The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) | Alfred Hitchcock's Collection | A Series of Reviews

Alfred Hitchcock may be known for his more popular films like Psycho, Notorious and The birds, but the movie that got him recognition as a mainstream filmmaker and opened his way to Hollywood was the 1934 crime thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much. The movie was later remade by Sir Hitchcock for Hollywood and with a much larger budget in 1956.  

A perfect mix of espionage and action, the movie is highlighted by a villain that is masterfully played by a menacing Peter Lorre who looks convincing as a scary, intimidating anti-hero with no remorse or fear of the consequences of his actions.

Featuring a shoot-out that saw bodies fall like a house of cards and a hostage situation that is suspenseful and thrilling, the man who knew too much is definitely an action flick that is crisp and engaging. 

Made in a near to nothing budget, the film is a masterful effort in storytelling and shows the directorial greatness of Sir Alfred Hitchcock. 

Giving nothing away, I can just say that it is a movie, still relevant as a thriller and still good enough to keep one interested. The class of Hitchcock makes his work timeless and fresh.   

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Movie Review The Man Who Knew Too Much | Latest Movie Ratings

Downhill [ When boys Leave Home ] (1927) | Alfred Hitchcock's Collection | A Series of Reviews

Public schoolboy Roddy Berwick is expelled from school when he takes the blame for a friend's charge and his life falls apart in a series of misadventures.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Stars:

Ivor Novello, Ben Webster, Norman McKinnel

Stamping his jaw dropping mastery on the silver screen in his self proclaimed first true Hitchcock movie, The Lodger, Sir Alfred Hitchcock set the bar extremely high for the upcoming 1928 adventure thriller Downhill also known as When boys leave home.

The movie follows the misadventures of a bright school boy who sacrifices his career in order to save his friend's. The story is a simple tale of friendship and love and the uncertainty that life holds for us.

Although, Sir Hitchcock delivered the same remarkable technical flawlessness and directorial perfection that made The Lodger a success, it was the patchy and jerky story that made Downhill one of his weakest movies ever. In my humble opinion the fact that The lodgers was based on a novel and Downhill was written by the main lead Ivor Novello might be the main difference in the entire experience. Ivor, though a very captivating actor and a heartthrob of his times clearly did not have the story that could match Hitchcock's brilliance. Some may argue that Ivor's body of work is more in the writing department than in acting, but upon closer examination he was more a sounds guy than either and actor or a writer. His looks and expression are impressive in both The Lodger and Downhill, something that can't really be said about his writing in Downhill.

All in all, a silent movie that manages to keep you interested at least half the way and that does show you the brilliance of Sir Alfred Hitchcock in many parts, but eventually fails to deliver due to some very ordinary script. I would recommend everyone to watch it just to understand the importance of a story, or the lack of it.  

NEXT:  The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

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Movie Review Alfred Hitchcock's Downhill | Latest Movie Ratings

The Lodger (1927) | Alfred Hitchcock's Collection | A series of reviews

A landlady suspects her new lodger is the madman killing women in London.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

 CAST: June Tripp, Ivor Novello, Marie Ault

Alfred Hitchcock's The Lodger is a testimony to the fact that the master did not require language, color or words to weave his magic and display his genius. To think in this day and age where one often disregards a movie for the lack of depth in dialog or for the ineffectiveness of CGI as an aid to creating horror, that a movie with no dialogs and that too for a longish duration for a silent film at one hour and 30 minutes, would be so captivating and gripping as the lodger is, is simply amazing. 

The wonderful haunting music and a couple of exceptional romantic tunes punctuate some masterful performances by June Tripp, Marie Ault and Ivor Novello. A suspenseful thrill ride with nothing but expressions, is no less than an acting academy that many a plastic actors if this era can take a lead from.

Hitchcock uses jealousy, anger, revenge, irony, love, passion and repentance as his tools to narrate a fairly simple tale with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep the audience interested. 

NEXT: Alfred Hitchcock's Downhill (1928) Review 

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Movie Review The Lodger (1927) | Latest Movie Ratings

The Film Guide - Views and Reviews - Episode 2 | Hollywood | Box Office | Movies

Regular reviews on box office, movies and actors. This week we have reviews for The silence of the lambs starring Anthony Hopkins, isn't it romantic starting Rebel Wilson, Escape room, house that Jack built and we will have a look at the box office too.

Before I Go To Sleep (2014) Thriller Movie Preview and Trailer

Movie: Before I Go To Sleep (2014)

Director: Rowan Joffe

Writers: Rowan Joffe (screenplay), S.J. Watson (novel)

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong

Before I Go to Sleep Trailer by Stuff We Like

Ah finally here is some good mystery! Okay first things first. You have got to see the trailer of the upcoming mystery-thriller Before I Go to Sleep. Right. Now. Here’s why.  Because it already made through to my “movies to watch before you die” list. Apologies for the lousy humor. Anyway Before I Go to Sleep is about a woman who wakes up every morning with no previous memory due to some kind of memory disorder that apparently happened after she went through an accident. What accident? Well that’s still for us to find out. Interesting? I know. 

Nicole Kidman plays the lead which by the way I found a little creepy because I have always been accustomed to seeing her play neat, elegant, graceful characters. But I guess we can count on her. And boy that teaser, whoever put it together deserves a round of applause because I can guarantee that once you see it, you are definitely going to want to watch this film. I being a mystery fan am eagerly looking forward to it. And I STRONGLY recommend you to watch it. Why? Because it’s going to be EPIC.

