Parents' Guide to The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Man Who Knew Too Much is a fun watch—not one of Hitchcock's greats, but entertaining nonetheless. It also introduced to movies the Jay Livingston and Ray Evans hit song that came to be known as "Que Sera" ("Whatever Will Be" was the cited title in the credits) as sung by the clear-voiced Doris Day. The song is both catchy and crucial to the plot. Like North by Northwest and The 39 Steps, the film exploits one of the director's favorite set-ups—an innocent sucked into intrigue and danger. It's a tribute to Hitchcock's skill that although the plot is baggy, he pulls the audience along. It makes little sense that Ben, an Indiana surgeon, thinks he can go after criminals on his own in a foreign country. The kidnappers have threatened him if he discloses what he's learned, but how could they possibly know if he's told anyone or not?

Cheeky Hitchcock amuses himself with a mistaken identity blunder that ends with Ben fighting against a gaggle of taxidermists and their stuffed and semi-stuffed animals—a lion, a tiger head, and a cheetah. Hitchcock also clearly giggles at the power of his "MacGuffin," the term he used for a generic object, event, or goal that serves as a catalyst to motivate each character and moves the story along. In this case, it's the assassination plot, remarkable for its lack of details. Not even the target's name is divulged. Yet we are eager to see this barely-there threat thwarted, proving exactly how manipulatable we are at the hands of a master of suspense who delights in toying with us. For modern audiences used to quick edits, this will feel slow and plodding at times. For those who like to find Hitchcock's signature cameo in the film, look left during one of the Marrakesh street acrobat performances.