Antonius Block
In Hitchcock's 'British' version of the film made two decades before the one with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, it's the villains who are really well cast, with Peter Lorre and Cicely Oates turning in deliciously creepy performances. And there are some really nice touches here – the scene in the dentist's chair (who doesn't squirm at least a little seeing that setting, with those tools), a shot of Oates through bleary, hypnotized eyes, and of course the scene in the Royal Albert Hall, where suspense builds with an imminent assassination. It's nice that the film is to the point at 75 minutes, but it's a little awkward in the first part of the film, there are some odd plot points, and the shootout at the end is tediously long (it's telling that Hitchcock would omit that in the 1956 version). It's worth watching but certainly not a classic.
Python Hyena
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934): Dir: Alfred Hitchcock / Cast: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, Frank Vosper, Pierre Fresnay: Thrilling suspense by director Alfred Hitchcock regarding a planned assassination and a kidnapping. Leslie Banks and Edna Best learn of their daughter's kidnapping but cannot reveal any information about the planned assassination. Banks ends up captive after an attempt for answers but he holds strong pooling his resources particularly his hope in his wife. The climatic shootout with police is well executed but overlong with Banks making the obvious save of his son. Best is still available for a climax during an orchestra. She will be the strong factor while Banks is under restraint. Peter Lorre steals scenes as a hardened villain leading the terrorist group. What the climax proves is that even the most skilled and hardened of criminals cannot escape the reality of death. Frank Vosper is also featured among the supporting players. He will assist Banks in the investigation and even become involved in a violent key scene. Pierre Fresnay plays the initial murder victim who will pass valuable information onto the couple, which leads to the paranoia. Theme regards knowing information and what to do with it. For Hitchcock that information became subject to clever writing and tension. Classic shootout finale works despite many anti-climatic moments. Score: 9 / 10
Thomas Drufke
In honor of Alfred Hitchcock's birthday I decided to sit down and watch one of his earlier films, the original The Man Who Knew Too Much. it's nowhere near as polished as his later classics but there is still some entertainment to be had. The premise is very similar to what he tackled in later ventures. It deals with a man and his family who get caught up in a murder and end up 'knowing too much'.One of the problems early on in the film is that most of the leading men all look similar. That is, except for the brilliant Peter Lorre. His character is filled with mystery so I wont spoil anything but I think he was the main bright spot in the film. He stole every scene he was in and then some. Leslie Banks was very reminiscent of Fred MacMurray in Double Indemnity with his vulnerability but also how slick he can be as well. The plot of the film ends up being a bit too convoluted for a Hitchcock film, but I was nonetheless impressed by some of the feats he was able to pull off in such an early time in his career. The main one being the end gun battle. Now, the actual scene itself is far bigger than the actual film, so it can seem out of place. But you have to commemorate Hitchcock on his ambition here.So I enjoyed my time watching the film although it's not constructed very well at all. I give Hitchcock a pass and just hope when I watch his own remake of the film it turns out better.+Impressive for a 1934 Hitchcock film +Lorre's performance -Slow at times &convoluted plot 6.7/10
Steven Torrey
I thought this 1934 movie better than the Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day 1956 remake. It seemed by 1956 superannuated director and actors--who knew their importance--remade a 1934 movie and really detracted from the film's storyline by their presence. Something like "The Man who Knew too Much" DIRECTED by Alfred Hitchcock and STARRING Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Even the 1954 "Dial M for Murder" seems driven by story line and not by the acting of the performers, no matter how excellent their performance was. In 1934, film was still new and so the production values are those of the 1930s and lacks the polish of later movies. (But look at 1935 "Top Hat" for true sophistication and wit that lasts into 2014--still fresh in 2014.) The story, as others have pointed out,has holes in the plot line--but one senses the fun of making such a movie with such a gruesome subject as kidnap and murder that would be a precursor to "Monk" or "The Pink Panther" where comedy plays an important role in the dark doings of murder and kidnapping.And Peter Lorre shines; one wonders why he wasn't asked to play the villain in the 1956 remake.
AD
