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:

It's Great...It's Grand...It's Glorious!

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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

The scene at the farm at 30:00 from the start, bears striking resemblance to the first scene of the opera The Walküre from Richard Wagner. Hitchcock must have seen the opera. The unhappy farmer's wife, the suspicious husband, the newcomer. The glimpsing over the table back and forth, the sexual tension.

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Goofs

In the Music Hall scene, Donat's stand-in is clearly sitting in his place in the audience on at least two occasions.

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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 Remington Steele: Steele Your Heart Away (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Dancing With My Shadow"
(uncredited)
Written by Harry M. Woods

User Reviews

Sowing the Seeds of Suspense

Nearly every era in Hitchcock's directing career has incredible strengths. When we view a later film like "North by Northwest" we are tempted to say that "The 39 Steps" is simply a training film for the bigger budget, star studded film that came later. This is not true. This movie stands on its own. With wonderful actors like Robert Donat and Madeline Carrol, we are led on an intense ride, culminating in a crowded theater. There are amazing shots of the characters weaving their way through crowds, close ups used strictly for the purpose of moving the plot. With Hitchcock there is no excess. He is a poet with a camera. As the tension mounts and Donat's character becomes swept away in its arms, we are taken with it. His wisecracking character is out of words and must act, just as Cary Grant did in the aforementioned film. There is something lurking and we have to find out who it is and why does he need to know what he knows? I've seen this many times and will see it again.