The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

Director:

Jon Amiel

Writers (WGA):

Robert Farrar (novel)
Robert Farrar (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

He's on a mission so secret, even he doesn't know about it.

Plot:

Murray is mistaken for a spy and must stop a plot to assasinate international leaders at a banquet.

Plot Keywords:

American In The Uk | American Abroad | Dominatrix | Mistaken Identity | Escape

Cast

Bill Murray	...	Wallace 'Wally' Ritchie
Peter Gallagher	...	James 'Jimmy' Ritchie
Joanne Whalley	...	Lorelei 'Lori'
Alfred Molina	...	Boris 'The Butcher' Blavasky
Richard Wilson	...	Sir Roger Daggenhurst
Geraldine James	...	Dr. Ludmilla Kropotkin
John Standing	...	Gilbert Embleton
Anna Chancellor	...	Barbara Ritchie
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Sergei
Simon Chandler	...	Hawkins
Cliff Parisi	...	Uri
John Thomson	...	Dimitri
Janet Henfrey	...	Ms. Goldstein
Terry O'Neill	...	Spencer
Isabel Hernández	...	Consuela (as Isabel Hernandez)

Also Known As:

Agent Null Null Nix (Germany)
Agent Null Null Nix - Bill Murray in hirnloser Mission (Germany) (TV title)
Watch That Man (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, innuendo, comic violence and sensuality.

Runtime:

94 min | Spain:90 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Polar Productions

Trivia:

In a scene in the hotel, a character is shown watching Jon Amiel's earlier film, Copycat (1995).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Dr. Ludmila Kropotkin's name is nonsense in Russian. According to grammatical rules, Kropotkin is supposed to be a male whereas Ludmila is a female name.

Quotes:

Wallace: Please don't call me by my real name, it destroys the reality I'm trying to create.

Movie Connections:

References "Starsky and Hutch" (1975)

Soundtrack:

HAVE A GOOD TIME

A perfect vehicle for Bill Murray

This poorly worded title is a wonderfully absurd farce. London is a perfect backdrop for Bill Murray to perform his shtick as Wallace Ritchie. The supporting cast play to their purposeful stereotypes and most importantly don't get in Murray's way. Peter Gallagher (of 'Orange County' fame) plays a very good straight man as Murray's brother, and Joanne Whalley seems to be playing her part and enjoying watching Murray's performance at the same time. There is a generous supply of double entendres, predictable, but well written and funny. This movie can be enjoyed by families as well as 'adults only'. Don't expect a life changing event, just enjoy a fun movie.