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James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda De Banzie, Bernard Miles, Daniel Gélin ... see more see more... , Ralph Truman , Mogens Wieth , Alan Mowbray , Hillary Brooke , Christopher Olsen , Reggie Nalder , Richard Wattis , Noel Willman , Alix Talton , Yves Brainville , Carolyn Jones , Patrick Aherne , Frank Atkinson , Barbara Burke , Peter Camlin , Albert Carrier , Alex Frazer , Milton Frome , Leo Gordon , Walter Gotell , Gladys Holland , George Howe , Harold Kasket , Barry Keegan , Lou Krugman , Lloyd Lamble , Donald Lawton , John Marshall , Lewis Martin , Louis Mercier , Wolfgang Preiss , Guy Verney , Anthony Warde , Patrick Whyte , Richard Wordsworth , Bernard Herrmann , John Barrard , Harry Fine , Alma Taylor , Clifford Buckton , Betty Baskcomb , Alexis Bobrinskoy , Enid Lindsey , Mayne Lynton , Eric Snowden , John O'Malley , Alfred Hitchcock , Peter Williams (II)

The debate still rages as to whether Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much is superior to his own original 1934 version. This two-hour remake (45 minutes longer than the first fi... read more read more...lm) features more stars, a lusher budget, and the plaintive music of Bernard Herrmann (who appears on-camera, typecast as a symphony conductor). Though the locale of the opening scenes shifts from Switzerland to French Morocco in the newer version, the basic plot remains the same. American tourists James Stewart and Doris Day are witness to the street killing of a Frenchman (Daniel Gelin) they've recently befriended. Before breathing his last, the murder victim whispers a secret to Stewart (the Cinemascope lens turns this standard closeup into a truly grotesque vignette). Stewart knows that a political assassination will occur during a concert at London's Albert Hall, but is unable to tell the police: his son (a daughter in the original) has been kidnapped by foreign agents to insure Stewart's silence. The original script for Man Who Knew too Much was expanded and updated by John Michael Hayes and Angus McPhail. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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66% want to see it

31,909 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

28 critics

PG, 2 hr.

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (1,235)

  • cosmo313
    April 11, 2012
    cosmo313
    This is Alfred Hitchcock doing a remake of one of his own films from early on in his career, and it's an interesting choice. The original was a slick, fun little thriller in its own right, and it really helped set the standard for the bulk of his career from then on.

    This time ... read morearound though, the telling of the storyt is a lot more polished, more artistic, and 45 minutes longer. Both films are great, but this one is the stronger of the two, but by how much is really up for debate.

    It's the usual Hitch story: family goes on vacation, meets interesting people, and they get caught up in situations they aren't prepared for, and are in way over their heads. To top it off, the family can't do much since their son has been kidnapped as a way of threatening them, so not only do they need to try to stop an assassination, they need to get their son back.

    As I said, this version is a lot more slick and polished. The sets and costumes look great ,AStewart is solid as always, and it's really ncie seeing Doris Day do something dramatic. The film is a mixture of suspense thriller and comedy, and it sometiems works well, but on the other hand, it is fairly uneven at times, and it seems like the film can't make up its mind about which tone to stick with. Also, the film si pretty dated with the rather un PC way characters deal with race and culture, but hey, that's the 50s for you.

    Nevertheless, this is an exciting film that never fails to hold one's attention, and there's some excellent sequences, most notable being the 14 minute or so sequence at Royal Albert Hall that is done with no dialogue, and relies soley on music and visuals to build tension and suspense. It's a real showstopper.

    All in all, this is required viewing for fans of the genre, and especially fans of Hitch. The original should also be checked out, as it's a real joy as well.
  • fb1664868775
    November 13, 2011
    fb1664868775
    One of my favorites from Hitchcock. Jimmy Stewart, as always, gives his all and the Vista Vision technology is used to it's fullest. Also, Doris Day puts in her best performance.
  • superjoker1
    September 11, 2011
    superjoker1
    The Man Who Knew Too Much can't seem to decide whether to be a light-hearted comedy or a full-out thriller, but there are plenty of wonderful moments to be had along the way. Doris Day is good, and James Stewart is more hesitant and confused than ever as the bumbling doctor. It's... read more worth checking out, even if it does overstay it's welcome.
  • spielberg00
    July 5, 2011
    spielberg00
    Until I saw this film, I had never heard of a situation in which a director remakes their own film.
  • lewiskendell
    March 28, 2011
    lewiskendell
    I'm not sure why I didn't have a more enthusiastic reaction to The Man Who Knew Too Much. Hitchcock is the director that got me interested in classic cinema, and Rear Window, Notorious, Psycho, The Birds, Rebecca, and The Lady Vanishes are all among my favorite movies. It's a glo... read morebe-trotting adventure with all the tension, intrigue, assassinations, conspiracies, and suspense you could want, but there's something about it that just didn't really catch my interest until the last 30 minutes, or so. The ending is great, but the rest of the movie was just missing something, in my opinion.

