The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
Genre: Thriller / Crime
Duration: 75 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre
IMDb score:
6,7 (23.314)
Releasedate: 1 December 1934
The Man Who Knew Too Much plot
"Knowledge can be a deadly thing."
Bob and Jill Lawrence are skiing with their teenage daughter Betty. When their friend Louis Bernard is shot, he just tells Jill about an impending murder in London. Worried that the plans will come out, the killers kidnap Betty to keep the Lawrence family quiet. Bob and Jill return to London and take matters into their own hands.
Actors and actresses
Bob Lawrence
Jill Lawrence
Abbott
Ramon Levine
Clive
Betty Lawrence
Louis Bernard
Nurse Agnes
Binstead
Gibson
Reviews & comments
Roger Thornhill
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- 6070 messages
- 2476 votes
The first of Hitchcock's famous half-dozen, the six English thrillers he made between 1934 and 1938, which gave him such a reputation that he was able to make the transition to Hollywood at the end of the decade. And just as The 39 steps from a year later has a plot with a central motif that has since appeared in hundreds of thrillers, this film has a fantastic title that immediately makes you curious about what that man is too much for. knew and which could also cover the load of countless later thrillers. Unfortunately, the film does not yet reach the level of The 39 steps and The lady vanishes; it is full of good ideas, but the climax of the film actually falls on two-thirds (the assassination attempt in the Royal Albert Hall), the settlement of the last part goes a bit too slow after that (as many people find here) and the fluidity that the story of The 39 steps already has (and that is independent of things like tempo and editing) is absent here. Good roles from Leslie Banks and (as usual) Peter Lorre. As far as I am concerned of very great historical but somewhat less artistic interest; I'm a big fan of this period in Hitchcock's career, but how could anyone prefer this film to Rear window or North by Northwest (both films that I think approach perfection? ) is a mystery to me.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mrklm
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- 11629 messages
- 10041 votes
During a winter sports holiday in St Moritz, Jill [Edna Best] and Bob Lawrence [Leslie Banks] witness the liquidation of Louis Bernard [Pierre Fresnay]. Before Louis dies, he gives the couple important information that turns their lives upside down, especially when their daughter [Nova Pillbeam] is kidnapped. In his first English spoken film, Peter Lorre plays the leader of the terror group that has nefarious plans in London. Hitchcock's first film adaptation of the story is fast-paced, but on a lower budget than the remake. The climax at Royal Albert Hall is the dramatic climax, but the shooting in the final disappoints. The 1956 remake is significantly better.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 3953 messages
- 2955 votes
Pooh...that was a bit of a shock as I expected James Stewart in the '56 version on this classic Sunday, because I thought I ordered it. That turned out not to be the case and I had to make do with this '34 version. But luckily, despite the low average grade, this wasn't even such a crazy film.
From the start, the film must not have it for the time being because goodness, the so-called ski jump accident looks bad, which in itself is understandable for an age of 89 years. But at the time I was under the impression that I was watching Stewart and his '56 version. The sequel can best be called wooden, even though the story does start with the murder, message and blackmail. It all stays dry.
Fortunately, there is improvement after the dentist visit where the necessary dry humor comes along and actually a target to chase. Just as quickly as the whole thing gets underway, it also changes to vague with what is happening in the church. I often wonder what all this is now. And the film also seems to collapse somewhat after Bob is captured.
Then the film with the siege of the church comes back to life with a bang, because what a finale, with a lot of violence for that time. It makes this The Man Who Knew To Much a film that fluctuates a lot every now and then but is quite entertaining and has very strong moments. Moreover, the whole must be seen in the context of 1934. And this TMWKTM turns out to be quite a nice film.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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