John Wick (2014) Movie Preview and Trailer

Movie: John Wick (2014)
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Adrianne Palicki, Willem Defoe
Genre: Action, thriller

John Wick Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Keanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe Movie HD by ViralToday

An action thriller, John Wick is the story of a long gone bad guy who after being taken down by other gangsters and losing his dog, the last gift from his late wife, decides to hunt down the people responsible for taking away everything he had. Although the plot isn’t particularly new, the trailer has made a good first impression. 

A Hot Adrianne Palicki Heats Up 'Fantastic Fest' With 'John Wick' by celebritywire

The cast of the movie includes Keanu Reeves, Adrianne Palicki and Willem Dafoe, the reason why you can expect something good from this film. And with all the visual effects, the ambiance, the acrobatics, the gunshots, the squeals, the badass action that the trailer has featured, John Wick is likely to give you a good round of jolts and jaw drops and of course a not-so-bad Saturday night.

Taken 3 Movie Preview and Trailer

TAKEN 3 - Exclusive Trailer [HD] - 20th Century FOX by Dramas HD

Movie:Taken 3

Cast: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace

Director:Olivier Megaton

Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Studio:20th Century Fox

Genre:Action, Drama

Taken 3 Plot:  Liam Neeson returns as ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, whose reconciliation with his ex-wife is tragically cut short when she is brutally murdered. Consumed with rage, and framed for the crime, he goes on the run to evade the relentless pursuit of the CIA, FBI and the police. For one last time, Mills must use his “particular set of skills,” to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now – his daughter.

The Trailer looks very impressive indeed. The movie I feel is going to offer more of what we have seen Liam Neeson do in the past few years. He is in my opinion a better actor and his personality and grace can be used for more powerful roles. A walk among the tombstones and the Taken series have both restricted him to a specific kind of action movies and Taken 3 will be more of the same. I however, promises to be a good action thriller, All fans of Liam Neeson must be licking their lips and waiting for it.

Dumb and Dumber To (2014) Preview and Trailer

Dumb and Dumber To Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels Movie HD by Trailer-Addict

Movie: Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels

Genre: Comedy

Twenty years after the first installment Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back to give audiences around the world a hell load of belly aches and tears of laughter. The trailer looks funny as hell and Jim Carrey's presence would most likely assure a riot of craziness. The title itself makes one nostalgic as one remembers the first edition of the epic comedy. 

One things is for sure, expectations are high and if the movie lacks the ability to rise up to them it would suffer greatly. I expect good things from it.

Interstellar (2014) Movie Preview and Trailer

Interstellar Official Movie Trailer (2014) (HD)[1080P] by Gamersincorporated

Movie: Interstellar (2014)

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain

Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Adventure

Mathew McConaughey is back with a science fiction movie to add to the versatile presentations of amazing acting that we have been accustomed to. Interstellar looks like an emotional, mysterious journey into the unknown. The trailer looks slick and the treatments looks deep and tense. It seems like a movie you would want to listen to and watch with keen attention and try to understand and interpret. It won't be your average entertainer,

The cast boasts Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and of course Mathew McConaughey and one expects nothing short of good work from this trio.

Let us hope that like most McConaughey movies we get a jolt from this one too and that unlike most sci-fi flicks this one achieves greatness that the cast holds potential for.  

Annabelle (2014) Horror Movie Preview and Trailer

Annabelle TV SPOT - May God Have Mercy (2014) - Alfre Woodard Creepy Doll Horror Movie by Trailer Addict

Movie: Annabelle (2014)

Cast: Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard

Genre: Horror

Ward Horton starer Annabelle looks like another true-story based horror flick similar to The Conjuring. The trailer looks sharp and promises some scary moments and thrills. The budget and the scope of the movie appear to be adequate and the production values look impressive. One has to wish that in the saturated filed of possession based true stories Annabelle has novelty enough to stand out and be counted. Although hypes have been around many horror movies lately, not many have lived up. A truly scary movie is still awaited and that has been the case for quite a few years now. Lets hope that Annabelle does not disappoint. The trailer does show some creepy and scary moments and that is encouraging.

Fury (2014) Trailer and Preview

Fury Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf by Express News

Movie: Fury (2014)

Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman

Genre: War

Brad Pitt starer Fury looks like an epic war drama on the same lines as saving private Ryan. The trailer looks sharp and promises strong performances from the likes of Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf. The budget and the scope of the movie appear to be of grand proportions and we should expect a war classic on the cards. If the sound is as good as the camera work then this should be a movie people would talk about for the next few years at least.

O21 (2014) Movie Trailer and Preview

Operation O21 HD Official Pakistani Film Trailer [2014] Shaan Shahid, Aamina Sheikh by Funmazaa

Trailer: O21 (2014)

Cast: Shamoon Abbasi, Abdullah Ghaznavi, Shaan, Aamina Sheikh

Genre: Thriller

O21 (2014) Movie Trailer looks very sharp and it seems that finally Pakistani cinema is moving towards films that represent Pakistanis as nationalists and heroes rather than just glorifying the slums, corruption and terrorism that surrounds the country. Much like Waar, O21 seems to be a pro-Pakistan action thriller that shows how technologically apt and intellectually equipped Pakistanis are. Also it seems that there is an effort to differentiate Pakistan from Afghanistan which is an urgent need of the day.