Probably the best movie of Hitchcock’s British era, one he would remix and remake in 1956. Of these films, he said, “Let’s say the first version is the work of a talented amateur and the second was made by a professional.”

Bob and Jill Lawrence (Leslie Banks and Edna Best) are on vacation in Switzerland, a serene setting that is soon disrupted by the tension of a clay shooting competition. Jill almost outshines a sharpshooter named Ramon Levine (Frank Vosper) before Mr. Abbott’s (Peter Lorre) watch distracts her. This moment of distraction leads to a sudden turn of events, as a French man by the name of Louis Bernard (Pierre Fresnay) is shot while dancing with Jill. The Lawrences are then forced into a dangerous game, as Abbott kidnaps their daughter, Betty, and compels them to be part of his plan to murder a leader.

The release of this film was a significant event, given the circumstances. C.M. Woolf, a powerful figure in the English cinema industry, initially opposed the film, stating that it would only be released if it was remade with a new director, different cast, and different writers. However, Hitchcock’s appeal to Isidore Ostrer, the owner of Gaumont-British, led to the film’s release. The movie’s success was a source of contention, as Woolf, who was forced to release it as a supporting feature, was left displeased.

Lorre made this soon after he had escaped from Nazi Germany. In his first meeting with Hitchcock, he smiled and laughed as the director spoke; this meant that even though Lorre barely spoke English, he made a good impression. He said most of his lines in this movie phonetically.

You can watch this on YouTube.