The Man Who Knew Too Much

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The Man Who Knew Too Much

PG

Released Jun 1, 1956

2h 0m

Mystery & Thriller

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89%

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44 Reviews

84%

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25,000+ Ratings

Dr. Ben McKenna (James Stewart) is on vacation with his wife (Doris Day) and son in Morocco when a chance encounter with a stranger sets their trip, and their lives, on a drastically different course. The stranger, killed in front of the family in the marketplace, reveals an assassination plot to the Americans. The couple's son is abducted in order to ensure the plot is kept secret, and suddenly the mother and father, with no help from the police, must figure out a way to get their child back.

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Critics Consensus

Remaking his own 1934 film, Hitchcock imbues The Man Who Knew Too Much with picturesque locales and international intrigue, and is helped by a brilliantly befuddled performance from James Stewart.

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Richard L. Coe

Washington Post

On the whole, The Man Who Knew Too Much is a dandy of its popular kind.

Mar 21, 2024

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

Instead of using music as a background for action, Hitchcock moves it up front... The chief drawback of these musical stage-waits is that they allow the audience to think back over the story and conclude that it doesn't make much sense.

Apr 28, 2020

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Don Gillette

The Hollywood Reporter

It's like a long novel that could be tightened, yet many would prefer it as it is.

Jun 5, 2018

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

The Man Who Knew Too Much is a fun watch—not one of Hitchcock's greats, but entertaining nonetheless.

Jun 11, 2025

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M. Oakley Christoph

Hartford Courant

Like all Hitchcock's plays the sudden twists are what make it filled with suspense and terror. Set abroad, from Morocco to London, and in color it is something to see.

Mar 22, 2024

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Jay Carmody

Washington Star

Hitchcock made the same picture in 1935, before he came to this country, but that should deter nobody. The story has been brought quite up to date, dressed in Vista Vision and color, and starts in Marrakesh.

Mar 21, 2024

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Patrick L

There is a lot to unpack, but I think Hanks little pants weren’t hemmed and it ruined the movie. It kinda had a lot of fake looking stuff that looked fake. It reminded me of two trains on the same track that are about to hit one another.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

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Mark B

It holds up well. Is the style a bit dated, of course but in a charming way. The suspense is tight and the locations add to the movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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Craig B

I guess other than North by Northwest I am just not a Hitchcock fan. I found this mind numbingly slow. Maybe it was just the era it was made with the Hays code they had to be so tame not much happens.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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Isaiah Y

Classic Hitchcock thriller with a great performance by James Stewart

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

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Will G

A great Alfred Hitchcock movie. Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day are fantastic actors. I’ve seen the original film too. Some of the movie took place in London. Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite director.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

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Stephen C

2 hours based on the 1934 movie of the same name, both directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

James Stewart

Dr. Ben McKenna

Doris Day

Jo McKenna

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Synopsis

Dr. Ben McKenna (James Stewart) is on vacation with his wife (Doris Day) and son in Morocco when a chance encounter with a stranger sets their trip, and their lives, on a drastically different course. The stranger, killed in front of the family in the marketplace, reveals an assassination plot to the Americans. The couple's son is abducted in order to ensure the plot is kept secret, and suddenly the mother and father, with no help from the police, must figure out a way to get their child back.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Charles Bennett, D.B. Wyndham-Lewis, John Michael Hayes
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, 1.66:1

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