The 39 Steps
(1935)
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This classic British thriller was one of Alfred Hitchcock's first major international successes, and it introduced a number of the stylistic and thematic elements that became hallmarks of his later work. Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), a Canadian rancher on vacation in England, attends a music hall performance by Mr. Memory (Wylie Watson); in the midst of the show, shots ring out and Richard flees the theater. Moments later, a terrified woman (Lucie Mannheim) begs Richard to help her; back at his room, she tells him that she's a British spy whose life has been threatened by international agents waiting outside. Richard is certain that she's mad until she reappears at his door in the morning, near death with a knife in her back, a map in her hand, and muttering something about 39 Steps. Discovering that a group of thugs are indeed waiting outside, Richard slips away and takes the first train to the Scottish town on the dead woman's map. Richard learns that he's now wanted by the police for murder, and he must find a way to clear his name. He begins trying to do so with the help of a woman he meets en route, Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who serves as his unwitting assistant, even after she tries to turn him in. The 39 Steps was later remade in 1959 and 1978 -- both without Hitchcock's participation.~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide |
Alfred Hitchcock's masterwork based on John Buchan's novel stars Robert Donat as Richard Hannay, handcuffed for much of the time to Madeleine Carroll as he moves in a north-by-northwesterly direction to Scotland to uncover a spy ring. These early Hitchcock thrillers — including his first version of The Man Who Knew Too Much and The Lady Vanishes — are rightly fondly regarded, even if they lack the complexity of his later work in Hollywood and creak like a much-loved antique bedstead. This brims with typical set pieces, most notably the climax in a music hall where Mr Memory is asked “What are the 39 Steps?”. If you haven't seen the film 39 times, you probably won't remember.
Halliwell's Film Guide
Marvellous comedy thriller with most of the gimmicks found not only in Hitchcock's later work but in anyone else's who has tried the same vein. It has little to do with the original novel, and barely sets foot outside the studio, but it makes every second