Directors Who Couldn’t Leave Well Enough Alone

Director Gus Van Sant is promising a shot-by-shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic “Psycho,” which opens in theaters Friday. Did you know, though, that Hitchcock, as well as Frank Capra and Leo McCarey, remade their own classic films?

Back in 1934, Hitchcock scored his first international success with the thriller “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (Sinister Cinema, Moore Video, $15). Leslie Banks, Edna Best and Peter Lorre star in this nail-biter about a British couple vacationing in Switzerland who are informed of an assassination plot by a dying man. The couple’s daughter is then kidnapped to force them into silence.

Twenty-two years later, Hitchcock redid “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (Universal, $15). Though the original is superior, this glossy entertainment is far more popular with audiences. This time around, James Stewart plays an American doctor and Doris Day portrays his high-strung former musical-star wife. Their son is abducted while on vacation in Marrakech. Day sings the Oscar-winning tune “Que Sera, Sera” but overdoes the dramatic scenes. Brenda De Banzie, though, is very effective as one of the kidnappers.

Capra received his first Oscar nomination for “Lady for a Day” (Connoisseur Video), a charming comedy/drama from 1933 based on a Damon Runyon story, “Madame La Gimp.” The terrific May Robson plays an apple peddler named Apple Annie, who, through the help of a bighearted criminal (Warren William), is transformed into a lady for her well-heeled daughter’s visit.

Capra’s last film was the overly sentimental 1961 remake “A Pocketful of Miracles” (MGM, $20). Bette Davis is Apple Annie in this version and Glenn Ford is fine as the charming crook. It also features Ann-Margret in her film debut and Peter Falk in his Oscar-nominated turn as a mobster.

In 1934, Capra directed the sweet racetrack comedy “Broadway Bill” (Paramount, $20). Warner Baxter gives one of his best performances as a man who abandons his nagging wife and job to own a racehorse named Broadway Bill. Myrna Loy also stars.

Despite the easygoing charm of star Bing Crosby, Capra’s 1950 remake, “Riding High” (Universal, $20), pales in comparison to the original. “Riding High,” though, does feature a fine supporting cast including Coleen Gray, Charles Bickford, William Demarest and James Gleason.

Director Leo McCarey scored a big hit in 1939 with his Oscar-nominated, sentimental romance “Love Affair” (Turner, $15). Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne are perfectly cast in this four-hankie weepie as two people who fall in love on an ocean liner and decide to meet six months later at the Empire State Building to see if they still feel the same.

In 1957, McCarey remade this classic as “An Affair to Remember” (Fox, $15). Though not as good as the original, this version is the one people love. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star. “Affair” took on a new lease thanks to “Sleepless in Seattle.”