The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
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.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | 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: 32,819
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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
Mar 6, 2001
MCA Universal Home Video
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Cast
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James Stewart
Dr. Ben MacKenna -
Doris Day
Jo McKenna -
Brenda De Banzie
Mrs. Drayton -
Bernard Miles
Mr. Drayton -
Daniel Gélin
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 -
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Barbara Burke
Girlfriend of the Assas... -
Peter Camlin
Headwaiter -
Albert Carrier
French Policeman -
Alex Frazer
Man -
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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 -
-
Eric Snowden
Special Branch Officer -
John O'Malley
Uniformed Attendant -
-
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All Critics (29) | Top Critics (4) | 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.
Top CriticWhile 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.
Starting slowly amid colourful but rather superfluous travelogue-style Moroccan footage, the film improves no end as it progresses.
Even in mammoth VistaVision, the old Hitchcock thriller-stuff has punch.
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.
Hitch's remake of his own film results in an equally compelling action thriller with sterling performances from Stewart and Day.
Hitchcock's scenes are beautifully framed and tautly directed.
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 masterpieces.
Each version has certain elements superior to the other, but both films rank as minor Hitchcock works.
One of Hitch's best from his '50s period...and his only one with a hit song ("Que Sera").
Understated tension from the master of overstatement.
Audience Reviews for The Man Who Knew Too Much
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Foreign Prime Minister: Delighted, delighted, delighted.
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- The Ambassador: You have muddled everything from the start, taking that child with you from Marrakesh. Don't you realize that Americans dislike having their children stolen?
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Foreign Titles
- Der Mann, der zuviel wußte (DE)
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (UK)
This time around though, the telling of the storyt is a lot more polished, more artistic, and 45 minutes longer. Both films are great, but this one is the stronger of the two, but by how much is really up for debate.
It's the usual Hitch story: family goes on vacation, meets interesting people, and they get caught up in situations they aren't prepared for, and are in way over their heads. To top it off, the family can't do much since their son has been kidnapped as a way of threatening them, so not only do they need to try to stop an assassination, they need to get their son back.
As I said, this version is a lot more slick and polished. The sets and costumes look great ,AStewart is solid as always, and it's really ncie seeing Doris Day do something dramatic. The film is a mixture of suspense thriller and comedy, and it sometiems works well, but on the other hand, it is fairly uneven at times, and it seems like the film can't make up its mind about which tone to stick with. Also, the film si pretty dated with the rather un PC way characters deal with race and culture, but hey, that's the 50s for you.
Nevertheless, this is an exciting film that never fails to hold one's attention, and there's some excellent sequences, most notable being the 14 minute or so sequence at Royal Albert Hall that is done with no dialogue, and relies soley on music and visuals to build tension and suspense. It's a real showstopper.
All in all, this is required viewing for fans of the genre, and especially fans of Hitch. The original should also be checked out, as it's a real joy as well.