The Man Who Knew Too Much (U)

While on holiday in Switzerland, Jill and Bob Lawrence become involved in a dangerous plot when they witness the murder of a Secret Service agent, leading to their daughter being kidnapped.

Returning to London, and too scared to contact the police, the Lawrences attempt to track down the perpetrators themselves.

Hitchcock reimagined The Man Who Knew Too Much for a US audience in 1956, famously quipping that “the first version is the work of a talented amateur and the second was made by a professional."

As ever with Hitchcock, though, nothing is quite what it seems. The 1934 original is certainly a leaner, meaner thriller than its more glamorous American cousin – boasting a distinctly British flavour, an excellent villain and a truly show-stopping finale.