bbmtwist Chronologically this is the third of Hitchcock's suspense masterworks (after THE LODGER and MURDER!) and comes at the beginning of the last third of his UK work.It is a well-paced thriller with a now famously well-known set up. Common man becomes inadvertently drawn into a world of crime. Here a couple learn of an assassination plot and are silenced by the kidnapping of their daughter. Hitchcock himself remade this 22 years later and 45 minutes longer. The plot of Depp's NICK OF TIME also borrows the same narrative.Early on a clever joke involving a piece of knitting sets up a series of laughs, interrupted by the murder. There is the clever switch around of lethal dentist and searching father; the communication of instructions masquerading as hymn lyrics; a fight involving mission chairs; the villain visibly touched by the reunion of father and daughter; the classic Albert Hall assassination scream; the use of a chiming watch to betray its owner – all these are brilliant bits of business introduced by Hitchcock to make the narrative unusual, interesting and wrought with unexpected turns.The whole business except the rescue of the daughter is accomplished at the one hour mark with the remaining fifteen minutes involving the final stake-out, shoot-out and rescue. It is the second use of a rooftop scenario (after BLACKMAIL) to end a Hitchcock film.Most telling is the performance of Peter Lorre as the villain. While all the other actors are playing with great earnestness, Lorre is laid back, nonchalant, careless with ease, making his particular villain a stand-out among the genre. Had there been film awards in those days, his performance would have deserved a nod in the best supporting actor category.It is quite briskly resolved at exactly 1:15. A top notch Hitch suspense thriller and still highly enjoyable.

BA_Harrison The fact that Hitchcock saw fit to remake The Man Who Knew Too Much 22 years after his first attempt says a lot about his earlier rendition: it's got potential, but it's rough-around-the-edges, with too much guff to make it a wholly satisfying experience. Unsurprisingly, the 1956 version is the slicker and more enjoyable of the two films, Hitch having refined his style over the intervening decades.The 1934 film stars Leslie Banks and Edna Best as married English couple Lawrence and Jill, who uncover a plot to assassinate a foreign diplomat, which forces the terrorists to kidnap their daughter Betty (Nova Pilbeam) in order to keep them quiet. Of course, Lawrence and Jill being the protagonists in a Hitchcock film, they decide to track down their missing girl by themselves…While not a particularly remarkable example of Hitchcock's work, the film suffering from those foibles of early film-making, stiff performances and weak pacing, as well as a shootout at the end that doesn't know when to quit, the film is still worth checking out if only to see how it measures up to the better-known remake. Banks and Best don't come out of the comparison too well, being rather bland when compared to James Stewart and Doris Day, but Peter Lorre effortlessly makes his mark as villain Abbott.

jackasstrange A film by the great Alfred Hitchcock…sounds promising, oh yeah. But, The man who knew too much is a disappointing film. Mostly because it is, or at least try to be some kind of crime-drama-thriller film, but in the end it looks like a dull flick, and it's in most parts, even unintentionally funny. That sounds weird, talking in that way about one of the "greatest directors ever" but that's the truth, unfortunately. I am taking in consideration the fact that is a film made in 1935, but I don't know, I' ve seen before a few films made in the 30s that were actually good, but that one is just a fiasco. I mean, what was that 'chairs fight' scene in the church? I mean, really? I never laughed so hard with a scene in a non-comedy film in a long, long time. And even if wasn't by certain dull scenes, the film would still being outdated. Yeah, the time is the worst enemy of everybody. It obviously didn't stand the test of time. But okay, I liked some aspects of the cinematography, I found the shootout scene to be very well made and with some interesting use of lightning, specifically in the streets, creating some kind of atmosphere that you usually see in the films-Noir. But all in all, there Is no much to be said about that film. The story is dull, and worth noting, outdated, I didn't like the acting at all… well, it's fair to say that It's a mess of a film. 5.5/10

kai ringler While on a family vacation in Switzerland a couple and their daughter ge. t thrown right into some international intrigue,, as a spy is at the same winter lodge they are at,, as the spy is shot,, he hands off pertinent information to the man. in order to make sure that the man doesn't reveal the information he has just gotten regarding an assassination attempt,, the unknown assailants kidnap the family's daughter, assuring them of silence,, well the couple just don't wanna stand for this ,, and start to look for clues where the kidnappers are holding their daughter,, and meanwhile, they are also looking into the plot of the assassination attempt,, very well done Hitchcock film.. love the first shot,, of the man coming down the downhill... when the dog runs out onto the slope... great tracking shot... wonderful movie.