Rent The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Que Sera, Slog - The Man Who Knew Too Much review by griggs

This was my third attempt, and it still feels like watching paint dry — then watching it rewind. There’s craft on display, but the pacing drags its feet like it’s trying to miss the last train home.

The 1934 version isn’t perfect, but it’s wittier, pacier, and keeps the intrigue ticking along. This one adds roughly three-quarters of an hour, and you feel every minute of it. The suspense doesn’t build; it queues.

It does perk up in the final half hour, when the machinery finally starts moving and you can see the shape of the thriller Hitchcock wants. Trouble is, by then your patience has already been sandblasted by the first stretch.

The only bit that really sticks is the song — “Que Sera, Sera” — which is admittedly a hell of a takeaway. As a film, though, The Man Who Knew Too Much mostly left me admiring the intention and wishing it had called time sooner.

Contractual obligation. - The Man Who Knew Too Much review by Steve

It's difficult to watch Alfred Hitchcock's retread of his own 1934 thriller without comparing them. And not all the changes are unfavourable. James Stewart and Doris Day bring star power to the leads which eclipses the rather grey Leslie Banks and Edna Best. And Day's mental fragility is an interesting addition.

Some of the negativity that gathers around the update isn't really a fault: the original was a breakthrough by a director on the edge of greatness; the remake is the least of his amazing sequence of '50s thrillers. He owed his studio a film, and considered revisiting any of his British releases.

The best scene is still the climax at the Albert Hall. It is expanded to a considerable longer running time, but the suspense still holds. Composer Bernard Herrmann showed good judgement in retaining the same music. Reaction to Doris' lengthy singing of Que Sera Sera is probably a matter of personal taste.

The remake has a larger budget, more glamorous fashions, Technicolor and Vistavision and is 45 minutes longer. But these don't amount to better film. And it feels a little bloated at times, especially the long new ending at the embassy. It's a decent work of suspense. Its misfortune is that the Master had already made it so well.

Often copied - The Man Who Knew Too Much review by JD

This must be the first tension drama in which a murder is planned to happen at a particular moment in an orchestral performance. I have seen many similar variations since. The film has a familiar Saturday morning feel to it. Good enough to pass the time but not breathtaking. Doris Day has a reasonable singing voice but Que sera sera is not good enough to be sung twice in one film. Hitchcock uses the English actors to play the clumsy villans, the French to play the immoral murderer and the Americans to play the Hero/Heroine. If you stomach the stereotype it is watchable.