The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Peter Lorre gives his first English performance in the first of Hitchcock's two versions of The Man Who Knew Too Much.  And boy, is that performance memorable.  He charms and laughs and rages his way through this tight and fun thriller, entirely and in every way stealing the show.

Comparisons are inevitable between this version and the later one with Jimmy Stewart.  But really overall they are very different films that simply share a similar plot.  The tension comes from a similar source, but the resolution of that tension and how it is developed are hardly similar.

To be honest, I'm not sure which version I prefer.  Hitchcock himself clearly thought he could do more with the concept, and he was right.  He certainly added to what he did here in the later film.  And of course the remake had Jimmy Stewart, which for me is always a plus (and changed the forgettable father in the early version with an unforgettable hero in the second.).  But overall I think the first film had better pacing, a much better villain, and a much more artistic style.  Hitchcock was breaking new ground in movie making, crafting a short but incredibly wonderful movie that still keeps audiences on the edge of their seats (and that has no small amount of humor).

Highly recommended.

Entertainment: 7/10
Artistic Value: 7/10
Technical Merit: 8/10

Overall: 7/10