Peter Evans For historical significance only, not entertainment. At no point in the movie do the characters behave like real humans beings, British or otherwise. Clearly a first work by a new director in a new field of talking movies, aside from seeing how movies were first made by new directors from other countries and the upper limits of bad acting, there is nothing to justify watching this. The directing is atrocious and the editing is worse. The DVD transfer (who? why?) is easily the worst I have ever seen, unequalized volume, washed contrast throughout. Whoever did it clearly knew the value of the movie and realized no expense should be spared...and he didn't.

Tweekums While British couple Bob and Jill Lawrence and their daughter Betty are holidaying in Switzerland they become friends with Louis Bernard. He is then shot but before he dies he asks Bob to get a note that is hidden in his room and take it to the British Consulate. He retrieves the note but before he can do anything with it he is handed another note… this one warns him that Betty has been kidnapped and he will never see her again if he tells anybody about the content of the first note.The Lawrences return to London and are questioned by the authorities but don't say anything. A phone call then reminds them of the threat to their daughter. This is traced to Wapping where Bob ultimately finds the villains, led by Abbott who appeared friendly when they spoke to him in Switzerland. He and his associates are plotting to kill a foreign dignitary during a performance at the Albert Hall. It will require some quick thinking if Abbott's plans are to be thwarted and Betty saved.Given that this film is over eighty years old it isn't surprising that it feels a bit dated at times but not as much as one might expect. At only seventy five minutes it certainly doesn't drag but at the same time it doesn't feel rushed. The early scenes, in Switzerland, do a great job of setting up the story and introducing the key characters. Once Betty had been kidnapped the tension rose and presented a real dilemma for our protagonists; on the one hand the bad guys are threatening their daughter on the other they are told that if the assassination isn't stopped Europe could be plunged into another war. There is some good action; especially in the final shoot out. The cast is impressive with Leslie Banks and Edna Best doing a solid job as Bob and Jill Lawrence and young Nova Pilbeam doing well as Betty however it is Peter Lorre who dominates proceedings as Abbott… a surprisingly likable character given what he is doing; I'd never have guessed that he didn't actually speak English so had to deliver his lines phonetically. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of older films.

Python Hyena The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934): Dir: Alfred Hitchcock / Cast: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, Frank Vosper, Pierre Fresnay: Thrilling suspense by director Alfred Hitchcock regarding a planned assassination and a kidnapping. Leslie Banks and Edna Best learn of their daughter's kidnapping but cannot reveal any information about the planned assassination. Banks ends up captive after an attempt for answers but he holds strong pooling his resources particularly his hope in his wife. The climatic shootout with police is well executed but overlong with Banks making the obvious save of his son. Best is still available for a climax during an orchestra. She will be the strong factor while Banks is under restraint. Peter Lorre steals scenes as a hardened villain leading the terrorist group. What the climax proves is that even the most skilled and hardened of criminals cannot escape the reality of death. Frank Vosper is also featured among the supporting players. He will assist Banks in the investigation and even become involved in a violent key scene. Pierre Fresnay plays the initial murder victim who will pass valuable information onto the couple, which leads to the paranoia. Theme regards knowing information and what to do with it. For Hitchcock that information became subject to clever writing and tension. Classic shootout finale works despite many anti-climatic moments. Score: 9 / 10

jackasstrange A film by the great Alfred Hitchcock…sounds promising, oh yeah. But, The man who knew too much is a disappointing film. Mostly because it is, or at least try to be some kind of crime-drama-thriller film, but in the end it looks like a dull flick, and it's in most parts, even unintentionally funny. That sounds weird, talking in that way about one of the "greatest directors ever" but that's the truth, unfortunately. I am taking in consideration the fact that is a film made in 1935, but I don't know, I' ve seen before a few films made in the 30s that were actually good, but that one is just a fiasco. I mean, what was that 'chairs fight' scene in the church? I mean, really? I never laughed so hard with a scene in a non-comedy film in a long, long time. And even if wasn't by certain dull scenes, the film would still being outdated. Yeah, the time is the worst enemy of everybody. It obviously didn't stand the test of time. But okay, I liked some aspects of the cinematography, I found the shootout scene to be very well made and with some interesting use of lightning, specifically in the streets, creating some kind of atmosphere that you usually see in the films-Noir. But all in all, there Is no much to be said about that film. The story is dull, and worth noting, outdated, I didn't like the acting at all… well, it's fair to say that It's a mess of a film. 5.5/10