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The Man Who Knew Too Much

  • 1934
  • Approved
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
20K
YOUR RATING
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
CrimeMysteryThriller

An ordinary British couple vacationing in Switzerland suddenly find themselves embroiled in a case of international intrigue when their daughter is kidnapped by spies plotting a political as... Read allAn ordinary British couple vacationing in Switzerland suddenly find themselves embroiled in a case of international intrigue when their daughter is kidnapped by spies plotting a political assassination.An ordinary British couple vacationing in Switzerland suddenly find themselves embroiled in a case of international intrigue when their daughter is kidnapped by spies plotting a political assassination.

  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett
    • D.B. Wyndham-Lewis
    • Edwin Greenwood
  • Stars
    • Leslie Banks
    • Edna Best
    • Peter Lorre
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett
      • D.B. Wyndham-Lewis
      • Edwin Greenwood
    • Stars
      • Leslie Banks
      • Edna Best
      • Peter Lorre
    • 144User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos111

    The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    D.A. Clarke-Smith and Pat Hagan in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Frank Vosper in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Peter Lorre and Frank Vosper in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Peter Lorre and Cicely Oates in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Peter Lorre and Leslie Banks in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    D.A. Clarke-Smith in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Peter Lorre in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
    Peter Lorre and Frank Vosper in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leslie Banks
    Leslie Banks
    • Bob Lawrence
    Edna Best
    Edna Best
    • Jill Lawrence
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Abbott
    Frank Vosper
    Frank Vosper
    • Ramon Levine
    Hugh Wakefield
    Hugh Wakefield
    • Clive
    Nova Pilbeam
    Nova Pilbeam
    • Betty Lawrence
    Pierre Fresnay
    Pierre Fresnay
    • Louis Bernard
    Cicely Oates
    Cicely Oates
    • Nurse Agnes
    D.A. Clarke-Smith
    D.A. Clarke-Smith
    • Binstead
    • (as D.A. Clarke Smith)
    George Curzon
    George Curzon
    • Gibson
    Frank Atkinson
    • Policeman Shot Behind Mattress
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Baskcomb
    • Lawrence's Maid
    • (uncredited)
    Cot D'Ordan
    • Concierge
    • (uncredited)
    Tony De Lungo
    • Hotel Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Clare Greet
    Clare Greet
    • Mrs. Brockett
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Hagan
    • Policeman at Siege
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Harrison
    Joan Harrison
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Edward A. Hill-Mitchelson
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett(by)
      • D.B. Wyndham-Lewis(by)
      • Edwin Greenwood(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Peter Lorre arrived in Great Britain, his first meeting with a British director was with Alfred Hitchcock. By smiling and laughing as Hitchcock talked, the director was unaware that Lorre, a Hungarian, had a limited command of the English language. Hitchcock subsequently decided to cast Lorre in this movie, and the young actor learned much of his part phonetically.
    • Goofs
      (at around 21 mins) When Bob Lawrence and his daughter exit the chalet porch to watch the trap shoot, Bob pushes the left door outwards. When the camera cuts to an outside view of their leaving the building, it's the other door that is swinging shut, and it is closing from the inside.
    • Quotes

      Abbott: Tell her they may soon be leaving us. Leaving us for a long, long journey. How is it that Shakespeare says? "From which no traveler returns." Great poet.

    • Connections
      Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Storm Clouds Cantata
      (1934) (uncredited)

      Music by Arthur Benjamin

      Words by D.B. Wyndham-Lewis

      Performed by London Symphony Orchestra

      Under the direction of H. Wynn Reeves

    User reviews144

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Original v. Remake?
    There is a long-standing tradition in film for someone to come along at a later time and feel moved to remake a movie now considered a classic.

    In many cases, the remake is really nothing more than an homage to the earlier version----perhaps updated to reflect the use of color and employment of some subsequent technical advances---but with little else to offer. "Prisoner of Zenda" (1952) and the recent "Psycho" come to mind as examples of such productions.

    Occasionally, the creator of the earlier film feels inspired to try to improve upon it himself. This by no means ensures success. Compare Frank Capra's "Lady for a Day" (1934) with his "Pocketful of Miracles." ((1951) On the other hand, many believe that DeMille's "Ten Commandments" (1956) is better in its story telling than his silent version made in 1923.

    So much has been written about the two versions of "Man Who Knew Too Much" that there is very little one can add that hasn't been said before. Having seen them recently back-to-back, my personal opinion is that they are both flawed---but in different ways. The earlier film is quaintly primitive---particularly in matters involving continuity, use of sound, editing and other technical issues. On the other hand, the later version seems excessively padded with much extraneous material, has a male juvenile actor who is quite inferior to Nova Pilbeam in the original and has villains who lack the unique menace of Peter Lorre---with his rare combination of subtle humor, wit and terror.

    In the end, the viewer is left with a sort of Hobson's Choice. Hitchcock himself said that the earlier work was that of a skilled amateur while the latter was the effort of a seasoned professional. No doubt in many ways he is right.

    But there is something to be said about the sheer originality and power of a first effort----flawed though it may be. "Citizen Kane" was also the product of a skilled amateur. Could a more mature Orson Welles have improved upon it even with its flaws?
    helpful•16
    2
    • malvernp
    • Jul 14, 2006

    FAQ2

    • Is this film in the public domain?
    • Every copy I've seen has been terrible. Which is the best version to buy?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Covek koji je suvise znao
    • Filming locations
      • Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, England, UK(finale)
    • Production company
      • Gaumont British Picture Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • £40,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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