70 Years Ago, An Iconic Director Brilliantly Remade His Own Thriller

"Both films follow a vacationing family who accidentally get sucked into a spot of international intrigue when they learn that a major political figure is about to be assassinated, and their child is kidnapped to keep them quiet. Unable to go to the authorities, the desperate parents must unravel the conspiracy themselves to get their loved one back."

"A remake of the 1934 film of the same name, the original was directed by... Alfred Hitchcock, who felt that nearly a quarter-century of experience and new technology would allow him to improve on his effort. Black-and-white became color, 75 minutes became 120, and Leslie Banks, Edna Best, and Peter Lorre were replaced by Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day, and Bernard Miles."

"While some story beats are almost identical, Hitchcock is clearly reveling in the benefits of hi-res, widescreen VistaVision. Dr. and Mrs. McKenna's Moroccan vacation is far grander than the Swiss opening of the original, and while both films set their assassination attempts at the Royal Albert Hall, it's the sweeping scope of the remake's that feels like a template for future high-culture showdowns in movies like Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation."

"The extended runtime is used to expand our protagonists' rocky marriage, while a strange, suspenseful sequence where Stewart pursues a potential lead at a taxidermist's workshop leaves you wondering whether he's on the verge of unraveling a grand conspiracy or is simply cracking up."

A family on vacation becomes involved in international intrigue after learning a major political figure is about to be assassinated and their child is kidnapped to silence them. The parents cannot rely on authorities and must investigate the conspiracy themselves to recover their loved one. The remake updates the earlier film with color and VistaVision widescreen, replacing the original cast and extending the runtime from about 75 minutes to about 120. Similar story beats remain, including the Royal Albert Hall assassination setting, while the remake uses expanded scope to create larger, high-culture set pieces. The longer runtime develops the protagonists’ strained marriage and adds suspenseful scenes that blur whether the lead is uncovering clues or losing stability.

Read at Inverse