IMDb >
The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Thirty Nine Steps (1978) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
2 May 1980 (USA) moreTagline:
Every second counts in the adventure of a lifetime! morePlot:
The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa... more | add synopsisUser Comments:
Not really a remake moreCast
(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
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
102 minCountry:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Norway:16 | Iceland:12 | UK:PG (tv rating) | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | UK:U | USA:PGFun Stuff
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. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| The story doesn't make sense | liperta |
| On DVD | martin_humble |
| THIRTY NINE STEPS APPLETON'S HOUSE LOCATION | makingston |
| the 39 steps | JIM_MARCH |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The 39 Steps | Moonraker | The Human Factor | The Bourne Ultimatum | The World Is Not Enough |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Thriller section | IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |


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.