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Summary: HITCHCOCK'S "MAN" A "MASTER"PIECE
Review: The "Master of Suspense", Alfred Hitchcock, hits another bullseye with his 1956 production of "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Purists have been known to complain that they prefer Hitchcock's original 1934 version of the story to the lavish, widescreen, color version starring James Stewart and Doris Day, but if viewed side by side, both films stand on their own as classic Hitchcock.The 1956 "Man" unfolds like a beautiful book, methodically, deliberately, and compellingly. Stewart plays an American doctor and Day is his wife, a retired singer. They are vacationing with their young son, Hank, in Morocco, when they become embroiled in an International incident involving a planned assasination. Their son is kidnapped and taken to London. Day and Stewart follow, where they attempt to get some answers and to locate their son, on their own, without the help offered by Scotland Yard. The film reaches it's exciting climax during a concert at Albert Hall in which Day suddenly realizes what is about to occur. Without giving away some of the intricate plot twists and turns, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is like a breathtaking ride on a state of the art rollercoaster. You cannot help but get caught up in the plight of Stewart and Day. James Stewart and Doris Day seem like a real married couple, so easy and comfortable is their onscreen chemistry. They banter and interact convincingly but there is also a strong indication that there may be some tensions lurking beneath the outer veneer. Both actors play their roles with expertise and Day, in particular, shows range and versatility in her performance, being especially memorable in the justly celebrated Albert Hall scene and in an earlier scene when Stewart informs her that their son has been kidnapped. The growing realization as to what he is telling her is reflected in Day's facial reactions. Hitchcock has once again assembled a first-rate cast of supporting players including his long time musical collaborator, Bernard Herrmann, who appears onscreen for the first time, playing himself while conducting an original piece of music during the Albert Hall sequence. The team of Livingston and Evans composed a song for Day to sing to her son as part of the plot. The tune, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be"(Que Sera, Sera), became a megahit, selling millions of records, winning an Oscar as best song and becoming one of Day's signature tunes. It plays an intricate role in the storyline, being introduced naturally and being reprised as part of the picture's denouement. The queues that formed at box-offices all over the world when "The Man Who Knew Too Much" opened in the summer of 1956, were a tribute to the talents of Hitchcock, Day, and Stewart, and to the public's continuing fascination with quality entertainment. To this day, the film remains one of Hitchcock's best films from his 1950's period. A movie that is well worth viewing.
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Summary: An exciting and suspenseful story of a family in danger.
Review: "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is superb cinematic storytelling that skillfully packs a series of suspenseful situations and believable action into a tight timeframe. Its faraway locations such as the marketplace of Marrakech and the streets of London (with the famous Albert Hall thrown in for good measure) give the film a feel of "bigness." Yet at its heart is a "small" story about the anguish and courage of an American father and mother after their young son is kidnapped. Despite its pacing, shifting locales and large cast of characters (all of them well-drawn), Hitchcock never allows his tale to lose this critical focus. James Stewart is, as usual, excellent in the title role as a doctor bringing his family along on a medical convention in Morroco. Doris Day is effective as his wife, Jo. When a dying Frenchman whispers vital information into Stewart's ear, a "friendly" English couple arrange to kidnap his son, Hank to pressure Stewart into revealing what he knows. Fighting down their panic, Stewart and Day arrange to fly to London, where the Frenchman has told him he is to find "Alonso Chappell." After a humorous mixup and scuffle with a taxidermist by that name, Stewart locates the Alonso Chapel, a small English church where he and Day discover none other than the British couple from Marrakech. Knowing that Hank must be nearby, Stewart struggles with the Englishman and his henchmen while Day rushes out for the police. Day's discovery of the kidnappers' plan to assassinatean important ambassador leads her to the Royal Albert Hall, where the victim is to be shot during a concert. Here one of Hitchcock's most masterful sequences unfolds, as Day agonizes helplessly while the moment for the assassin's shot draws nearer with each beat of the music. The movie's climax takes place in a London embassy. Here the anxious parents hatch a scheme to flush out the kidnappers and make a last attempt to rescue their son. Hitchcock's unparalleled ability to wring suspense out of every moment of key scenes is in full force here, making "The Man Who Knew Too Much" one of the Master's finest efforts.
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Summary: Trademark Hitchcock
Review: If this is not the most stunning Hitchcock - Mr Freud does not get a look in and their is very little blood - it is a film that is superior to 90 % of Hollywood fare and stands up remarkably well to reviewing. The English setting works very well and a number of memorable scenes include hero James Stewart escaping a church by climbing its bell rope! and a tussle in the workroom of a taxidermist with staff attempting to save the wild animals from the humans! Good old Hitch. Well worth owning.
