The better question is not whether we believe in God but does God believe in us.
The better question is not whether we believe in God but does God believe in us.
Member since:02.07.2005
Reviews:43
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First let me say that I'm a big fan of Hitchcock, a big fan of old cinema, a big fan of black and white films and a big fan of films deemed too irrelevant for the common movie-goer. Alas I just can't seem to give this DVD the thumbs up.
You see, the thing is -if a black and white film, handicapped with the inevitable restrictions of movie-making in yesteryears, is to be an enjoyable experience for an audience today, it must have certain qualities of timelessness to it. Casablanca, The Seventh Seal and The Lady Vanishes are adored, remastered and distributed widely today because they're great films with enough relevance, humour, class and genius to appeal to people still. I watched The Lady Vanishes (Hitchcock's last British film before he moved to America to make such international blockbusters like Vertigo and Psycho) prior to this DVD and found that to be suspenseful enough despite it being made around the same time with this film. However I must say that The Man Who Knew Too Much proved just too boring and sketchy for me despite having such a promising plot and such a decent cast. Vintage Hitchcock doesn't quite cut it here. I've a great deal of patience for films with no apparent urgency or cutting edge to it but the greatest stumbling block here is that it's a thriller above all, and plainly not exciting enough for me.
SYNOPSIS: The Lawrence family is on a holiday in Switzerland and meets a spy who is then assasinated in front of them. The spy managed to whisper a political secret regarding an assasination to them just before dying but their daughter is kidnapped to buy their silence. Following that, they return to London to locate the kidnappers while at the same time trying to prevent the impending assassination amidst the pressures from the powers that be to reveal the secret and ultimately sacrifice their child.
CAST: Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre do quite a good job here (especially Best as the anxious wife) but their star appeal is compromised by the sheer outdated texture of this film which tends to bore more than entertain.
MOST MEMORABLE LINE: There were quite a few good banters but I've forgotten them now because the entire package just made me lose all interest in the story.
BEST SCENE: When the wife was flirting with the spy in front of the husband and daughter. Very clever and classy dialogue. Very English even, if I might add.
IMDB RATING: 7/10
MY RATING: 5/10
VERDICT: For those who are inclined to think that anything Hitchcock is Psycho-esque, this film will prove you wrong. I think if you bought this DVD today and sat through all 78 minutes of it, then you and I would make just about the only two people in the world who did it in the last 30 years. I'd very much hope the 1956 remake of this with James Stewart and Doris Day is going to be more exciting when I watch it next week. Someone who watched that should renew my jaded faith by leaving me a positive comment on the remake. Please tell me it's better than this!
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Excellent review there!!! I didn't think the 1935 version of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" was too bad, but it was still not nearly as good as "The 39 Steps," which Hitchcock put out the same year and won him acclaim. The 1956 version is ok, too, about on a par with the first one, and im sure you would enjoy that too. P.S. I'm a huge Hitchcock fan too!!! Chris xxx
Alfred Hitchcock himself called this 1934 British edition of his famous kidnapping story ... more
"the work of a talented amateur", while his 1956 Hollywood remake was the consummate act of a professional director. Be that as it may, this earlier movie still ha...
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![The Man Who Knew Too Much [DVD] [1934]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78542526.jpg "The Man Who Knew Too Much [DVD] [1934]")
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