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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
1 June 1956 (USA)
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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:
Assassination
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Morocco
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American
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Restaurant
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Bus
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 win
&
3 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Blu-Ray Review: Alfred Hitchcock Makes Striking HD Debut With ‘North by Northwest’
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 11 November 2009, 2:06 PM, PST)
Geek Deal: Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece DVD Collection for $54
(From Slash Film. 28 October 2009, 9:32 AM, PDT)
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 11 November 2009, 2:06 PM, PST)
Geek Deal: Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece DVD Collection for $54
(From Slash Film. 28 October 2009, 9:32 AM, PDT)
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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.50 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) |
UK:PG |
Iceland:L |
Spain:T |
West Germany:12 (nf) |
Brazil:Livre |
USA:Approved (PCA #17717) |
Portugal:M/12 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:PG |
Norway:16 |
USA:PG |
Canada:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Director Trademark: [Alfred Hitchcock] [stairs]Big scene on the stairs at the end.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the two men and the woman are discussing the music arrangements with the shot to be fired at Ambrose Chapel, the cigarette she is smoking is much smaller than the one that she extinguishes before she and the men go to leave the room.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Destination Hitchcock: The Making of 'North by Northwest' (2000) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Storm Cloud Cantata
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FAQ
Does Hitchcock have a cameo in "The Man Who Knew Too Much"?Where were the McKennas from?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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more (146 total)
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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.