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Summary: IT'S STILL HITCH
Review: After a slow start,this film really gets off after 45 minutes.While not the director's best,it is still very enjoyable with many delightful scenes including the musical climax at the ALBERT HALL;the diversion at the taxidermist's house;STEWART escaping the church in an unusual way(he literally climbs with the bell's rope).The ending for me is sort of a cop out,but you had to find a way to resolve the story.The epilogue is pure HITCHCOCK.The comments of the screenwriter,art director, producer and PATRICIA(the director's daughter) are worthwhile, because they are quite revealing about the director's methods.If you read LEONARD MALTIN's comments on his film guide,you'll probably pass this one(he only rated it ** and an half) which i think would be a mistake ,especially if you are an HITCHCOCK buff.
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Summary: Hitch Masterpiece Remade....By Hitch
Review: This review refers to the Widescreen DVD(Universal) edition of "The Man Who Knew Too Much"(1955)...
A masterpiece is reworked an updated by Hitch, the result?... another masterpiece! "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is a magnificent remake of his earlier work from the 30's. It stars Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart as parents desperate to get their child back from kidnappers, but must also prevent an assassination. Whew!, who else could handle that?
The film is pure Hitch. The edge of your seat suspense, the trademark staircase scene, the brillant camera angles, and all the special touches that make it definitive Hitch. The famous scene at the Albert Hall concert is one of the most chilling in film history. No matter how often it's viewed, your heart is in your throat waiting for the clash of those cymbals. Hitch has that way of always making the viewer want to warn the characters that something sinister is about to take place. You want to yell.."Now Doris..NOW!"
Doris sings her beautiful rendition of "Que Sera, Sera"(a wonderful treat), and the exotic location of French Morocco and Bernard Hermann's score also add greatly to this fine thriller.
Looking for Hitch: ... taking in the sights in Morocco. Be careful Hitch!... there's going to be a murder!
Universal has made a beautiful transfer of this classic and cherished work. It is presented in the original widescreen and the colors are brillant.The sound is in DD2.0(MONO), and is good but could be better in stereo. The DVD includes a documentary "The Making Of The Man Who Knew Too Much". There are captions in English and subtitles in Spanish. It may be viewed in English, French, and Spanish.
The film is perfection. Only the master himself could have made it even better then the original classic.
A must have for your Hitch collection....enjoy...Laurie
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Summary: Hitchcock at his finest!
Review: This is my favorite Hitchcock film. It is full of suspense, emotion and great acting. Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart team up as a perfect couple on a leisurely vacation and wind up in the middle of political warfare. This film will keep you on the edge of your seat as you pray that everything will be resolved in the end. Doris Day is charming and Jimmy Stewart is the level-headed father that always does what he must to ensure the safety of his family. This film should be in every home!
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Summary: Delicious Hitchcock thriller with Stewart and Day
Review: "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is one of my favorite Hitchcock films and contrary to what many Hitchcock fans say, I do believe it ranks with his best. But then, Hitchcock produced some of the most consistently watchable and entertaining films of all times.
Filmed on location, it tells the tale of an American family, Ben and Jo McKenna (James Stewart and Doris Day) and their young son, Hank (Christopher Olsen), who get caught up in intrigue, murder and kidnapping in exotic North Africa. While on the bus in Morocco, they encounter mysterious Frenchman, Louis Bernard (Daniel Gelin) and later in a spectacular scene at the bazaar in which Hitchcock makes his signature cameo, Bernard is murdered before their eyes. As Doctor McKenna (Stewart) goes to assist, Bernard just has time to whisper his secret into McKenna's ear. The cast is superb from Stewart and Day, both naturally appealing onscreen and in ripe dramatic form here, to the villains, and the balance of suspense, drama and humor is perfect.
So many favorite scenes: Stewart and Day in the Moroccan restaurant, adapting to the cultural specifications of eating with Stewart having trouble finding room for his legs; the intrigue with the other English couple staying at their hotel; James Stewart tracking down "Ambrose Chapel," a taxidermist, and the ensuing scuffle at Chapel's shop with all sorts of menacing corpses like leopards and swordfish wittily threatening the participants in the confined space. Day plays a former concert hall singer, who suspended her career to marry Stewart, so she has the opportunity to single some wonderful songs like "Que Sera Sera" as a natural outgrowth of the plot without the slightest awkwardness. It all culminates in a superb, tense finale at Albert Hall in London.
Absolute delicious fun. The master at his best. I've seen it scores of times and plan to enjoy it scores more in the future. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Perfect in every way.
Review: Many reviews on this site have concentrated on Doris Day's performance. Suffice it to say that it was perfect. In fact everything about this movie is perfect. Is it Hitchcock's best? No. But that has more to do with the concepts at work in his other movies as opposed to how good this movie actually is.
Jimmy Stewart plays a surgeon on vacation with his family in Morocco. Doris Day is his wife, a stage singer who has given up the limelight to raise their young son who is also travelling with them. A dying man tells Jimmy Stewart of an impending assassination attempt. Before, however, he can tell anyone of this, his son is kidnapped to keep him silent. The question here is what would you do? You know that somebody is slated to die. You can prevent this by passing along the information you have but it will mean the life of your son. What follows in this movie is the attempt by the husband and wife to figure out how best to handle this. How to find their son. How to contact the kidnappers. Remember there is no ransom request. Just a request to stay silent. But will this guarantee the little boy's life?
