Discuss The Man Who Knew Too Much

Some excellent tension, a great red herring (involving wrestling with stuffed animals no less) and some almost justifiable blackface. Plus two of the most unpleasant vocal performances (hymn and Doris) ever committed to celluloid, one of which wins an Oscar. Hopefully Hitchcock could appreciate the irony in that. Only a 6/10 for me but more entertaining than that score suggests.

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I grew up loving (and still do) Doris' standard rendition (which was a hugely popular radio hit, beloved by many) of "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", though the character she portrays in this movie re-sings it, eventually, also in a state of high emotional distress and terror, during a pivotal scene, which then results in performance of the song being decidedly disturbing, reflecting the character's emotional state. That's the only time, IMO, it becomes a "most unpleasant vocal performance". Otherwise I've always found Doris' hit standard performance of the song "sunny" and delightful.

This movie and its mentioned song were released within a handful of years before I was born, therefore "Que Sera Sera" still played on the radio frequently when I was a little kid - plus my big sisters (though I'm male) sang it often to entertain my brother and I. They'd always sing (make that holler!) the lines of words "QUE SERA SERA, WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE" extremely loudly and drawn out as long as possible, for maximum comical and entertainment effect - which is a fond childhood memory I still enjoy recalling. slight_smile

My having grown up during that era no doubt influences my feeling for the song and Doris' performance of it, as people, back then, simply "ate up" such chirpy feel-good songs and performances (think The Lawrence Welk Show, Mitch Miller and the Gang, etc.).

It's now been I think well over five years since I last saw this movie, therefore I'm not, at this point, able to remember what other song Doris sings in the film.


Incidentally, for anyone reading this who may also have interest in, or curiosity about, Hitchcock's 1934 UK original version of The Man Who Knew Too Much, here are a few threads I created about it the other year.

It was maybe not so much the performance as the fact that four solid minutes at the end are devoted to it on top of 1-2mins early on in the film. I was going mad, I actually started to fast forward it because I couldn't stand it, then had a word with myself and went back to watch the key scene it was played over. Oh well, what will be, will be. At least it never got a reprise with the credits.

I don't think she sang anything else in the film and would not criticise her musical back catalogue, not even her misjudged brief flirtation with death metal. :p

Love Doris Day and her signature song "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)". relieved

It was okay. I would also place the film around 5 or 6 out of 10. Towards the end it just felt like it dragged out. In the theatre I suppose it was suppose to build of tension but Doris Day just standing there had me more frustrated and saying "Just do something already, jesus christ...". I liked the character development in Lucy Drayton towards the end, though.

@wonder2wonder said:

Love Doris Day and her signature song "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)". relieved

Sly and the Family Stone's cover of it is truly snazzy. (Ha, I wrote "snazzy.") I seem to recall both versions of the song being used in the late 80s film Heathers.

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