IMDb > The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 68 | slideshow) Videos (see all 3)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) -- A family vacationing in Morocco accidentally stumble on to an assassination plot and the conspirators are determined to prevent them from interfering.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) -- A family vacationing in Morocco accidentally stumble on to an assassination plot and the conspirators are determined to prevent them from interfering.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   16,550 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John Michael Hayes (screenplay)
Charles Bennett (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Man Who Knew Too Much on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 June 1956 (USA) more
Tagline:
A little knowledge can be a deadly thing! more
Plot:
A family vacationing in Morocco accidentally stumble on to an assassination plot and the conspirators are determined to prevent them from interfering. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Star Power Carries the Remake more (146 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

James Stewart ... Dr. Benjamin 'Ben' McKenna

Doris Day ... Josephine Conway 'Jo' McKenna
Brenda De Banzie ... Lucy Drayton (as Brenda de Banzie)
Bernard Miles ... Edward Drayton
Ralph Truman ... Inspector Buchanan
Daniel Gélin ... Louis Bernard (as Daniel Gelin)
Mogens Wieth ... Ambassador
Alan Mowbray ... Val Parnell
Hillary Brooke ... Jan Peterson
Christopher Olsen ... Henry 'Hank' McKenna
Reggie Nalder ... Rien
Richard Wattis ... Assistant Manager
Noel Willman ... Woburn
Alix Talton ... Helen Parnell
Yves Brainville ... Police Inspector
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
120 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The movie was originally to be produced by Paramount Pictures and Patron, a company to be jointly owned by James Stewart, Doris Day and Alfred Hitchcock. When the film finally went before the cameras, the production company was Filwite Productions, Inc., co-owned by Hitchcock and Stewart. The reason Day was not included in the final production deal has not been publicly disclosed. However, it may have had something to do with Day's husband and manager at the time, Martin Melcher, a man absolutely despised and considered shady by many in Hollywood. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the McKennas are riding to their hotel in the horse-drawn wagon after getting off the bus, the shadows are mismatched between the foreground and the back-projected scene. In the foreground, the shadows are on the left of the characters, as if the sun is on the right of the frame; in the back-projection, the shadows are on the right of the cars, as if the sun is on the left of the frame. more
Quotes:
[last lines]
Dr. Ben McKenna: Sorry we were gone so long, but we had to pick up Hank!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in L.A. Without a Map (1998) more
Soundtrack:
We'll Love Again more

FAQ

Why were the McKennas in Morocco?
Does Hitchcock have a cameo in "The Man Who Knew Too Much"?
Was "Que Sera, Sera" written for this movie?
more
38 out of 49 people found the following comment useful.
Star Power Carries the Remake, 23 July 2001
Author: Snow Leopard from Ohio

Both versions of Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much" have their strong points, and are well worth watching. This 1950's remake is carried mostly by its star power, with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day being convincing and very sympathetic as the parents of the kidnapped child. It also has more lavish settings and better (not just because it is color) photography than the earlier version. On the other hand, it lacks the wittiness of the British version, and moves more slowly.

The remake spends much more time setting up the story than the original did, with the family spending a lot of time on their vacation in Morocco before the crisis occurs. It makes possible some colorful scenery and settings, and allows you to get to know the family a bit more, although the quicker pace in the original established more tension and kept your attention throughout. The Albert Hall sequence works well in both films, with this one having the added bonus of allowing the audience to see Bernard Herrmann, who wrote so many great scores for Hitchcock's films, conducting the orchestra.

Despite having essentially the same story, the two versions of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" have a much different feel. Which one you prefer is largely a matter of taste - while neither is usually considered among Hitchcock's very best, they are both good movies with a lot of strong points. Take a look at both if you have the chance.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (146 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
i can't find alfred hitchcock! olebuttermilksky5
Hitchcock can't do endings s_rothrose
Albert Hall mulchy69
The Little Boy was VERY ANNOYING! PhilaCinema
I found Doris Day very annoying. monosyllabicmike
That was kinda messed up... zorrofox12
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Foreign Correspondent Babel The Man Who Knew Too Much Strangers on a Train La historia oficial
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.