The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)
| The Man Who Knew Too Much | |
|---|---|
| File:The man who knew too much 1934 poster.jpg | |
| Directed by | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Written by | Edwin Greenwood and A.R. Rawlinson (scenario) |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon (uncredited} |
| Starring | Leslie Banks Edna Best Peter Lorre |
| Distributed by | Gaumont British Distributors Ltd. |
Release dates | December 1934 U.K. release March 22, 1935 U.S. release |
Running time | 75 min |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £40,000 (estimated) |
The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1934 suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This was one of the most successful and critically acclaimed films of Hitchcock's British period, and was an important step in paving the way for his move to America.
Hitchcock considered his 1956 remake to be superior, saying that the 1934 version was the work of a talented amateur, the 1956 version the work of a professional. However, many film critics seem to prefer the 1934 version, due to its shorter running time and concise storytelling, not to mention its charm. It is also available to a wider audience, as it is in the public domain.
Plot synopsis
The plot concerns a British couple who, while on vacation in Switzerland, witness the assassination of a spy. Before dying, the spy passes on to them some vital information. In order to maintain their silence, a group kidnaps their little girl. After following a series of leads, the couple discover that the group intends to assassinate an European ambassador during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. They manage to prevent the assassination. Meanwhile, police find the hideout of the kidnappers and recover the little girl.
Trivia
- The shootout at the end of the film was based on the Sidney Street Siege, a real-life incident of January, 1911.
- Peter Lorre was unable to speak English at the time of filming (he had fled from Nazi Germany only recently because he was Jewish). Therefore, he learned his lines phonetically.
Cast & crew
- Directed by Sir Alfred Hitchcock
- Written by Charles Bennett and D. B. Wyndham-Lewis
- Associate Producer: Ivor Montagu
- Photography: Curt Courant
- Editor: H St. C Stewart
- Music: Arthur Benjamin
- Lawrence - Leslie Banks
- Jill - Edna Best
- Abbott - Peter Lorre
- Ramon - Frank Vosper
- Clive - Hugh Wakefield
- Betty Lawrence - Nova Pilbeam
- Louis - Pierre Fresnay
- Nurse Agnes - Cicely Oates
- Binstead - B.A. Clarke Smith
- Gibson - George Curzon
External links
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 version) at IMDb
- Download the 1934 version from the Internet Archive
- An analysis of The Man Who Knew Too Much in the context of Hitchcock's career
