Movies

About this movie

Genres:
Action & Adventure
Language:
English
Running time:
1:13:52
Partner rating:
UNRATED
Released:
1956
Quality:
480 (DVD equivalent)



Cast & Crew
Cast
James StewartDr. Ben MacKenna
Doris DayJo McKenna
Brenda De BanzieMrs. Drayton
Bernard MilesMr. Drayton
Daniel GélinLouis Bernard
Ralph TrumanInsp. Buchanan
Mogens WiethThe Ambassador
Alan MowbrayVal Pamell
Hillary BrookeJan Peterson
Patrick AherneEnglish Handyman
Frank Atkinson
Barbara BurkeGirlfriend of the Assassin
Peter CamlinHeadwaiter
Albert CarrierFrench Policeman
Alex FrazerMan
Milton Frome
Leo GordonChauffeur
Walter GotellGuard
Gladys HollandBernard's Girlfriend
George HoweAmbrose Chappell, Sr.


Directors
Alfred Hitchcock


Producers
Alfred Hitchcock


Writers
John Michael Hayes
Charles Bennett

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 film) 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).