The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) & (1956)

Can there be a more wholesome cast that Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day? One might not expect an espionage thriller starring these two. The second time Alfred Hitchcock made a film called The Man Who Knew Too Much he made a thriller casting two of America's sweethearts, and bringing to the world the famous song Que Sera Sera. Hitchcock interestingly took the title of one of his earlier films and had the same writers who collaborated with him on the earlier film create a brand new film with a similar plot idea but quite a different execution. Both films are about families on vacation in a foreign land, this time Americans in Marrakesh, who get wrapped up in some international intrigue only to find their children get kidnapped due to their involvement. It becomes a race for them to rescue their child and perhaps stop the crime.

The casting of Day and Stewart is fascinating today. They are the every-American as they tour Morocco and end up being somewhat annoying as an "ugly American" trope. As the film sets out they also bicker to the point we find them a bit distasteful so the pairing of Stewart and Day creates an interesting dilemma. We feel we should like them, but they are made to seem uninteresting, only to be put in a situation where we sympathize with them. And as they spiral into desperation all their regular-ness comes out and we can see ourselves, even the parts we don't like. 

The film then follows the couple as they seek to track down their child and solve the mystery. While never as engrossing as Hitchcock's better films, The Man still provides a great deal of fun and doesn't lose momentum like the earlier version of this film. The use of the orchestra at the opening and closing is an interesting aesthetic choice and ads a uniqueness which was interesting. For me this will never rank up there with my favourites but it was entertaining enough to make it worth watching. 

The Man Who Knew Too Much

Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Charles Bennett, DB Wyndham-Lewis

But, as we know, this wasn't the first film of this name from this film making team. 22 years earlier Bennett and Wyndham-Lewis had written another script which Hitchcock shot under the same title. This is the story of a British family traveling in Europe who accidentally discover a plot to kill a dignitary, and when their daughter is kidnapped by the plotters, must race to save her and stop the assassination. Other than that it has little to do with the later remake.

Peter Lorre is cast on type as the creepy mastermind and Hitchock continues his British era themes of women saving the day, here with Best as a sharpshooter who bravely risks all to stop the crime. But the film is thinly drawn. There is truly entertaining dialogue at the beginning and the first death is a shocker. The ending manages to pick up the excitement but the middle is a bit over the top and goes on a little long (even thought the film is only 74 minutes).  While there is a great deal to enjoy here, including some of the early banter and Lorre's signature performance, it is easy to see why Hitchcock revisited this story, changing it significantly. 

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Starring: Peter Lorre, Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Nova Pilbeam, Frank Vosper
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Charles Bennett, DB Wyndham-Lewis