The 39 Steps (TV 2008)

Richard Hannay, a mining engineer on holiday from the African colonies, finds London socialite life terribly dull. Yet it's more then he bargained for when secret agent, Scudder, bursts ... See full summary »

Director:

James Hawes

Writers:

John Buchan (novel), Lizzie Mickery (screenplay)

Stars:

Rupert Penry-Jones, Lydia Leonard, David Haig

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Richard Hannay
Lydia Leonard	...	Victoria Sinclair
David Haig	...	Sir George Sinclair
Patrick Malahide	...	Professor Fisher
Patrick Kennedy	...	Hellory Sinclair
Eddie Marsan	...	Scudder
Alex Jennings	...	Captain Kell
Steven Elder	...	Vicar / Wakeham
Werner Daehn	...	Ackerman
Peter Stark	...	Engel
Del Synnott	...	London Constable
Roger De Courcey	...	Ventriloquist
David Gallacher	...	Professor's Butler
James Bryce	...	Concierge at Club
Stewart Preston	...	Waiter at Club

Storyline

Richard Hannay, a mining engineer on holiday from the African colonies, finds London socialite life terribly dull. Yet it's more then he bargained for when secret agent, Scudder, bursts into his room and entrusts him a coded notebook with map, concerning the impending start of World War I. In no time both German agents and the British law are chasing him, ruthlessly coveting the Roman numerals code, which Hannay believes he must crack himself. Masquerading as a liberal party pundit, Richard also gets stuck with parliamentary candidate Sir George Sinclair's sister Victoria. They must survive with the secrets and decide who they can trust and how to keep it from others.

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Plot Keywords:

false identity | beating | fall | number in title

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

28 December 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

39 Lépcsőfok

Filming Locations:

Argyll's Lodging, Stirling, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The three cars which feature in the film (the grey Morris that Hannay and Victoria steal, the Germans' green Darracq and Hellory's blue Humber) were all registered in the mid 1920s and are models which would not have been available in 1914 when the action in the film takes place.

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Quotes

Richard Hannay: When we return to London, I intend to woo you.

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Connections

Version of The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)

User Reviews

Nicely put together but thrill-free adaptation of Buchan

Comparison's to Hitchcock's film are, perhaps, inevitable - from what I can remember this film is much easier to watch than Hitchcock's 1935 b&w version, being largely filmed in Scotland-flattering daylight. It's also a comparative disappointment for the same reason - there's none of the claustrophobia and shadowy drama that makes a Hitchcock viewer watch on edge.

Still, the BBC hasn't tried to remake Hitchcock but to adapt Buchan. Despite some tepid, 21st-century pussyfooting about from Rupert Penry-Jones as Hannay it has a fair bit of pace and flair. Crucially, this feature also has plenty of humour. Or rather, it tries - it's Penry-Jones' weakest suit but he has good support from a jolly, modern suffragette (Lydia Lyon, excellent as Victoria)... so what is the point of Penry-Jones? Well, he's a rather capable action figure as Spooks has borne out and perhaps his stint as Donald Maclean in Cambridge Spies sold him as a dashing period figure. Still he's exposed as a bit one-trick here, I'm sorry to say.

Nonetheless, a good, original one-off for Christmas, and not least for the carefully fashioned but never intrusive music by Rob Lane. 4/10