    The problem certainly wasn't with the two lead actors. James Stewart gave another great performance under Hitchcock's eye (he was my favorite Hitchcock leading man), and Doris Day was charmingly determined and convincing as a confused wife and mother, desperately searching for her son.

    The Man Who Knew Too Much certainly isn't a bad movie (is there such a thing as a bad Hitchcock movie?), and I expect that other people might have a more favorable response to it than I did. I suspect this is just one of those times when a good film just doesn't completely "click", with me, for whatever reason. I recommend it to anyone who is interested, though.
  • SirPant
    January 31, 2011
    SirPant
    The Man Who knew too Much is not my favourite Hitchcock by a long stretch. It seems less 'of its time' and just plain 'dated' compared to his other classics and it has that 'remade for an American audience' feel about it. It's also a 'family friendly' film, not that that is a bad... read more thing, it's just that I prefer the more macabre of his films. The early Moroccan scenes are a little cringe-worthy in places and as beautiful as Doris Day's voice is, you do start to wonder why she was cast here (but that's not to say she did a bad job). Good but not great from the master of suspense.
  • ajv2688
    November 14, 2010
    ajv2688
    I liked the original, but this one has Grant in it, and a cool song from Day, so I really liked it.
  • ythelastman89
    April 29, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I donâ??t really have strong feelings either way on the remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Itâ??s not really all that much an improvement over the original, aside from the bigger budget and bigger names. Itâ??s a fun thriller, but not all that special in comparison to Hitchcock... read moreâ??s other films. Itâ??s not as good looking as it couldâ??ve been, but I think thatâ??s mostly because of the indoor sets. I think itâ??s more dated than it rightfully should be, but Iâ??d still say itâ??s a worthwhile and necessary experience.
  • smith44
    April 18, 2010
    smith44
    Hitchock's only remake of one of his own films raises the question of the superiority of his American work to his British work. This remake exceeds the original, more lavish with some of Hitchock's most powerful scenes ever. The films climaxes in the Albert Hall, one of Hitchock'... read mores best ever set peices. With the all time great song 'Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)' performed by Doris Day. And the amazing score by Bernard Herrmann, who appears in the film directing the orchestra, is one of his best.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    September 4, 2009
    MeetMeinMontauk
    Again, very long feeling, but fairly interesting. I liked it.

View All The Man Who Knew Too Much Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
March 27, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The film is uncharacteristically rigid and pious for Hitchcock; it feels more like a work of duty than conviction. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

While drawing the footage out a bit long, he still keeps suspense working at all times and gets strong performances from the two stars and other cast members. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Even in mammoth VistaVision, the old Hitchcock thriller-stuff has punch. Full Review

March 27, 2009
Film4

This version lacks some of the economy of the first, and, unusually for Hitchcock, it sags in the middle. Fortunately, there's a marked improvement as it reaches the last third. Full Review

Kim Newman
March 27, 2009
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

Hitch's remake of his own film results in an equally compelling action thriller with sterling performances from Stewart and Day. Full Review

March 27, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Hitchcock's scenes are beautifully framed and tautly directed. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 1, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Far superior to the 1934 version, The Man Who Knew Too Much, underestimated at its 1956 release, should be considered as one of Hitchcock's masterpieces. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 16, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Each version has certain elements superior to the other, but both films rank as minor Hitchcock works. Full Review

Steve Crum
July 28, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

One of Hitch's best from his '50s period...and his only one with a hit song ("Que Sera").

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Starting slowly amid colourful but rather superfluous travelogue-style Moroccan footage, the film improves no end as it progresses. Full Review

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The Man Who Knew Too Much Trivia

  • Which Hitchcock film was the first to be remade?  Answer »
  • In what Alfred Hitchcock movie can we hear the song Que Sera Sera by Doris Day?  Answer »
  • In which movie do Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart travel haflway around the world to recover their kidnapped children?  Answer »
  • Director Alfred Hitchcock made THREE versions of the film "The Man Who Knew Too Much".  Answer »
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