THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

US, 1956, 120 minutes, Colour.
James Stewart, Doris Day, Bernard Miles, Brenda de Banzie, Daniel Gelin, Ralph Truman, Alan Mowbray, Hillary Brooke.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

The Man Who Knew Too Much was originally made by Alfred Hitchcock in 1934 with Peter Lorre. He took the opportunity just over twenty years later to remake it in Hollywood. The story is an interesting blend of espionage and domestic comedy and drama.

The cast is particularly strong with James Stewart in one of his best roles as the bewildered man entrusted with a message in North Africa about a spy ring in London. Doris Day, unexpectedly, is his wife. (This gives the opportunity for Doris Day to sing Que Sera, Sera, which was to win an Oscar for best song of 1956.)

Brenda de Banzie and Bernard Miles are particularly effective and sinister as the criminals.

The film used African locations to great effect and had its culmination in London. The famous scene where Doris Day screams during a pause in the orchestra’s playing is set in the Royal Albert Hall.

James Stewart appeared for Hitchcock in Rope, Rear Window as well as Vertigo. The Man Who Knew Too Much was made at the same time as To Catch a Thief and The Wrong Man.

1. Entertaining Hitchcock thriller? Its impact in the '50s? Its re-release amongst the 'lost Hitchcocks' in the '80s?

2. Hitchcock's interest in the story? His treatment of the original in the '30s? The decision to do a remake in the '50s? The contrast between British studio production and American-backed African and British location work? The contrast between the brevity and length of the two versions? The popular stars of each version?

3. The atmosphere of the film: the Marrakesh locations? London: streets, apartments, Ambrose Chapel, the Albert Hall? An authentic atmosphere? The contrast between the unfamiliar Morocco and the familiar London?

4. Colour photography, smooth style? The screenplay with its blend of suspense and humour? Ironies ? e.g. the Parnells, their visit and the screwball comedy ending?

5. The musical score: the songs and Doris Day's contribution? The Oscar win for 'Que Sera Sera'? The musical score of Bernard Hermann, Arthur Benjamin? The orchestrations, the choral work ?and their being worked into the plot?

6. The Hitchcock cast: James Stewart as the Hitchcock hero, the ordinary man, the solid American, sense of conscience and right? Doris Day as the cool blonde heroine? Daniel Gelin and the French touch? Bernard Miles and Brenda de Banzie as the commonsensed British villains? The quality cast?

7. The international flavour of the story - for international espionage? The American background, Africa, France, Britain? Impact for American audiences? International audiences?

8. The ordinary opening: situation comedy style, the affluence American family on holiday, the background and the jokes about the patients financing the trip? ordinary family? difficulties in the bus with Hank snatching the Muslim woman's veil? Louis Bernard and his help, questions? Growing suspicions? Jo in contrast with Ben? The assassin and his coming to the wrong door, Bernard and his visit, breaking his appointment? The contrast with the pleasant Draytons? The visit to the market and watching the violent incident, Bernard in Arab's disguise, his whispering into Ben's ear? The transition from the ordinary to the suspicious to the dangerous and the significance of the title?

9. The situation in the marketplace: the death, the information, the police interrogation, the phone call threatening them about Hank, the Draytons taking Hank, Ben's not telling Jo, prescribing the sedative for her, her grief? Ben having to cope and decide? Jo's reaction? Leaving and going to England? The immediate questioning by the British police? The decision not to give the information to the police?

10. The main focus of the film on one day: pace,' urgency, suspense? The credibility of Ben and Jo's detection and the prevention of the assassination?

11. The counterpoint of moods? Jo's grief, the flowers from the Parnells, their arrival and chatter? Humour and tension? Their giving information to Jo and Ben for their various excursions? The humorous ending?

12. The real Ambrose Chappell? Ben and his phone call, suspicion.

13. The contrast with Jo's visit to the Ambrose Chapel? The street, its being shut and the transition to what was going on inside? The truth about the Drayton’s, the girl at the airport and her playing checkers with Hank? Her sullen attitude? Mrs. Drayton asking her to be kind? The opening of the church, Mr. Drayton putting on his clerical collar and playing the music for the assassin? The irony in villainy? The people gathering for the ceremony? Ben arriving, Ben and Jo hiding at the back? Mrs. Drayton taking up the collection, indicating to her husband that Ben and Jo were present? J0,5 leaving to phone the police? Mr. Drayton's hurried ending of the sermon and dismissing the congregation and locking the church?

14. The arrival of the police, the irony of the Chapel being shut? Ben and his climbing the bell-rope and alerting the neighbourhood?

15. The build up to the concert in the Albert Hall, the arrival of the Prime Minister, the police with him? The audience knowing the cues about the assassination? Jo's arrival, the encounter with the assassin and his warning about Hank? Her helplessness? The beginning of the concert. the poster with Bernard Hermann's credit, Hermann conducting the music? The set up in the assassin's box with the woman as cover? Ben's arrival, being spoken to by Jo, the search?

16. The build up to the climax, the editing and pace for audience attention to Jo, Ben, the musicians, the conductor, the audience, the cymbal player? Her scream and the climax?

17. The aftermath with the congratulations by the Ambassador? The Draytons taking Hank to the embassy? The discussion with the diplomat and his disgust with the assassination failure? Hank taken through the kitchen and the reaction of the kitchen staff? Ben's decision to go to the party. having Jo sing? The use of 'Che Sera Sera' to alert Hank? Mrs. Drayton getting him to whistle?

18. The suspense, the climax with Drayton, his fall down the stairs?

19. The characterisation of the Draytons ? their political beliefs, cover?

20. An enjoyable story of espionage and conspiracies? Personal decision-making and responsibility?