The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
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- PG
- 1h 42min
- Crime, Drama
- 02 May 1980 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Powell | ... |
Hannay
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| David Warner | ... |
Sir Edmund Appleton
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| Eric Porter | ... |
Lomas
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| Karen Dotrice | ... |
Alex
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| John Mills | ... |
Scudder
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| George Baker | ... |
Sir Walter Bullivant
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| Ronald Pickup | ... |
Bayliss
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| Donald Pickering | ... |
Marshall
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| Timothy West | ... |
Porton
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| Miles Anderson | ... |
David
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| Andrew Keir | ... |
Lord Rohan
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| Robert Flemyng | ... |
Magistrate
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| William Squire | ... |
Harkness
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Paul McDowell | ... |
McLean
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| David Collings | ... |
Tillotson
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| John Normington | ... |
Fletcher
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| John Welsh | ... |
Lord Belthane
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| Edward de Souza | ... |
Woodville
(as Edward De Souza)
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| Tony Steedman | ... |
Admiral
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John Grieve | ... |
P.C. Forbes
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Andrew Downie | ... |
Stewart
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Donald Bisset | ... |
Renfrew
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Derek Anders | ... |
Donald
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Oliver Maguire | ... |
Martins
(as Oliver Maquire)
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| Joan Henley | ... |
Lady Nettleship
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| Prentis Hancock | ... |
Perryman
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Leo Dolan | ... |
Milkman
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| James Garbutt | ... |
Miller
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Artro Morris | ... |
The Scot
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| Robert Gillespie | ... |
Crombie
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| Raymond Young | ... |
Guide
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| Paul Jerricho | ... |
P.C. Scott
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Michael Bilton | ... |
Vicar
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Leslie Adams | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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Lewis Alexander | ... |
Bystander at Albert Court (uncredited)
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John William Ault | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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Frances Baker | ... |
Woman in Street (uncredited)
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Roy Beck | ... |
Train traveller (uncredited)
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John Cannon | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Peter Childs | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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John Clifford | ... |
Spy in Street (uncredited)
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Ian Clowe | ... |
Piper (uncredited)
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Harold Coyne | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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| Maxwell Craig | ... |
Man at Liberal Party Meeting (uncredited)
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Liz Crowther | ... |
Maid (uncredited)
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Anthony Dawes | ... |
Butler (uncredited)
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John Doye | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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| Harry Fielder | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Jill Goldston | ... |
Nun (uncredited)
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Gerald Home | ... |
Sailor (uncredited)
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Billy Jardine | ... |
Tramp (uncredited)
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Cyril Kent | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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Roy Lansford | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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Aileen Lewis | ... |
Lady on Stairs (uncredited)
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Tommy Little | ... |
Man at Meeting (uncredited)
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Jimmy Millar | ... |
Man in Train Station (uncredited)
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John More | ... |
Diner (uncredited)
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Maureen Nelson | ... |
Guest (uncredited)
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| James Payne | ... |
Onlooker (uncredited)
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Charles Price | ... |
Guest (uncredited)
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Bob Raymond | ... |
Guest (uncredited)
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Mike Reynell | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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Henry Roberts | ... |
Man at Meeting and Street (uncredited)
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Pat Ryan | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
General (uncredited)
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Fred Stroud | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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| John Tatham | ... |
Parliamentary Committee Member (uncredited)
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| Reg Thomason | ... |
Minister (uncredited)
