The Man Who Knew Too Much
Movie • 1934 • 76 min
NR
"Knowledge can be a deadly thing."
While vacationing in St. Moritz, a British couple receive a clue to an imminent assassination attempt, only to learn that their daughter has been kidnapped to keep them quiet.
What viewers say
Viewers praise this early Hitchcock thriller for Peter Lorre's creepily appealing villain, the suspenseful Royal Albert Hall sequence and a brisk, tightly structured story that some prefer to the later remake. Complaints center on its age: primitive sound, editing and rear projection, stiff dialogue and uneven acting aside from Lorre, a first half that can drag, and an awkwardly staged climax. Critics are split on whether the polished remake is better. One viewer also notes it is surprisingly violent.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy classic black-and-white suspense and early Hitchcock, and can forgive dated filmmaking.
Summary of public viewer reviews, updated November 2026.
thrillermystery
📺 Where to Watch
🎬 Watch Trailer
Trailer hosted on YouTube. Click play to load.
🎭 Cast
Leslie Banks as Bob Lawrence
Edna Best as Jill Lawrence
Peter Lorre as Abbott
Frank Vosper as Ramon Levine
Hugh Wakefield as Clive
Nova Pilbeam as Betty Lawrence
Pierre Fresnay as Louis Bernard
Cicely Oates as Nurse Agnes