A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE CAN BE A DEADLY THING!
For some reason, Alfred Hitchcock felt that the 1934 version of this story was something he could improve upon. Well, it turns out that he was wrong. This thriller about an American couple (James Stewart, Doris Day) whose son is kidnapped in Morocco in order to prevent them from telling the authorities about an upcoming assassination in Britain, is good enough for a second round. But the extra padding that makes the film a half-hour longer is pointless and I miss Peter Lorre. Everything is smoother, the stars and the Albert Hall finale are fine, but the movie is also more static than the original.
1956-U.S. 120 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Song: “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)” (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans). Cast: James Stewart (Ben McKenna), Doris Day (Jo McKenna), Brenda De Banzie (Lucy Drayton), Bernard Miles, Ralph Truman, Daniel Gélin. Cameo: Bernard Herrmann.
Oscar: Best Original Song.
