The 39 Steps (1935)

A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent. But when the agent is killed and he stands accused, he must go on the run to both save himself and also stop a spy ring trying to steal top secret information.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

John Buchan (adapted from the novel by), Charles Bennett (adaptation),

Stars:

Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Donat	...	Hannay
Madeleine Carroll	...	Pamela
Lucie Mannheim	...	Miss Smith
Godfrey Tearle	...	Professor Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Crofter's Wife
John Laurie	...	Crofter
Helen Haye	...	Mrs. Jordan
Frank Cellier	...	The Sheriff
Wylie Watson	...	Memory
Gus McNaughton	...	Commercial Traveller (as Gus Mac Naughton)
Jerry Verno	...	Commercial Traveller
Peggy Simpson	...	Maid

Storyline

Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to London. At the end of "Mr Memory"'s show in a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith who is running away from secret agents. He accepts to hide her in his flat, but in the night she is murdered. Fearing he could be accused on the girl's murder, Hannay goes on the run to break the spy ring.

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Plot Keywords:

on the run | spy | police | memory | music hall | 

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Taglines:

She Hated to be Mastered... But She Learned to Like it from the Man who put the MAN in roMANce

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les 39 marches

Filming Locations:

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (British Acoustic Film Full Range Recording System: at Shepherd's Bush London)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alfred Hitchcock:  [Innocent man wrongly accused]  Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) is framed for the murder of Annabelle (Lucie Mannheim).

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Goofs

Lights visible when police search the train.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Music hall announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, with your kind attention, and permission, I have the honor of presenting to you one of the most remarkable men in the world.
Heckler in Audience: How remarkable? He's sweating!

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Connections

Referenced in 'We Are the Boys...': John Laurie (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Russian Dance"
(uncredited)
Arranged by Hubert Bath

User Reviews

A wonderfully entertaining thriller that has influenced dozens of subsequent movies since.

While I personally prefer Hitchcock's darker, more troubling movies, especially 'Vertigo' and 'Psycho', as far as his straightforward thrillers go 'The 39 Steps' is still one of his most entertaining. The man on the run because of false accusations or "knowing too much" motif may or may not have been invented here, but it certainly influenced dozens of subsequent thrillers, all the way up until contemporary movies like 'Enemy Of The State' and 'Minority Report'. Robert Donat makes a great hero, and Madeleine Carroll is charming and funny as his reluctant partner. The chemistry and repartee between the two is something that has been copied countless times since. Some people seem to regard 'The 39 Steps' as a practice run for Hitch's later 'North By Northwest', but I prefer the earlier movie. It may not be complex and deep, but it's great fun, and full of old fashioned movie magic. A classic thriller that is still wonderfully entertaining, and should prove to be enjoyable to almost everyone who watches it. Recommended.