MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Knew Too Much (1935) Discussion > Peter Lorre; best bad guy ever?

Peter Lorre; best bad guy ever?

posted 16 years ago by ArmitageShanks01
12 replies | jump to latest

He was so creepy and slimy, i thought it was brillient. Def one of hitchcock's best villans. What does anyone else think?

Brody: You're gonna need a bigger boat.

[–] CindyH 16 years ago

I'm not entirely sure I'd say, "best ever" but Lorre was absolutely amazing in everything he ever did.

What surprised me the most was to find that he didn't even speak English at the time. That alone is proof of his abilities. Had I not known in advance, I would have bet millions that he already was an English speaker in that film.

[–] rexshard93 16 years ago

A Great Villain.

[–] KenanP 15 years ago

Yeah, not sure about "best ever", but he really was awesome. He managed to make horrible characters likable, but also believable.

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Oh you mad cuz I'm stylin on you

[–] franzkabuki 13 years ago

Did he ever play anyone but psychopaths and/or homos?

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] jeffandsarah-1 13 years ago

Go see him in Double Indemity, and for the icing, My Three Sons Fred McMurray as the villan, foolguy, sap.

[–] GeF_fEn 10 years ago

Late answer but he wasnt in Double Indemnity.

[–] newt_jorden 13 years ago

He was always a great bad guy in movie

[–] Errington_92 12 years ago

He gave his character an essence which can only be felt and not heard, an essence of calmness mixed with brutal actions if needed. This is what made the character a good villian.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] zaraath 11 years ago

I wonder how he would have liked Ronald Lacey's homage to him in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

[–] greenbudgie 12 years ago

Peter Lorre was a great villain. He had that unique fearful whingeing quality that belied the usual film bad guy. He comes second to Robert Walker as my favourite Hitchcock villain. The role of Bruno in Strangers On A Train is really chilling. Thinking about it with a bit of a re-write Hitchcock could have used Peter Lorre in that part.

[–] nellybly-3 11 years ago

He and Hitchcock were both in America so I'm surprised Hitchcock never used Lorre after Secret Agent. John Huston certainly made a lot of use of Peter Lorre.

[–] KingBrian1 9 years ago

That guy freaked the hell out of me. The tone of the film was so cold especially with the lack of music.