The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. With James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie, Bernard Miles. An American physician and his wife take matters into their own hands after assassins planning to execute a foreign prime minister kidnap their son.

The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1956 American suspense thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Doris Day.

The debate still rages as to whether Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much is superior to his own original 1934 version. This two-hour remake (45 minutes longer than the first film) features more stars, a lusher budget, and the plaintive music of Bernard Herrmann (who appears on-camera, typecast as a symphony conductor). Though the locale of the opening scenes shifts from Switzerland to French Morocco in the newer version, the basic plot remains the same. American tourists James Stewart and Doris Day are witness to the street killing of a Frenchman (Daniel Gelin) they've recently befriended. Before breathing his last, the murder victim whispers a secret to Stewart (the Cinemascope lens turns this standard closeup into a truly grotesque vignette). Stewart knows that a political assassination will occur during a concert at London's Albert Hall, but is unable to tell the police: his son (a daughter in the original) has been kidnapped by foreign agents to insure Stewart's silence. The original script for Man Who Knew too Much was expanded and updated by John Michael Hayes and Angus McPhail. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hitch's second version of this film is dominated by a blonde who refused to be icy – Doris Day – writes Philip Hensher

Overview of The Man Who Knew Too Much, 1956, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, with James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie, at Turner Classic Movies

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

James Stewart and Doris Day in 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956)

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The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1956 suspense film about a family vacationing in Morocco who accidentally stumble onto an assassination plot and the conspirators are determined to prevent them from interfering

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A widescreen, Technicolor remake by Hitchcock of his 1934 film of the same title. A couple (James Stewart, Doris Day) vacationing in Morocco with their young son accidentally stumble upon an assassination plot. When the child is kidnapped to ensure their silence, they have to take matters into their own hands to save him.

Film locations for The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), in London and Morocco.