Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Man Who Knew Too Much 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker November 17, 2023

Universal has released Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956) to the UHD format. It is available individually (this release) or as part of a five-film boxed set along with 'Rope', 'Torn Curtain', 'Topaz', and 'Frenzy'. 2160p/HDR video and DTS HD Master Audio is available for this and all releases in the set, and the legacy special features are brought forward onto these new discs.

For a review of the film, please refer to the previous release of 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'

The Man Who Knew Too Much 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

When The Man Who Knew Too Much made its US Blu-ray debut back in 2013, my colleague Mr. Brown was less than enamored with the transfer, noting a laundry list of issues including, but not limited to, color saturation, color fluctuations, film damage, ringing, and on and on. Thankfully, none of those issues are present on the 4k disc. Skin tones are generally very healthy. Colors are stable and are very nicely saturated. We get some nice reds popping in Doris Day's lipstick, men's ties, and the odd fez here and there, vibrant greens and deep blues. Fine detail is excellent in fabrics both in the lively exterior location shots and the studio shots. Likewise, it is evident in hairdos, upholstery, and the landscapes. The image is also generally brighter overall and has a very filmic look. If the video struggles in any particular area, it is the process shots with the material on the screen behind the actors consistently looking softer and grainier, though these limitations are likely inherent to the source material. I didn't note any print damage that was omnipresent in the previous Blu-ray release.

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

The Man Who Knew Too Much 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Man Who Knew Too Much's English 2.0 Mono DTS-HD audio track does an excellent job handling the dialogue in a very talky film. Everything in that regard is crisp and clear. Sound effects are very natural and well-balanced, whether they're the clopping of horse hooves or the more subtle fidgety fanning of the phone book's pages. Bernard Hermann's score near the end of the film is robust and precise, with the iconic cymbal crash being the focal point it should be. Fans of Doris Day will no doubt be thrilled with the improved fidelity of her singing "Que Sera, Sera" at multiple points throughout the movie. The song is a definite earworm that will haunt you for days after seeing the film.

Even better, though, is the Perspecta 3.0 audio track, which is what my player defaults to. Not heard since the film's original theatrical run, the Perpsecta track offers greater directionality which is apparent in most scenes including when Day's character sings with her son early in the film. Busier scenes, such as when Stewart and Day visit the crowded market and again at the end when they are at Royal Albert Hall, are much more immersive, with the sound quality being richer and fuller. As good as the two-channel audio track is, I much prefer this one.

The Man Who Knew Too Much 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is one new special feature included:

Saving The Man Who Knew Too Much (HD, 5 minutes): Consultant and Film Archivist Robert A. Harris discusses the importance of the film, the efforts to restore it, and the discovery of the Perspecta audio track.

All of the previous features from the previous release are brought forward to the 4K disc, and are as follows:

The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much (SD, 34 minutes)

Production Photos (SD, 4 minutes)

Theatrical Trailers (SD, 8 minutes)

For a detailed look at the legacy special features, please refer to the previous release of 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'.

The Man Who Knew Too Much 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A very solid improvement over the previous Blu-ray release, fans of The Man Who Knew Too Much will definitely want to add this 4K disc to their collections. Gone are the distracting and unfortunate video issues that were on display in virtually every shot of the prior release. What we have here is a clean, sharp, and vibrant video presentation coupled with an excellent Perspecta 3.0 audio track. Tense and funny, if at times a bit dated, this may not be top-tier Hitchcock, but it is a very enjoyable film with a great performance from Jimmy Stewart. If only for the improvements seen and heard on the 4K UHD disc, The Man Who Knew Too Much comes Highly Recommended.