frankwiener
Director Alfred Hitchcock once referred to this first version as the work of a "talented amateur" while he considered the 1956 remake to be that of a "professional". This is the earliest of many Hitchcock films that I have seen, and I believe that it was a huge breakthrough for the director's long career of success both in London and in Hollywood. To my knowledge, it is the only film that Hitchcock ever remade, and when he was required to fulfill a contractual demand by Paramount, he must have had a special attachment to it. Otherwise why would he have selected it for a revisit among so many other possibilities?A unique and interesting mixture of comedy and suspense, this film prominently features a sinister but wisecracking Peter Lorre, who, astonishingly enough, did not know English at the time and was therefore compelled to learn his lines phonetically. Under such circumstances, how did he so casually mock his fellow conspirators and so naturally threaten his victims in a language that was totally unfamiliar to him? The man must have been a genius.In the Hitchcock tradition, the film is a steady stream of quirky, eccentric characters and intriguing situations, including a cozy Alps opening setting, a sharpshooting mother (Edna Best), an amiable but anxious father (Leslie Banks) who somehow manages to maintain a subtle sense of humor under extraordinarily stressful conditions, a kidnapped child, an unexpected and very amusing visit to the dentist, an assassination plot, a strange cult congregation, a raucous, noisy battle with wooden chairs used as weapons, a creepy female cult leader (Cicely Oates), a concert at Albert Hall held under very tense conditions, and a brutal, prolonged shootout somewhere on the streets of London. The plight of innocent citizens unexpectedly entangled by mere chance in a web of espionage, criminality, and evil is one that appears again and again in Hitchcock's movies with huge success.Although I'm tempted to compare and contrast this very modest 1934 black and white feature with the much glossier, technicolor 1956 remake starring James Stewart and Doris Day, I will only focus on the earlier production for now. Although Doris did play a sharpshooter in "Calamity Jane", she is transformed into a singing mother for the 1956 remake. Que sera sera. To me, the original film has its own special attraction which I very much appreciate in its own right. The two versions, arriving at theaters 22 years apart, are like two structures built on similar foundations but designed differently with very pleasing but distinctive results. I love 'em both and hope that you do too.
ofpsmith
Alfred Hitchcock made two versions of this film. This one and he remade it in 1956. Bob Lawrence (Leslie Banks) his wife Jill (Edna Best) and his daughter Betty (Nova Pilbeam) are a British family on a vacation in Switzerland. They befriend a Frenchman named Louis Bernard (Pierre Fresnay) who is assassinated, but before he dies he tells Jill some vital information to be told to the British Government. The terrorists who killed Louis led by a man named Abbott (Peter Lorre) kidnap Betty so Bob won't tell the police and they go off to get their daughter back. The film works because your invested in what Bob and Jill are doing and you want to see them get their daughter back. Lorre does a good job as Abbott and when I watch the film I still think of him as Hans Beckert from M. I feel the suspense was good but could have been better. Overall I give it 8/10.
Syl
Sir Alfred Hitchcock later remade this film version but this is worth seeing. Peter Lorre is one of my favorite character actors who plays a villain here. I just love Lorre's voice. Edna Best and Leslie Banks play a couple whose teenage daughter is abducted for ransom. The film might be dated but it is worth watching his earlier work. This film shows the dark side of human nature. The scene in the church where it's first to be authentic but is actually a front turns to be dark comedic in the film. We don't see women involved in such illegal and immoral activities. The cast here are mostly known for British theatrical backgrounds. Nova Pilbeam plays the kidnapped daughter. Hitchcock was known for bring his usual favorite actors and actresses in his films . They may not be leads but they're always welcome to me.
