6.6/10
1,502
32 user 8 critic

The 39 Steps (1959)

Approved | | Comedy, Crime, Drama | 13 March 1959 (UK)
The 39 Steps Poster
In London, a diplomat accidentally becomes involved in the death of a British agent who's after a spy ring that covets British military secrets.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (based upon the novel by)

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
Reviews

Photos

See all 25 photos »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 













◄ Prev 6 Next 6 ►

Next »
The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
Crime | History | Mystery
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

In March 1914, a mining engineer named Richard Hannay tries to prevent Prussian agents from executing a political assassination designed to trigger World War I.

Director: Don Sharp
Stars: Robert Powell, David Warner, Eric Porter
Next »
Genevieve (1953)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

It's time for the annual London to Brighton antique car rally, and Alan McKim and Ambrose Claverhouse are not going to let their friendship stop them from trying to humiliate each other. ... See full summary »

Director: Henry Cornelius
Stars: Dinah Sheridan, John Gregson, Kay Kendall
Next »
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Biography | Drama | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

Biopic of RAF Group Captain Douglas Bader who, after having lost both legs, flew a British fighter plane during WW2.

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Stars: Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook
Next »
The 39 Steps (1935)
Mystery | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent. But when the agent is killed and the man stands accused, he must go on the run to both save himself and also stop a spy ring which is trying to steal top secret information.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim
Next »
The 39 Steps (TV Movie 2008)
Adventure | Crime | Mystery
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.4/10 X  

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
Stars: Rupert Penry-Jones, Lydia Leonard, David Haig
Next »
Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
Action | Adventure | Biography
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

The story of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott's 1912 expedition and his quest to be the first to reach the South Pole in Antarctica.

Director: Charles Frend
Stars: John Mills, Derek Bond, Diana Churchill
Next »
The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Volunteers take over their local passenger train service (against bus company resistance) when the government announces its closure.

Director: Charles Crichton
Stars: Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne
Next »
The Wooden Horse (1950)
Drama | History | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

True story of three British POWs and their attempt to escape from Nazi Germany.

Directors: Jack Lee, Ian Dalrymple
Stars: Leo Genn, David Tomlinson, Anthony Steel
Next »
Too Many Crooks (1959)
Comedy | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

Accident-prone Fingers runs a pretty unsuccessful gang. They try and rob wealthy but tricky Billy Gordon - who distrusts banks and fears the Inland Revenue - but he sees Fingers and the ... See full summary »

Director: Mario Zampi
Stars: Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Brenda de Banzie
Next »
Passport to Pimlico (1949)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

Residents of a part of London declare independence, when they discover an old treaty. This leads to the need for a 'Passport to Pimlico'.

Director: Henry Cornelius
Stars: Stanley Holloway, Betty Warren, Barbara Murray
Next »
Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
Action | Drama | History
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship.

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Stars: Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Möhner
Next »
The Colditz Story (1955)
Drama | History | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Allied prisoners of various nationalities pool their resources to plan numerous escapes from an "escape-proof" German POW camp housed in a Medieval castle.

Director: Guy Hamilton
Stars: John Mills, Eric Portman, Christopher Rhodes
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Richard Hannay
... Fisher
Brenda de Banzie ... Nellie Lumsden (as Brenda De Banzie)
... Professor Logan
Reginald Beckwith ... Lumsden
... Nannie
... Brown
... Mr. Memory
... Kennedy
Jameson Clark ... McDougal
Andrew Cruickshank ... Sheriff (as Andrew Cruikshank)
Leslie Dwyer ... Milkman
Betty Henderson ... Mrs. McDougal
... Miss Dobson
... Perce
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Richard Hannay witnesses a hit-and-run involving a woman pushing a pram. Looking in the pram he sees a gun instead of a baby. He tracks the woman down and she reveals that she is a secret agent trying to stop foreign spies leaving the country with important military secrets. Later that night she is murdered in Hannay's flat. Hannay takes it on himself to thwart the enemy agents. This involves travelling to Scotland and keeping one step ahead of the police who are looking for him in connection with the murder of the woman. Written by ledostef, blackpool

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

military secret | spy | spy ring | secret agent | murder | See All (19) »

Taglines:

The Most Suspenseful Manhunt in History!

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

13 March 1959 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

39 escalones  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Taina Elg was cast as the female lead after a number of British and American performers had passed on the role and the Rank Studios and Kenneth More had vetoed a number of others. See more »

Goofs

When Hannay is hiding in the cornfield a man is shooting rabbits, he fires three shots, however he is using a double barreled shotgun which would require re loading to fire a third shot. See more »

Quotes

Kennedy: [Staking out Hannay's flat] Have you ever tried suckling pig?
Brown: No.
Kennedy: Tender as a baby.
Brown: Haven't tried that either.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Call the Midwife: Episode #3.3 (2014) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

Read the book
24 January 2001 | by – See all my reviews

Having recently re-read John Buchan's (short) novel "The 39 Steps" and already owning the 1935 and 1959 videos, a reappraisal seemed appropriate. While the '59 version is a delightful movie, it is a long way removed from the novel. On screen, Kenneth More is more Kenneth More than Richard Hannay. There are one or two "I don't think so" scenes such as Perce's (Sid James) attitude to a wanted killer. But we'll let that pass. You have to look at the production in its own right, because as a movie version of the book, it just doesn't make it. The Hitchcock version was much better in that respect. However, the Kenneth More film is utterly enjoyable as a bit of light drama. Certainly the underlying plot is worthy and overall, I'd give it 7 out of 10.
14 of 17 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 32 user reviews »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page

Stream Action and Adventure Titles With Prime Video

Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.

Start your free trial


Clear your history

Recently Viewed