I’m a big Hitchcock fan and just finished watching this one last night. I found out later that it’s actually a remake of a version he made in the 30′s. Tthis one was made in about ’54, and starred Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Perhaps not his greatest work, but very enjoyable nonetheless. The story is about a man whose family is on vacation in Marrakech when they witness the murder of a foreign agent, who in his dying breath gives Stewart information about an plot to assassinate a foreign dignatary in London. Long story short – the young son of Stewart and Day is kidnapped and they are threatened with harm to him if they tell anyone what they know.
Doris Day was outstanding for most of the movie, and it’s easy to see why she was so popular in the 50′s. Only in the scenes in the Royal Albert Hall where the assasination attempt is to take place did I feel she ran out of steam. She was paralyzed by fear and uncertainty and I felt that her handling of that situation was just way too passive.
One of the highlights for me was the use of the song Que Sera, sung by Day. I remember this was the theme song for the Doris Day Show on TV in the 60′s and I seem to recall my sister Lynette and I singing it for some reason. So I found that somewhat evocative of my distant childhood.