The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) ⭐️⭐️⭐

While vacationing in Switzerland with their daughter, Bob and Jill befriend Louis. However, the couple get embroiled in a sinister plot when Louis is killed and he shares a secret with them.

Starring: Peter Lorre, Nova Pilbeam, Leslie Banks, Edna Best

Watch On: Plex

While I’m not entirely sure if I would consider Hitchcock’s remake with James Stewart among one his best works, I do consider the concert hall scene one of Hitchcock’s finest moments. I wasn’t too crazy about his original effort, but I would still recommend it. It’s interesting seeing what Hitchcock did in the early days of his directing career, and finding links between his early films and what he would become later known for. The beginning and ending of this drag a little, but the middle portion is pretty entertaining. I enjoyed the dynamic between Bob Lawrence and Clive, and their scenes together are pretty amusing. Especially the scene in the dentist office. While there’s no James Stewart here, we get Peter Lorre. With this and M, he really does make a good villain. I especially like the silver streak he had in his hair. It made him look just a touch more menacing. Hitchcock’s film would later become a lot more polished, but for the early days of his career, and the earlier days of film in general, it’s worth checking out.

Ray Walton

Neurodivergent movie lover. Here to share reviews for horror and non horror movies that fall into the “Dark Cinema” category.