THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

UK, 1934, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre. Nova Pilbeam, Frank Vosper, Hugh Wakefield, Pierre Fresnay.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

The Man Who Knew Too Much marked a new beginning of Alfred Hitchcock's career. After working in silent films for American and German producers in the '20s, he entered the sound era with such thrillers as Blackmail and Murder. With some failures in the early '30s, he emerged with this thriller and, really, never looked back. The film shows Hitchcock's interest in international espionage, a feature of so many of his films. It also focuses on the family and the threat to the break-up of the family.

Hitchcock uses a number of suspense techniques which he was to use over the coming decades. Particularly effective is the shooting of the French skier at the opening of the film. The scene in the Albert Hall is also well done. However, Hitchcock was to remake this film in the mid-50s with James Stewart and Doris Day. He had opportunity to improve. He himself said to Truffaut that the first film was the work of a talented amateur and the second the work of a professional. Leslie Banks was to appear in Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn. Peter Lorre, having moved from Nazi Germany, was at the beginning of his career in English and American films. He appeared in Hitchcock's Secret Agent. The film is brief, quite suspenseful and has a climactic siege ending based on true events of the siege of Sydney Street in 1910 with police besieging Russian anarchists. Interesting to see Hitchcock at the beginning of his career.

1. Alfred Hitchcock's career, origins in the silent film industry, the early '30s and his successes. The indication of themes and interests? The comparison of this original with its '50s remake? The British film industry of the early '30s?

2. The impact of the film: brevity, studio scenes and decor, black and white photography? The establishing of the family and the suspense situation, Hitchcock's ability to create tension. the build-up to the climax in the Albert Hall, to the siege?

3. The focus of the title on Bob, the knowledge that he had and its repercussions, the message from Louis Bernard, the background of espionage, of the thriller, danger and violence, heroism?

4. How well did the film establish its atmosphere ? the ski resort, Switzerland, international competition, Betty's intervention and carelessness, the shooting competition and Jill's expertise? The establishing of the family relationship, slightly obtrusively? Louis and his skiing, failure? Abbott and the nurse being present? Ramon and his shooting? The dance sequence and its atmosphere and the silent and sudden shooting of Louis? How dramatically effective? Hitchcock's cinematic skill? The message to Bob, Betty's kidnapping? The searching of the room, the police, Ramon's involvement? The kidnapping and the note? The effect on Bob and Jill and their concealing the truth from the police? The brevity of introducing so much material?

5. The collage transition from Switzerland to England? The wider implications of the assassination attempt? Scotland Yard, international politics? The people involved? Bob and Jill's friend and the playing with the trains? The information about the assassination, the threatening phone calls? Bob and Jill faced with the decision of saving Betty or stopping the assassination? How persuasive were the reasons for their decision?

6. Bob and his skill in following up the note, the encounter with the dentist, the ironies of the friend and his extraction, Bob and the attack on the dentist, disguising himself as the dentist, Abbott and following him? The dramatics of the switchover in the dentist's chair? Comic touches?

7. The transition to the church - the odd sect and the worship of the sun? The crowd in the church, singing? The nurse and her role? The hypnotism? Bob's intervention and the smashing of the church, the friend and the phone call to the police?

8. Bob and Betty and their being held? The nurse and the phone call to Jill? Her being delayed and Jill going to the Albert Hall? The elaboration of the plan, Ramon and his skill in shooting, Abbott as mastermind? Listening to the record and the audience knowing how the assassination was to take place? Preparation for suspense?

9. The build-up of the concert, Jill's presence, the assassin and the gun behind the curtain, the continual panning around the Albert Hall, the music, the group listening on the radio? Jill's scream and its repercussions? Ramon and his escape, not realising he was being pursued?

10. The group hearing the news, panic? The set-up of the siege, the decision to shoot, violence and death? How well drawn was the anarchist group? Abbott and his manner, control? The nurse and her strong leadership, control? The other members of the group? Ramon?

11. The police and their decisions, getting the rifles from the shop, the sieging of the house, the police deaths, Jill's presence? The establishing of the tactics to flush out the anarchists?

12. The sequences inside the house - the shooting, deaths, the nurse getting the ammunition and the drama of her death? Bob and Betty and the escape, Ramon pursuing Betty on the roof? Jill's marksmanship in killing Ramon? Abbott and his being shot behind the door? Hitchcock touches in these deaths?

13. The happy ending - the background of espionage and the involvement of ordinary citizens. the repercussions on a family of international events? The parallels with the beginning of World War one? Decisions, heroism, people responding to violent situations? Hitchcock's skill in creating suspense? was he right in considering this the work of a talented amateur?