IMDb > The 39 Steps (1935)
The 39 Steps
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The 39 Steps (1935) More at IMDbPro »

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The 39 Steps (1935) -- Spies and the police chase a handcuffed couple who cannot stand each other.
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.

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   19,431 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 29% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John Buchan (novel)
Charles Bennett (adaptation)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The 39 Steps on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 August 1935 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
His First Picture Since "Monte Cristo" ROBERT DONAT more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Don't be put off by its age - this one is worth seeing. more (174 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Robert Donat ... Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll ... Pamela
Lucie Mannheim ... Annabella aka Miss Smith
Godfrey Tearle ... Professor Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft ... Margaret - Crofter's Wife
John Laurie ... John - Crofter
Helen Haye ... Mrs. Jordan
Frank Cellier ... Sheriff Watson
Wylie Watson ... Mr. Memory
Gus McNaughton ... Commercial Traveller with Pipe (as Gus Mac Naughton)
Jerry Verno ... Commercial Traveller
Peggy Simpson ... Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ivor Barnard ... Political Meeting Chairman (uncredited)
Charles Bennett ... Second Passerby Near the Bus (uncredited)
Noel Birkin ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ex-Det. Sergt. Bishop ... Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Matthew Boulton ... Fake Police Officer (uncredited)
Edgar K. Bruce ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Kate Cutler ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Philip Desborough ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Pat Hagate ... M.C. Who Introduces Mr Memory (uncredited)

Alfred Hitchcock ... Passerby Near the Bus (uncredited)
Vida Hope ... Usherette (uncredited)
Robert Horton ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Elizabeth Inglis ... Professor Jordan's Daughter (uncredited)
James Knight ... Detective At London Palladium (uncredited)
Hubert Leslie ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Miles Malleson ... Palladium Manager (uncredited)
Quentin McPhearson ... Clergyman On The Flying Scotsman (uncredited)
Phyllis Morris ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Frederick Piper ... The Milkman (uncredited)
Hilda Trevelyan ... Innkeeper's Wife (uncredited)
John Turnbull ... Scottish Police Inspector (uncredited)
S.J. Warmington ... Scotland Yard Man (uncredited)
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Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock 
 
Writing credits
John Buchan (novel "The 39 Steps")

Charles Bennett (adaptation)

Ian Hay (dialogue)

Produced by
Michael Balcon .... producer (uncredited)
Ivor Montagu .... associate producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Hubert Bath (uncredited)
Jack Beaver (uncredited)
Charles Williams (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Bernard Knowles (photography)
 
Film Editing by
Derek N. Twist  (as D.N. Twist)
 
Art Direction by
Oscar Friedrich Werndorff  (as O. Werndorff)
Albert Jullion (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pen Tennyson .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Albert Whitlock .... scenic artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
A. Birch .... sound recordist
 
Special Effects by
P. Guidobaldi .... miniature builder (uncredited)
Jack Whitehead .... special effects (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Reg Johnson .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Peter Sargent .... clapper-boy (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marianne .... wardrobe
Joe Strassner .... dress designer (as J. Strassner)
 
Music Department
Louis Levy .... musical director
Louis Levy .... conductor (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Alma Reville .... continuity
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Thirty-Nine Steps (UK) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
86 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (British Acoustic Film Full Range Recording System)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 (2002) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Unrated | Norway:16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Visa de censure en France (1951): #11533/D. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Professor Jordan suggests Richard Hannay commit suicide, he says "What if I leave you alone with this revolver?" when he is clearly brandishing a small-caliber semi-auto pistol. more
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!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Fractured Flickers: (#1.1)" (1963) more
Soundtrack:
Tinkle, Tinkle, Tinkle more

FAQ

Why didn't the spies kill Hannay at the same time they killed Annabelle?
How closely does the movie follow the book?
Why did Mr Memory feel compelled to answer Hannay's questions about the 39 steps and the secret formula?
more
54 out of 59 people found the following comment useful.
Don't be put off by its age - this one is worth seeing., 13 April 2005
10/10
Author: palinurus2 from United Kingdom

If what you want from a thriller is in-yer-face mugging, special effects, noise, a booming soundtrack, gore, nudity and flashy editing, this one is not for you.

However if you are a more discerning moviegoer who values a great script, exquisite understated acting, wit, humour and intelligence, and you are willing to overlook the technically rough bits (come on, this was 1935, you cannot measure it by 2005 standards !!) - then enjoy, because you are in for a treat.

Robert Donat is one of the most charming heroes that ever graced the screen, and but for his frail health and loathing of the Hollywood pzazz (he later refused some great movie parts offered to him, which eventually went to the likes of Erroll Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks Jr) he might have become one of the greatest. Watch the dinner scene with the crofters, in which he manages to convey his plight to the wife entirely without words. Great acting. Also the wickedly funny bravura piece at the political rally.

Madeleine Carroll must be among the coolest and feistiest of Hitchcock's favoured blondes, not as insipid or irrelevant as many of the others were. She is a veritable icicle and it takes a long time for her to thaw, but then watch the sparks fly.

I feel a little sad for the people who cannot be bothered to check out this movie because of the tinny sound or the b&w photography. Forget about those superficialities and concentrate on the real values - the script, the acting, the lighting, photography and camera work -, just allow yourself to get carried away with the fast paced action, and you'll love it.

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