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.
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Title: The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Powell | ... | Hannay | |
| David Warner | ... | Appleton | |
| Eric Porter | ... | Lomas | |
| Karen Dotrice | ... | Alex | |
| John Mills | ... | Scudder | |
| George Baker | ... | Sir Walter Bullivant | |
| Ronald Pickup | ... | Bayliss | |
| Donald Pickering | ... | Marshall | |
| Timothy West | ... | Porton | |
| Miles Anderson | ... | David | |
| Andrew Keir | ... | Lord Rohan | |
| Robert Flemyng | ... | Magistrate | |
| William Squire | ... | Harkness | |
 |
Paul McDowell | ... | McLean |
| David Collings | ... | Tillotson | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, bursts into his rooms one night and tells him a story that Prussian 'sleeper' agents are planning to pre-start World War I by murdering a visiting foreign minister. However, Scudder is murdered and Hannay is framed for the death by the 'sleepers'. Fleeing to Scotland Hannay attempts to clear his name and to stop the agents with the aid of Alex Mackenzie but not only is he is chased by Chief Supt Lomas for Scudder's death but by the agents who is headed by Appleton who has managed to hide himself in a high-placed position in the British Government... Written by Anonymous
Taglines:
Every second counts in the adventure of a lifetime! See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
2 May 1980 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The 39 Steps See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$2,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$1,046,332, 31 December 1980Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$11,046,332, 31 December 1980Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Decoded it read :
"LET THE SLEEPERS AWAKE" See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
Whilst in Scotland, as a guest at the ancestral home and on the heaths, Hannay, wears Cherry Red Dr Marten Airwear boots (first invented in 1960). These are first seen under a chair whilst he is changing in the bedroom. See more »Crazy Credits
Opening credits prologue: Early in 1914 a coded cable was sent from a European power to a house in west London.Decoded it read :
"LET THE SLEEPERS AWAKE" See more »
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.