The Thirty-Nine Steps (1978)

The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Sharp

Writers:

Michael Robson (screenplay), John Buchan (novel)

Stars:

Robert Powell, David Warner, Eric Porter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Powell	...	Hannay
David Warner	...	Appleton
Eric Porter	...	Lomas
Karen Dotrice	...	Alex
John Mills	...	Scudder
George Baker	...	Sir Walter Bullivant
Ronald Pickup	...	Bayliss
Donald Pickering	...	Marshall
Timothy West	...	Porton
Miles Anderson	...	David
Andrew Keir	...	Lord Rohan
Robert Flemyng	...	Magistrate
William Squire	...	Harkness
Paul McDowell	...	McLean
David Collings	...	Tillotson

Storyline

The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, bursts into his rooms one night and tells him a story that Prussian 'sleeper' agents are planning to pre-start World War I by murdering a visiting foreign minister. However, Scudder is murdered and Hannay is framed for the death by the 'sleepers'. Fleeing to Scotland Hannay attempts to clear his name and to stop the agents with the aid of Alex Mackenzie but not only is he is chased by Chief Supt Lomas for Scudder's death but by the agents who is headed by Appleton who has managed to hide himself in a high-placed position in the British Government...

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Plot Keywords:

death | colonel | sleeper agent | scotland | manhunt | 

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Taglines:

A game of terror begins. The only clues... Are the victims.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The 39 Steps

Filming Locations:

Albert Bridge, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The, Norfolk International Pictures, Norfolk International Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First of three collaborations of actor Robert Powell and director Don Sharp the others being The Four Feathers (1978) and What Waits Below (1984).

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Goofs

The train that Hannay travels to Scotland is far too modern. The coaches were built by the LMS railway company which was formed in 1924 and the loco was built in after WW2.

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Quotes

Hannay: I thought he was a harmless lunatic!

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Connections

Version of The 39 Steps (1935)

User Reviews

Not really a remake

It's hardly fair to compare this to the Hitchcock version (which was made when Buchan was not yet a well-known author). I think the Hitchcock film is the better as a film, although there are a few stodgy moments (with the crofter, for instance), but lots of lovely visual ideas to compensate (the Bridge scene, the missing digit, and the ending). But Hitchcock's is not a filming of Buchan's novel. It's something quite different. The first remake (with Kenneth More) was a remake of the Hitchcock film, not the book. With this version, we were told it would be faithful to the original, but, yes, the ending is stolen from an old Will Hay film (which was very much before its time, with its black humour). So this is not really a remake of the Hitchcock film, but neither is it faithful to Buchan (which I must re-read). But it is enjoyable, the period feel is good, and I personally like Ed Welch's concerto score.