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Rita Tobin-Weske | ... |
Nun (uncredited)
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Reg Turner | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Robert van Kaphengst | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Del Watson | ... |
Man in Street (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Don Sharp | ||
Written by
| Michael Robson | ... | (screenplay) |
| John Buchan | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Frank Bevis | ... | associate producer |
| James Kenelm Clarke | ... | executive producer |
| Greg Smith | ... | producer |
Music by
| Ed Welch | ||
Cinematography by
| John Coquillon | ... | director of photography (as John Coquillion) |
Editing by
| Eric Boyd-Perkins | ||
Casting By
| Irene Lamb | ||
Production Design by
| Harry Pottle | ||
Makeup Department
| Jeanette Freeman | ... | hairdressing supervisor |
| Tom Smith | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| Ray Frift | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Mike Higgins | ... | assistant director (as Michael Higgins) |
| Barry Langley | ... | first assistant director |
| Roy P. Stevens | ... | assistant director (as Roy Stevens) |
Art Department
| Peter Childs | ... | assistant art director |
| Denise Exshaw | ... | set dresser |
| Percy Godbold | ... | prop buyer |
| Jack Notman | ... | assistant art director |
| Stephen Hargreaves | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Ken Barker | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Vernon Messenger | ... | dubbing editor |
| Terry Poulton | ... | dubbing editor |
| Peter Sutton | ... | sound mixer |
| Don Wortham | ... | boom operator |
| Peter Desbois | ... | sound assistant (uncredited) |
| John Hayward | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Ron Ballanger | ... | special effects supervisor |
Stunts
| Colin Skeaping | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James Bawden | ... | additional photography (as Jimmy Bawden) |
| Joe Pearce | ... | stills photographer |
| Herbert Smith | ... | camera operator |
| John Swan | ... | gaffer (as Johnny Swan) / gaffer |
| Harry Waxman | ... | additional photography |
| Geoff Mulligan | ... | aerial cameraman (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joyce Stoneman | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| David Alexander | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Ed Welch | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pamela Mann | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Valerie Chamberlain | ... | production assistant |
| Geoff Freeman | ... | unit publicist |
| Jack Hawtree | ... | production accountant |
| Christine Hoy | ... | producer's assistant |
| Paul Shersby | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| James Payne | ... | stand-in for Robert Powell (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Rank Film Distributors (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as Rank Film Distributors Limited.)
- Constantin Film (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical) (as Neue Constantin Film)
- Tuschinski Film Distribution (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1979) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Fox-Stockholm Film Distribution (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kamras Film Agency (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
- The International Picture Show Company (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Produzioni Atlas Consorziate (P.A.C.) (1979) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Astral Video (1981) (Canada) (VHS)
- Barium Video (Finland) (video)
- Carlton Visual Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Channel Ginga (2008) (Japan) (tv)
- Disney Channel (1985) (United States) (tv) (as The Disney Channel)
- Future Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
- Georgiadis Ilekroniki (1984) (Greece) (VHS)
- Keep (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
- Media Home Entertainment (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- Rank Video Library (1981) (United Kingdom) (VHS) (Betamax V2000 Laserdisc)
- Schröder Media (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- VPS Video (West Germany) (video)
- VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Video Collection International (1991) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Video Collection International (2000) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Video Treasures (1989) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- 4MC London (Carlton International Media Limited would like to thank the following for their assistance)
- Carlton International Media (the picture you have seen has been fully restored and preserved on film and digitally remastered for Video and DVD by)
- DDA (public relations consultant)
- National Screen (titles)
- Rank Concert Orchestra (orchestra)
- Technicolor London (Carlton International Media Limited would like to thank the following for their assistance)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The year is 1914, and Richard Hannay (Robert Powell), a mining engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbors, Colonel Scudder (Sir John Mills), bursts into his room one night and tells him a story that Prussian sleeper Agents are planning to 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 (Karen Dotrice), but not only is he is chased by Chief Superintendent Lomas (Eric Porter) for Scudder's death, but by the agents, who are headed by Appleton (David Warner), who has managed to hide himself in a high-placed position in the British Government. |
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| Taglines | Every second counts in the adventure of a lifetime! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This movie is considered the most faithful of the three screen versions of John Buchan's source novel, despite the addition of the Big Ben clock-tower finale (which was borrowed from Will Hay's My Learned Friend (1943)), which was not in the book. See more » |
| 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 » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Clock (2010). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | SPOILER: Closing credits epilogue: Edward Appleton was convicted of treason in May 1914. And thanks to Richard Hannay, Britain gained valuable time to prepare for The Great War. See more » |
| Quotes |
Hannay:
I thought he was a harmless lunatic! See more » |