The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Too many fans seem to be blown away

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The Man Who Knew Too Much has a solid story going for it. Even though this was Stewart's fourth film with this director, Doris Day was a surprising choice for this role, and Hitchcock had never worked with her previously, so I was very curious about this film. Like many of Hitchcock's films during the 50's this one looks fantastic. I especially enjoyed the scene in the Ambrose Chappell Taxidermist shop. Day is actually very good in this film and I have to wonder why she and Hitchcock never worked together again. Stewart is also good but to me he played the character as someone who is perpetually annoyed throughout most of the film, which was an unfortunate decision. The cast is rounded out with interesting and memorable supporting characters. Despite all of the good this film contains I also felt that several of the scenes were a bit drawn out, and collectively they contributed to the uneven and often times lack of pace to this film, which ultimately left me underwhelmed and disappointed.

There is a tremendous amount of detail to keep your eye on in this remake of the 1934 Alfred Hitchcock British classic which Hitchcock directed himself. Like many of the later Hitchcock films, this has become a cult classic, and people watch them over and over to capture what they might have missed on previous viewings. You could spend an entire viewing looking at justice at Sam costumes and technical achievements, and another focusing on individual lines in the screenplay and the different characters who pop in and out. But the first time you watch it, it should be all about the plot, and this is one of Hitchcock's most suspenseful. Other than cinema classic lovers familiar with early British films, people do not remember Leslie Banks and Edna Best from the excellent original version, but anybody who has watch a movie in the last 50 years will certainly know James Stewart and Doris Day. As a happily married couple on vacations in the Middle East, they find themselves involved in a dire situation involving the kidnapping of their son, and the details leading up to the revelation of how and why what happened makes this intriguing from start to finish. They end up traveling all over, each moment passing them by making them more frantic.While Doris Day sang her most well known song, "Que Sera, Sera" in several films and used it as the theme of her TV series, this is where it was introduced, and unlike other versions of it, the song serves as a major plot element. Before that happens, however, a lot happens that would be sending most married couples to divorce court (Stewart keeping certain facts from Day until he makes her take a sedative), to a mental institution, or to a morgue. It is properly slow in spots to build up suspense, some which may make you jump, and some which may have you digging your hands into your couch to the point where you rip the fabric. Equally important to the plot is the extremely suspenseful music score by Bernard Hermann.Certain scenes seem like something that might have influenced Steven Spielberg when he created the character of Indiana Jones, one sequence taking place in an Arab market and involving a chase which results in murder. In fact, there have been several spoofs of elements of this film ("Foul Play") and serious plot devices used for other films, some successful ("Babel"), but mostly not. Hitchcock even utilized elements of this in his last film, "Family Plot". The supporting cast is not overloaded with familiar names, but their faces will be imbedded on your memory thanks to the dramatic way each of them is presented. Brenda de Banzie is particularly a standout. Of course, Carolyn Jones will instantly be recognized as an old friend of Day's.There's no whatever will be will be for Day's emotional mother, a retired musical comedy star who has left the stage to take care of her son. She is as dramatically effective here as she was in "Love Me or Leave Me", reacting with horror as each twist makes her believe that she may never see him again. Stewart is commanding as well, and it's a shame that they didn't work together again. But when you're in a film directed by the one and only Hitchcock, it's tough to choose who the real star is, even when outside a cameo, Hitchcock isn't even on screen other than for a split second.

Alfred Hitchcock may have made better films than this (Psycho and Vertigo come to mind), but in terms of pure, solid filmmaking, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" will keep you entertained from beginning to end.For a basic plot summary, the film focuses on the McKenna family, who (while on a vacation to Morocco) find themselves caught up in a case of political espionage that threatens to tear the family apart.Basically, every portion of this film is solid:-Plot: Will keep you on the edge of your seat as the McKenna's race against time to put together the pieces and come out ahead.-Acting: The combination of Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day pretty much assure a strong "acting" grade, and that is exactly what this movie deserves. They both play great roles that help draw you into the overall context.-Music: Bernard Hermann conducts the soundtrack, so excellence is pretty much guaranteed.-Direction: Hitch includes enough suspenseful interludes and unique camera angles to keep you involved even at the points when the plot bogs down a bit.Overall, this is a solid Hitchcock film that, while perhaps not one of his very best, is easily up near the top of his filmography.

Benjamin McKenna is a quiet guy on vacation with his family when things flee from his control. The sudden abduction of his son and the revelation of an intrigue of international proportions quickly take his life from the axis and lead him to an adventure of unpredictable end. It is a simple idea for an effective script, which compensates for the lack of verisimilitude with a certain irony and a touch of slight criticism of the authorities (it is enough to analyze how the police work in the film is late and bumbling). The film works very well, it creates a very pleasant suspenseful atmosphere and that prolongs by the film, arresting our attention. Okay, it may not be one of Hitchcock's most famous films, especially for those who do not know the director's work very well, but it's certainly one of the best this director did, and some of the scenes in the film are well known and worthy of anthology. James Stewart brought to life the lead role and achieved in this film a solid performance. Doris Day, who played McKenna's wife, does an excellent job as well and brings us some musical moments of great quality. The film also brings us an interesting piece of classical music, which I was pleased to hear. It is not just a prop, nor is it just there for decoration, but it plays an important role in the plot. For me, the worst part of the movie is the fact that, sensibly from the middle, we already perceive too much of the plot and this ends up making the final a little predictable.