MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Knew Too Much (1935) Discussion > Shooting scene in beginning at lodge was...

Shooting scene in beginning at lodge was terrible

posted 16 years ago by ElevenSeventeen
8 replies | jump to latest

Sorry but the shooting murder scene of the spy guy (sorry, can't remember his name) was terribly done. He was just like, "Oh, look at that, I've been shot" and then fell over. I didn't even realize what had happened until he keeled over.

I usually like Hitchcock's earlier work (such as "The Lady Vanishes") but I thought this one was just too poorly executed. And I don't know if it was just the sound quality of the day, but I didn't understand much of what the actors were saying in the first quarter of the movie.

Plus, Doris Day's reaction to seeing the gun in Albert Hall was soo much better than the original. You could actually feel what she was feeling--fear, exhaustion, unbelief. I mean, her kid was being held hostage and now someone was about to be killed. I just thought her performance was much more heartfelt than the original actress's.

Don't get me wrong, I liked it the original okay. I just thought the acting could have been better.

"He love me, he love me love me love me." ~ Madame Carlotta

[–] porfle 16 years ago

Sorry but I think the shooting scene at the beginning was interesting because Hitchcock did it differently than any other old shooting scene would've been done.

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[–] peytonplace1 16 years ago

Actually I liked the shooting scene.

[–] advice31765 15 years ago

His reaction to being unexpectedly shot was fairly realistic. Haven't you ever been injured violently?

[–] scipwraec 15 years ago

Really? I absolutely love this scene. I like this original film better than the Doris Day remake, and Fresnay getting shot is one of my favourite Hitchcock moments ever.

The abruptness is what makes it so great. The scene is funny and lighthearted, and the string that's wound about his jacket button getting tangled amongst the dancers is a clever distraction. Hitch leads us along the web and then pounces. Fresnay's surprise at the light *pop* of the gunshot and his modest reaction -- he doesn't say, "Oh, I've been shot!" He says, "Oh, look..." -- is shocking because it takes him those few seconds to register that he's a dead man.

[–] ElevenSeventeen 15 years ago

"Really? I absolutely love this scene. I like this original film better than the Doris Day remake, and Fresnay getting shot is one of my favourite Hitchcock moments ever.

The abruptness is what makes it so great. The scene is funny and lighthearted, and the string that's wound about his jacket button getting tangled amongst the dancers is a clever distraction. Hitch leads us along the web and then pounces. Fresnay's surprise at the light *pop* of the gunshot and his modest reaction -- he doesn't say, "Oh, I've been shot!" He says, "Oh, look..." -- is shocking because it takes him those few seconds to register that he's a dead man." - scipwraec

Haha, that's cool you think that about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so politely. :) I respect and appreciate that.

I posted this topic so long ago and saw this movie so long ago that I want to watch it again and see how I feel about it today.

Thanks!

"He love me, he love me love me love me." ~ Madame Carlotta

[–] joeparkson 12 years ago

He also apologizes, which is the polite thing to do. Anyone who's going to die unexpectedly should apologize; it's traumatic to see such a thing.

Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.

[–] arnez88-237-649302 10 years ago

The scene was so bad that I laughed my ass off. I understand why Alfred Hitchcock thought it was a piece of *beep*

[–] PoliticallyIncorrectone 7 years ago

I got the feeling that if he hadn't noticed the blood on his shirt, he wouldn't have died.

Kind of like a cartoon character who walks off a high place doesn't fall until he looks down.

It's impossible not to react physically to a force that pierces your chest at what, at least 800 fps? Even it it isn't fatal, it must feel like someone punched you. The guy seemed to react only to the sound of the window breaking.