Richard Hannay is enjoying `crazy month' at his local music hall when shots ring out. He is approached by a young woman who asks can she shelter at his house. He takes her in and she tells him she must get to Scotland to try and contact a man about the 39 Steps in order to prevent vital information being smuggled out of the country. When she is murdered in his flat, he finds himself framed and goes on the run his only chance to clear his name being to continue her trail and expose the real killers and the spy ring itself.
Having recently seen both the 1950's (poor) and 1970's (enjoyable) remakes, I decided to revisit the original film version of The 39 Steps. The Hitchcock film steps away from the book somewhat and is more a fast moving story of one little jape after another. It has quite a short running time and is surprisingly light on it's feet as it quickly moves from one scene to another. It is hard for me to judge how tense or exciting it is, having seen it so many times, but it always keeps me engaged, whether it be the witty political speech or the climax in the music hall.
The direction feels old and worn now but is actually very sharp and well paced. The film stock is worn and patchy and one shot in particular appears to be running at the wrong speed but it does have a very good sense of place. The highlands (and internals) feel like the highlands and the music hall atmosphere is well captured and treated with affection. The mix of humour and drama is well done, with alternate scenes using one or the other while some scenes mix the two very well.
Donat is partly to thank for this as his performance keeps things light without ever going so far as to wink at the audience or make us think that he is playing it for laughs. His is a charming lead and he plays it well. Carroll is well used as the traditional blonde cast by Hitchcock, she is a little dappy but she is a match for Donat in early scenes. The chief villain is a dry sort and would have made a good Bond villain with his mix of menace and manners.
Overall this is a classic film and for good reason. It is dramatic, funny and enjoyably light footed and fun to watch. It has stood the test of time and can be enjoyed by a mix of tastes due to these qualities. A good old fashioned mystery adventure story with plenty of witty touches from Hitchcock.
