lou Krugman
Arab
Lloyd Lamble
General Manager of Albe...
Donald Lawton
Desk Clerk
John Marshall
Butler
Lewis Martin
Detective
Louis Mercier
French Policeman
Wolfgang Preiss
Aide to Foreign Prime M...
Guy Verney
Footman
Anthony Warde
French Police
Patrick Whyte
Special Branch Officer
Richard Wordsworth
Ambrose Chappell Jr.
Bernard Herrmann
The Orchestra Conductor
John Barrard
Workmen in Taxidermist ...
Harry Fine
Edington
Alma Taylor
Box Office Woman
Clifford Buckton
Sir Kenneth Clarke
Betty Baskcomb
Edna
Alexis Bobrinskoy
Foreign Prime Minister
Enid Lindsey
Lady Clarke
Mayne Lynton
Eric Snowden
Special Branch Officer
John O'Malley
Uniformed Attendant
Alfred Hitchcock
Peter Williams (II)

Critic Reviews for The Man Who Knew Too Much

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (4) | DVD (18)

The film is uncharacteristically rigid and pious for Hitchcock; it feels more like a work of duty than conviction.

March 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comments (2)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

While drawing the footage out a bit long, he still keeps suspense working at all times and gets strong performances from the two stars and other cast members.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Even in mammoth VistaVision, the old Hitchcock thriller-stuff has punch.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

This version lacks some of the economy of the first, and, unusually for Hitchcock, it sags in the middle. Fortunately, there's a marked improvement as it reaches the last third.

March 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Hitch's remake of his own film results in an equally compelling action thriller with sterling performances from Stewart and Day.

March 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Hitchcock's scenes are beautifully framed and tautly directed.

March 27, 2009 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Far superior to the 1934 version, The Man Who Knew Too Much, underestimated at its 1956 release, should be considered as one of Hitchcock's dozen masterpieces.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Each version has certain elements superior to the other, but both films rank as minor Hitchcock works.

May 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

One of Hitch's best from his '50s period...and his only one with a hit song ("Que Sera").

July 28, 2006 Comment

Steve Crum

Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Starting slowly amid colourful but rather superfluous travelogue-style Moroccan footage, the film improves no end as it progresses.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Understated tension from the master of overstatement.

April 8, 2005 Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Man Who Knew Too Much

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One of my favorites from Hitchcock. Jimmy Stewart, as always, gives his all and the Vista Vision technology is used to it's fullest. Also, Doris Day puts in her best performance.

November 13, 2011

Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

The Man Who Knew Too Much can't seem to decide whether to be a light-hearted comedy or a full-out thriller, but there are plenty of wonderful moments to be had along the way. Doris Day is good, and James Stewart is more hesitant and confused than ever as the bumbling doctor. It's worth checking out, even if it does overstay it's welcome.

September 11, 2011

Kyle Fowler

Super Reviewer

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