John Buchan's 1915 thriller novel The Thirty-Nine Steps has proved to be a rich ground for filmmakers. From Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 classic to its less stellar 1959 remake and a more recent BBC television movie, Buchan's thriller has been updated and revised time and again. Yet with the exception of the BBC's version, most have chosen to take the bare bones of the novel and create something new out of it. There's an exception to every rule and this 1978 adaptation would prove to be that in returning not just to the original time period of the novel but capturing it in spirit (if not in incident) better than its predecessors.
It's perhaps best than the film owes less to Hitchcock and more to Buchan, especially given how the 1959 film turned out. Much of the flavor of the novel is captured here with the notion of a network of agents of a foreign power up to skullduggery and intrigue in the spring of 1914 which draws Richard Hannary, a mining engineer who has spent some years in Africa before coming to London, into a race against time. Though the film does pay homage to Hitchcock's film (and how could it not?), much of the film's incident can be traced to the original novel, if at times in a roundabout kind of way. The film does make additions including the characters of Alex Mackenzie and her fiancé along with some villains and indeed a totally new ending, these don't deviate hugely from what was originally written. The ending, the largest of the changes, is in fact something of an improvement over Buchan's own ending and it's no surprise that it has found some measure of iconic status in its own right. As a result, the film (despite the changes and additions it makes) might well be the most faithful adaptation of the novel we're ever likely to see.
That said, there's plenty to recommend the film for besides that. Take Robert Powell, made famous for his roles in Doomwatch and Jesus Of Nazareth, as Buchan's archetypal innocent man on the run Richard Hannay, . Powell was perfect casting has the right amount of charm, intelligence and good looks to be believable in the role of unlikely action hero from the moment he opens his apartment door to the iconic closing sequence. Powell pulls the role off with great panache but also the occasional air of vulnerability, something that sets him apart from other Hannay's both before and after him. Powell though is the tip of the iceberg.
The film's cast is a veritable who's who of British acting talent in the late 1970s though not always in large roles. The always excellent David Warner is in fine form as the traitor Sir Sir Edmund Appleton with Donald Pickering and Ronald Pickup superbly bringing his henchmen to life who chase Hannay across the country. Also pursuing Hannay is Eric Porter as Chief Superintendent Lomas while Hannay is aided by Karen Dotrice as Alex with Miles Anderson as her fiancé David Hamilton, all of whom do well even if they are times given limited material to work from. Sir John Mills appears as Scudder, the secret agent who sets invents in motion the events of the film, playing a more likable version of the character than presented in either the original novel or in the subsequent BBC version. The cast is rounded off by notable character actors including George Baker, Timothy West, Andrew Keir, David Collings, and Edward de Souza among others.
The film's production values are splendid as well, capturing the pre-war period feel superbly. These range from the sets created by Harry Pottle to the various costumes and locations chosen which all evoke the era or at least what the viewer often thinks of as that era. Indeed that can be said of the entire approach to the film under the direction of veteran director Don Sharp which brings the right tone to the film. Combined together, they create a film that superbly brings the novel to life while also pastiches it.
While perhaps overshadowed by Hitchcock's film, this 1978 take on the same source material may very well its equal. From Robert Powell and a superb cast to fine production vales and a script that treats Buchan's novel with respect, it manages to be faintly nostalgic but knowingly so in a sleeker and more modern packaging. It takes a very familiar tale and re-energize it into an engrossing and suspenseful watch. The result is not only a good way to spend 98 minutes or so but a fine example of the thriller genre.
It's perhaps best than the film owes less to Hitchcock and more to Buchan, especially given how the 1959 film turned out. Much of the flavor of the novel is captured here with the notion of a network of agents of a foreign power up to skullduggery and intrigue in the spring of 1914 which draws Richard Hannary, a mining engineer who has spent some years in Africa before coming to London, into a race against time. Though the film does pay homage to Hitchcock's film (and how could it not?), much of the film's incident can be traced to the original novel, if at times in a roundabout kind of way. The film does make additions including the characters of Alex Mackenzie and her fiancé along with some villains and indeed a totally new ending, these don't deviate hugely from what was originally written. The ending, the largest of the changes, is in fact something of an improvement over Buchan's own ending and it's no surprise that it has found some measure of iconic status in its own right. As a result, the film (despite the changes and additions it makes) might well be the most faithful adaptation of the novel we're ever likely to see.
That said, there's plenty to recommend the film for besides that. Take Robert Powell, made famous for his roles in Doomwatch and Jesus Of Nazareth, as Buchan's archetypal innocent man on the run Richard Hannay, . Powell was perfect casting has the right amount of charm, intelligence and good looks to be believable in the role of unlikely action hero from the moment he opens his apartment door to the iconic closing sequence. Powell pulls the role off with great panache but also the occasional air of vulnerability, something that sets him apart from other Hannay's both before and after him. Powell though is the tip of the iceberg.
The film's cast is a veritable who's who of British acting talent in the late 1970s though not always in large roles. The always excellent David Warner is in fine form as the traitor Sir Sir Edmund Appleton with Donald Pickering and Ronald Pickup superbly bringing his henchmen to life who chase Hannay across the country. Also pursuing Hannay is Eric Porter as Chief Superintendent Lomas while Hannay is aided by Karen Dotrice as Alex with Miles Anderson as her fiancé David Hamilton, all of whom do well even if they are times given limited material to work from. Sir John Mills appears as Scudder, the secret agent who sets invents in motion the events of the film, playing a more likable version of the character than presented in either the original novel or in the subsequent BBC version. The cast is rounded off by notable character actors including George Baker, Timothy West, Andrew Keir, David Collings, and Edward de Souza among others.
The film's production values are splendid as well, capturing the pre-war period feel superbly. These range from the sets created by Harry Pottle to the various costumes and locations chosen which all evoke the era or at least what the viewer often thinks of as that era. Indeed that can be said of the entire approach to the film under the direction of veteran director Don Sharp which brings the right tone to the film. Combined together, they create a film that superbly brings the novel to life while also pastiches it.
While perhaps overshadowed by Hitchcock's film, this 1978 take on the same source material may very well its equal. From Robert Powell and a superb cast to fine production vales and a script that treats Buchan's novel with respect, it manages to be faintly nostalgic but knowingly so in a sleeker and more modern packaging. It takes a very familiar tale and re-energize it into an engrossing and suspenseful watch. The result is not only a good way to spend 98 minutes or so but a fine example of the thriller genre.