While attending a winter event in
Switzerland, a British couple, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, are alerted to an
imminent assassination attempt on an important European leader. But they find
themselves powerless, as the spies behind the assassination plot have kidnapped
their daughter, promising her safety only if they stay quiet. What will they
do?
The Man Who Knew Too Much is one
of auteur Alfred
Hitchcock’s best early British films (his other really good British films
include The
39 Steps and The Lady
Vanishes). Hitchcock worked with writer Charles Bennett,
who specialized in mystery thrillers and the-wrong-man stories, as well as
composer Arthur
Benjamin, cinematographer Curt Courant,
and production designer Alfred Junge (who
also did fantastic work for the Archers in the
1940s).
Hitchcock remade this film in 1956
in the midst of his best run in Hollywood, and it is probably a grander
version, but the 1934 film is much more experimental and aesthetically
interesting. The film was one of the early sound films and it is clear watching
it that Hitchcock is literally creating the film-language for telling a
suspense narrative in the new age of sound. In some ways, the film even films
avant garde. And, there is a brilliantly fantastic chair fight scene that
is utter madness. This is a must-see for fans of Hitchcock and those interested
in seeing a good early sound film.
Trailer: Here
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