Movie – The man who knew too much (1956)

Movie – The man who knew too much (1956)
Score : 8/10
Year : 1956
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cinematography: Robert Burks
Music: Bernard Hermann
Country : USA
Language : English (a bit of Arabic and French) 
Duration:2h00
Writers : John Michael Hayes (screenplay) ; Charles Bennet & D.B. Wyndham-Lewis (story) ; Angus MacPhail (uncredited contributor) 

Full cast: IMDB


Hitchock remakes his own movie from 1934, with the same basic plot, for a much better result:  a couple learns about an assassination plot, from someone who knew about it and couldn’t warn the people concerned in time. The couple is warned not to divulge the plot, or else… Someone, evidently, has an important leverage on them. 

Hermann, also appearing on-screen, composed music that fits well with the suspense of this film, with a rather humorous musical introduction with the orchestra, moving into the first scene - the McKenna family on their bus ride to Marrakesh, their vacation destination. From this point on, the story and its plot build up crescendo, in a well paced suspenseful film, with excellent acting from James Stewart and Doris Day as the McKenna couple, who convey very well the horrific situation they are in, and usually also from the supporting cast. 

I really love that Doris Day's character, Josephine (aka Jo), does participate in the attempts to fight against their plight, and not simply left as a damsel in distress, despite obvious emotional effect the situation has on both her and her on-screen husband, Stewart, as Benjamin. 

Dialogues and Jo's song are well written and delivered, being an integral part of the story. 

Cinematography often focuses on tight angles of vision, adding a sense of tension and a claustrophobic atmosphere, but also has some wider angles here and there - especially in Marrakesh. 

Pacing and edit are nearly perfect, with a couple scenes that I prefer not looking at - one in a restaurant and one at a taxidermist's, although I am able to see some of the latter by focusing my eyes on the characters. 

Costuming is rather elegant most of the time, especially towards the end, where gorgeous attire can be seen, and their color scheme is quite apparent throughout. 

The man who knew too much, 1956, is, in my opinion, a huge improvement on the 1934, first version that Hitch had delivered. However, it isn't perfect, with several goofs in continuity and factual errors that should have been avoided ; also, as I said above, although they are part of the story, I have to avoid part or whole of 2 scenes in the film, thus my score reflects these imperfections : 8/10 

Despite these, it remains entertaining and fun, with the additions of two cameras, not only the usual from Hitchock seen on the left side in the market scene, but also the music composer and conductor for the movie, appearing in it as well

Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day, Christopher Olsen, Brenda de Banzie, Bernard Miles, et al.