The reason why I feel this film is perfect is that it is hard to find where Hitchcock has gone wrong. His casting is brilliant. Who better to play the average American father than the ever identifiable and sympathetic Jimmy Stewart? Doris Day has always symbolised the nice girl next door. Who better for the role of mother? Stewart's character is a surgeon, but the operations mentioned are nothing flashy: appendix, tonsils, etc. Doris Day used to be a singing star on stage, but has now retired and is raising their son.
Their reactions to their set of circumstances is believable and even probable and very likely match our own. They don't know if they are doing the right thing, but they have a plan and try to pursue it. Doris Day's portrayal of the moral dilemna she is confronting at the now famous opera scene is spot on perfect. Does she try to save the Prime Minister or stand by and watch as murder is committed?
Neither of our protagonists are perfect. Some of Jimmy Stewart's decisions are debatable, but all understandable. There is a moment when he decides to sedate his wife before breaking the news of the kidnapping. I don't know if I would have done the same, but it is in keeping with his background as a doctor and an argument can be made for it.
This brings us to one of the constant themes in Hitchcock's work: the use of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Neither Mr Stewart or Ms. Day "know" what to do. They are guessing at their next step. They make wrong decisions but never stupid ones. It is their own determination and a little cleverness that ultimately allows them to succeed.
As usual, this film is full of classic Hitchcock touches. The editing and camera work are designed to extract the most out of each scene. Suspense is created from the start with suspicious characters appearing in the most normal of situations.
A final point is that we find here, as in other Hitchcock movies, the appearance of drama surrounded by the regular. Stewart and Day are immersed in a fight for the child's life, but must appear normal to their friends. The world does not share their ordeal. In a way this makes the situation seem that much more hopeless. One feels that the world will not come to an end if their child dies and that there is no help for them.
Modern audiences might not like the slow pace here, but it is deliberate and logical. Tension lies more within the psychological moments leading to a dramatic moment that in the moment itself.
I highly recommend this film.
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Summary: Top Notch Thriller and Doris Day is Superb!
Review: Doris Day is one of those rare talents who could do anything!! Most of her career was spent in musicals and comedies but those rare times when she was allowed to shine in a dramatic role are a rare treat. "The Man Who Knew Too Much" is one of those films. One cannot go wrong with Hitchcock and without this film, there wouldn't have been Doris' trademark song, "Que Sera, Sera".
The most fantastic sequence in this film is the 'symphony sequence' where the prime minister is about to be murdered and Doris knows. While the symphony is going on Doris is unmatched in her portrayal of dramatic tension and the whole scene is done without dialogue which was sheer Hitchcock genius. Originally there was supposed to be a dialogue exchange between Day and Jimmy Stewart about what was about to happen to the prime minister but Hitchcock was enjoying the symphony so much that he told them to play the scene without dialogue so that he could enjoy the music. The scene wouldn't have worked nearly as well with dialogue.
Doris Day proved that she was equally adept at drama as she was in comedy. That she could sing better than just about anyone was only an added plus. Only she and Judy Garland were those two rare talents who could do anything.
Bette Davis certainly couldn't play comedy and sing. Neither could Katharine Hepburn. Stanwyck was adept at both comedy and drama but she was not a singer.
As I said, rare is the talent that can do all.....comedy, music and drama. And Doris Day could. It is unfortunate that her career did not allow her more dramatic roles such as Jo McKenna in "The Man Who Knew Too Much", or as Julie in "Julie" or "Midnight Lace" or "Young Man With a Horn" or "Storm Warning", a 1951 gem! Watching her in dramatic roles is a rare treat and only proves what an incomparable talent she was.
As for "The Man Who KNew Too Much" this is one of Hitchcock's best though the ending is a little contrived and much too rushed. But the performances and the story about intrigue, kidnapping and murder in Morocco is master Hitchock. And as I said before, without this movie, there wouldn't have been "Que, Sera, Sera which won the academy award that year as best song and became the song with which Day is most identified.
Rating: 
Summary: Shows that Doris Day can act
Review: When this film was made, people were confused at the choice of Doris Day as the mother whose son is kidnapped. However, Doris Day is outstanding in this, and very convincing. She is more than just 'funny girl' actor who appeared in so many comedies. The film does however suffer from being very dated. It starts off well, but goes pair-shaped halfway through. I'm not a fan of James Stewart, and wonder why Hitchcock used him so often. Didn't he realise that there were other actors around? He acted the same in all his films. Yawn! The DVD is features packed. There's a "Making Of," Trailors and nice anamorphic transfer. Some reviews have criticised the transfer, but i actually think it is much cleaner than the supposedly restored "Vertigo" withDVD.
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