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The Stewart/Day version is a remake of Hitchock's original version, for those who don't know, and for all the A-list cast and toney location shots of the later version, my money goes on this tighter, funnier, and ultimately more effective thriller, filmed in 1934. Bob and Jill Lawrence are on holiday with their daughter and befriend a Frenchman. Friend gets murdered publicly, turns out to be a spy, gives the secret McGuffin to the wife with his dying breath. Hubbie goes and gets the McGuffin (the thing the bad guys want), the bad guys kidnap their daughter. The movie was one of the first to explore the differences between the personal and the political--the couple completely ignore the orders of the government official who wants them to turn over the McGuffin, loses any chance of support, and go off on their own to rescue their daughter. The movie is funny, particularly the opening scenes, exciting, and very well-acted--none of the stagy posturing you often run into in movies of the early 30s. It also contains Peter Lorre's first English-speaking role, and he doesn't disappoint in the slightest.
If you ever want a rather sad example of how women's roles have become more limited as our opportunities in real life have expanded, compare the part of Jill in this movie to Doris Day in the remake or (even sadder still) Rene Russo in Ransom. Likewise, check out the lead female baddie in comparison to Lilly Taylor, and see how brave and resourceful the daughter is (Nova Pilbeam), compared to the pills we often see masquerading as girls these days.
The print is old and noisy, but it is definitely worth a look.
PS--That's Pierre Fresnay, the French captain in La Grande Illusion, as the charming spy.
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