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The 39 Steps
(1935),
Director: Alfred Hitchcock, rated Approved
A
heart-racing spy story...
  Starring:
Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle,
Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Haye, Frank Cellier, Wylie
Watson, Gus McNaughton, Jerry Verno, Peggy Simpson
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"There are 20 million
women in this island and I've got to be chained to you." –
Richard Hannay, to Pamela
Why watch this?
This is one of Hitch's best early British suspense films.
Plot Summary:
A Canadian civilian in 1930s London is wrongly accused of
murdering a counter-espionage agent who was killed in his
apartment while trying to expose a spy ring. He flees to
Scotland to escape the police, becoming entangled with a
reluctant woman while trying to uncover the meaning behind the
mysterious "39 Steps". Ultimately, he must use his wits to
expose the spy organization and clear his name before they steal
top-secret British military secrets.
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Dad's Preview:
Like several Hitchcock thrillers (such as
North By
Northwest (1959)), this film features a regular man
wrongfully caught up in nefarious dealings, in this case, the
theft of a British military secret. Our unwilling hero, Richard,
is handsomely portrayed by Robert Donat. He has a great
characteristic in that he can be completely serious, yet also
provide comedic relief. These are both present in this film.
Sure, he's on the run for his life, but he still has the wits to
take over a political meeting without any idea of what to say.
It's a funny scene and a nice break from all the frantic chase
action. This film is often sited as ground-zero for today's
escapist entertainment. It was also lauded, by famed noir
director and star Orson Welles, as a "masterpiece." |
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Legendary
Pictures, Virtual Studios, Atmosphere Pictures; Warner
Bros. |
