Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Rating: ****
Based on the 1934 film of the same name, Alfred Hitchcock remade ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ in 1956 with James Stewart and Doris Day because he thought his earlier version was the work of an amateur. Based on the premise, how small things such as the crashing of cymbals can cause havoc, Hitchcock made one of the best intelligent, suspense dramas of the time.
Dr. Ben McKenna, Jo McKenna and their son Hank are on the bus to Marrakesh from Casablanca on a vacation when they befriend Frenchman Louis Bernard. Upon arrival in Marrakesh, Ben invites Louis over for dinner. Later in the evening, Louis excuses himself from dinner and leaves to attend an unfinished business. Bewildered and left alone, Ben and Jo decide to dine alone where they meet the suspicious looking couple – The Draytons. In no time, Ben, Jo, Edward and Lucy get to know each other. Next day, the couples along with Hank visit the market where they witness the death of Louis Bernard. Seconds before his death, Louis whispers into Ben’s ears and passes away. Ben holds some vital information to a big conspiracy which is about to unfold in some other part of the world. Will Ben hold on to the information or not? What did Louis whisper into Ben’s ears? Will Ben do as told by Louis forms the rest of the story?
All Hitchcock films have one thing in common, moments of brilliance that tell you how unique
and intelligent each of his film is. One moment of brilliance in this film is in the very first scene, where an orchestra is playing as the titles roll down on the screen. For many this scene simply represents an orchestra playing at the start of the film but nothing else. However, if you could borrow eyes of Hitchcock and look at this scene, you’d be surprised to know that, not only this scene brings forth events that are about to unfold, Hitchcock also introduces his pivotal character of the film – the cymbals. All characters intertwine in a scene where the cymbals crash.
One more moment of brilliance is in the bus scene, where Hank accidentally pulls off the veil of a Muslim’s wife. Louis comes to the rescue and Ben conveys his deepest gratitude for the help rendered. In return, Louis says ‘there are moments in life when we all need little help’. When Louis is killed, Ben could’ve washed off his hands and continued with his holiday however he offers to help because that’s the moment Louis needed little help.
Hitchcock’s trademark elements are in place yet again, from the crowd-filled murder scene in Morocco to Ambrose Chappell in London, everything just seems to have been perfectly put in place. The relationship between Hank and Jo is brilliantly portrayed in the scene where they’re singing ‘Que Sera Sera’ to each other while Hank joyously whistles away. The relationship between Ben and Joe is one of the best scenes in the film. Although Ben and Jo keep arguing in most scenes but you actually get see how much Ben cares for Jo until the scene he tells her about Hank’s disappearance. Ben knows Jo would over react upon hearing about Hank, so he casually convinces her to pop few pills and as he narrates to her the incident, Jo gradually slips into oblivion.
There’s no way you can find fault with Hitchcock’s set-up. His aptitude to use Oscar winning ‘whatever Will Be’ as a plot device to get Doris singing to find Hank is way beyond ordinary man’s understanding.
This remake is carried by its star power, with James and Doris reprising roles with
total conviction and sympathy as the parents of kidnapped child and as couple ripped apart by an international espionage plot.
FYI Only:
Screenwriter John Michael Hayes was hired on the condition that he will not watch the earlier version or read its script, and all the plot details came from a briefing with Hitchcock. The only difference between the two versions is that the first version opens in Switzerland, not in Morocco. Hitchcock appears in a cameo, in a scene in the market watching acrobats with his back facing the camera.
