The Man Who Knew Too Much On-Screen in Arcata, CA

The historic Arcata Theatre has been around since 1938, opening with the 20th Century-Fox film Thin Ice, starring Fox players Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power. Peter Lorre films such as entries in the Mr. Moto series were no doubt on the schedule at one time, too. But on Sunday, June 21, the Arcata Theatre Lounge will be showing a film from 1934 – Lorre’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (Gaumont British), directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Show times are at 4 p.m., 6:05 p.m., and 8 p.m. The box office will open 15 minutes before each show.

Admission is $4 before 6 p.m., and $5 after 6 p.m.

All screenings are 13 and over. Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Arcata Theatre Lounge is located at 1036 G. Street in Arcata, CA.

Peter Lorre spoke very little English – only “yes” and “no”, picked up from his days in the foreign exchange department at the Anglo-Österreichischen Bank in Vienna – when Hitchcock and his producer Ivor Montague cast him as Abbott, the anarchist leader in The Man Who Knew Too Much. But two to three months later, with the help of an English-language tutor, plus mentally translating his lines into German to understand their meaning, Peter had more than a working knowledge of English by the time filming began.

And during filming – and in full wardrobe and make-up – he also took time out to marry his long-time love, Celia Lovsky, who had come with him from Paris.

Peter’s success in this film led to a contract with Columbia Studios, and a long journey from Southampton, England, to New York City, to Los Angeles and the start of his film and radio career in Hollywood.

“Addicted to Bad Ideas” in Toronto, June 12, 2009

The World/Inferno Friendship Society will bring their show Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre’s 20th Century to Toronto, Canada, on Friday, June 12, 2009, at 11 p.m. They will perform as part of the Luminato festival at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.

Headed by Jack Terricloth, who performs as Peter Lorre, the show examines Lorre’s life through a total of 12 punk rock songs, while scenes from Lorre films appear on three large screens behind the band.

Why Peter Lorre? According to Jay Scheib, the show’s director, “He was always the guy who played guys who killed people. But he was a brilliant artist who worked with Hitchcock, Lang, and the best. He survived two World Wars. We are sympathetic to his life, which was this amazing arc of humanity." (Charleston City Paper, May 27, 2009)

The Phoenix Concert Theatre is located at 410 Sherbourne, Toronto, Canada.

Showtime is at 11 p.m. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $35 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster online or by phone, at (416) 870-8000.

For more information on the World/Inferno Friendship Society, please visit the group’s website. Marc Overton’s interview with Jack Terricloth at Spoleto (Charleston, SC) is available on-line through Classical Public Radio. Scroll down to the entry dated “May 29, 2009” and click on the “Listen” icon at the Terricloth interview.