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Encyclopedia > The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Produced by Michael Balcon (uncredited}
Written by Charles Bennett
D. B. Wyndham-Lewis
Edwin Greenwood and A.R. Rawlinson (scenario)
Starring Leslie Banks
Edna Best
Peter Lorre
Nova Pilbeam
Frank Vosper
Distributed by Gaumont British Distributors Ltd.
Release date(s) December 1934 UK release
March 22, 1935 U.S. release
Running time 75 min
Language English
Budget £40,000 (estimated)
IMDb profile

The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1934 suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This was one of the most successful and critically acclaimed films of Hitchcock's British period, and was an important step in paving the way for his move to America. Image File history File links The_man_who_knew_too_much_1934_poster. ... Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980) was a highly influential film director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres. ... Charles Bennett (2nd August, 1899 - 15th June, 1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter, probably best known for his work with Alfred Hitchcock. ... (Dominic) Bevan Wyndham-Lewis FRSL (March 9, 1891–November 21, 1969) was a British writer best known for his humorous contributions to newspapers and for controversial biographies. ... Leslie Banks (June 9, 1890 – 21 April 1952) was a British theatre and film actor, director and producer. ... Edna Best (March 3, 1900 - September 18, 1974) was a British actress. ... Peter Lorre, 1946, by Yousuf Karsh Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born Ladislav (László) Löwenstein, was a stage and screen actor of Austrian descent especially known for playing roles with sinister overtones in Hollywood crime films and mysteries. ... Nova Pilbeam Nova Margery Pilbeam (b. ... Frank Vosper was an actor who performed both on the stage & in films. ... Gaumont is a French film production company and is the worlds oldest film company. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (82nd in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... See also: 1933 in film 1934 1935 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn (of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) finally purchased the film rights to The Wizard of Oz from Frank J. Baum for $40,000. ... Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980) was a highly influential film director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres. ...


Hitchcock considered his 1956 remake to be superior, saying that the 1934 version was the work of a talented amateur, the 1956 version the work of a professional. However, many film critics seem to prefer the 1934 version, due to its shorter running time and concise storytelling, not to mention its charm. It is also available to a wider audience, as it is in the public domain. The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1956 suspense film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Doris Day. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

Contents

Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

(1934 version) The plot concerns a British couple who, while on vacation in Switzerland, witness the assassination of a spy. Before dying, the spy passes on to them some vital information. In order to maintain their silence, a group kidnaps their daughter. After following a series of leads, the couple discovers that the group intends to assassinate a European ambassador during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. They manage to prevent the assassination. Meanwhile, police find the hideout of the kidnappers and recover the young girl. Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victorias husband and consort, Prince Albert. ...

Spoilers end here.

Trivia

  • The shootout at the end of the film was based on the Sidney Street Siege, a real-life incident which took place in London on 3 January 1911.
  • Peter Lorre was unable to speak English at the time of filming (he had fled from Nazi Germany only recently because he was Jewish). Therefore, he learned his lines phonetically.
  • Hitchcock hired composer Arthur Benjamin to write a piece of music especially for the climactic scene at Royal Albert Hall. The music, known as the Storm Clouds cantata, was used in both the 1934 and 1956 versions.

The Siege of Sidney Street, popularly known as the Battle of Stepney, was a gunfight in Londons East End in 1911. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Arthur Leslie Benjamin (September 18, 1893, Sydney - April 10, 1960, London) was an Australian composer. ... Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victorias husband and consort, Prince Albert. ...

Cast and crew

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980) was a highly influential film director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres. ... Charles Bennett (2nd August, 1899 - 15th June, 1995) was a British playwright and screenwriter, probably best known for his work with Alfred Hitchcock. ... (Dominic) Bevan Wyndham-Lewis FRSL (March 9, 1891–November 21, 1969) was a British writer best known for his humorous contributions to newspapers and for controversial biographies. ... Ivor Goldsmid Samuel Montagu (23 April 1904, London, England – 5 November 1984, London) was a British filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and film critic. ... Arthur Leslie Benjamin (September 18, 1893, Sydney - April 10, 1960, London) was an Australian composer. ... Leslie Banks (June 9, 1890 – 21 April 1952) was a British theatre and film actor, director and producer. ... Edna Best (March 3, 1900 - September 18, 1974) was a British actress. ... Peter Lorre, 1946, by Yousuf Karsh Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born Ladislav (László) Löwenstein, was a stage and screen actor of Austrian descent especially known for playing roles with sinister overtones in Hollywood crime films and mysteries. ... Frank Vosper was an actor who performed both on the stage & in films. ... Hugh Wakefield (1888-1971) was a film actor, who played supporting roles. ... Nova Pilbeam Nova Margery Pilbeam (b. ... Pierre Fresnay (April 4, 1897 - January 9, 1975) was a French stage and film actor. ... George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (January 11, 1859 - March 20, 1925), was a conservative British statesman and sometime Viceroy of India. ...

External links

  • The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 version) at the Internet Movie Database
  • The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) at the AFI/Turner Classic Movies database
  • Alfred Hitchcock Fans Online - The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
  • Download the 1934 version from the Internet Archive
Films directed by Alfred Hitchcock
1920s: Number 13 • The Pleasure Garden • The Mountain Eagle • The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog • Downhill • Easy Virtue • The Ring • The Farmer's Wife • Champagne • The Manxman • Blackmail • 1930s: Juno and the Paycock • Murder! • Elstree Calling • The Skin Game • Mary • Number Seventeen • Rich and Strange • Waltzes from Vienna • The Man Who Knew Too Much • The 39 Steps • Secret Agent • Sabotage • Young and Innocent • The Lady Vanishes • Jamaica Inn • 1940s: Rebecca • Foreign Correspondent • Mr. & Mrs. Smith • Suspicion • Saboteur • Shadow of a Doubt • Lifeboat • Aventure Malgache • Bon Voyage • Spellbound • Notorious • The Paradine Case • Rope • Under Capricorn • 1950s: Stage Fright • Strangers on a Train • I Confess • Dial M for Murder • Rear Window • To Catch a Thief • The Trouble with Harry • The Man Who Knew Too Much • The Wrong Man • Vertigo • North by Northwest • 1960s: Psycho • The Birds • Marnie • Torn Curtain • Topaz • 1970s: Frenzy • Family Plot


 

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