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The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
2 May 1980 (USA)
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Tagline:
Every second counts in the adventure of a lifetime! more
Plot:
The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa...
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Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
Stylish and exciting
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Robert Powell | ... | Richard Hannay | |
| David Warner | ... | Sir Edmund Appleton | |
| Eric Porter | ... | Chief Supt Lomas | |
| Karen Dotrice | ... | Alex Mackenzie | |
| John Mills | ... | Scudder | |
| George Baker | ... | Sir Walter Bullivant | |
| Ronald Pickup | ... | Bayliss | |
| Donald Pickering | ... | Marshall | |
| Timothy West | ... | Porton | |
| Miles Anderson | ... | David Hamilton | |
| Andrew Keir | ... | Lord R | |
| Robert Flemyng | ... | Magistrate | |
| William Squire | ... | Harkness | |
| Paul McDowell | ... | McLean | |
| David Collings | ... | Tillotson |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The 39 Steps
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Norway:16 |
Iceland:12 |
UK:PG (tv rating) |
Netherlands:16 (original rating) |
Finland:K-16 |
UK:U |
USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Last cinema film of Eric Porter.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: As Hannay looks out the train window as Police Board the train, a "First Class" symbol appears on the window. This is in the BR "Totem" style, which did not appear until 1948 when the UK Railways were nationalized.
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (33 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| On DVD | martin_humble |
| The story doesn't make sense | liperta |
| THIRTY NINE STEPS APPLETON'S HOUSE LOCATION | makingston |
| the 39 steps | JIM_MARCH |
Recommendations
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| The 39 Steps | The Bourne Ultimatum | Gandhi | Moonraker | The Human Factor |
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| IMDb Thriller section | IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |

The best-known film version of John Buchan's famous novel was made by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935 but, although an excellent film in his typically playful style, it actually had little to do with the book. Ralph Thomas's 1959 remake was a dull affair. Don Sharp does a much better job.
The film reverts to the book's Edwardian setting and opens with a striking scene beside the fog-shrouded Thames, which reminds one of Sharp's work for Hammer Films. Robert Powell is an agile and likeable hero, supported by a strong cast and the climax, cleverly borrowed from the Will Hay classic "My Learned Friend", has Hannay attempting (literally) to turn back time.
It was reported that, when this film premiered at a West London cinema, the audience burst into spontaneous applause at the end!