The 39 Steps poster & wallpaper

Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll

Hitchcock's first great romantic thriller is a prime example of the MacGuffin principle in action. Robert Donat is Richard Hannay, an affable Canadian tourist in London who becomes embroiled in a dead...( read more  read more... )ly conspiracy when a mysterious spy winds up murdered in Hannay's rented flat--and both the police and a secret organization wind up hot on his trail. With only a seemingly meaningless phrase ("the 39 steps"), a small Scottish town circled on a map, and a criminal mastermind identified by a missing finger as clues, quick-witted Hannay eludes police and spies alike as he works his way across the countryside to reveal the mystery and clear his name. At one point he finds himself making his escape manacled to blonde beauty Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), whose initial antagonism is smoothed by Hannay's charm and the sheer rush of her thrilling chase. It's classic Hitchcock all the way, a seemingly effortless balance of romance and adventure set against a picturesque landscape populated by eccentrics and social-register smoothies, none of whom is what he or she appears to be. Hitchcock would play similar games of innocents plunged into deadly conspiracies, most delightfully in North by Northwest, but in this breezy 1935 classic, Hitch proves that, as in any quest, the object of the search isn't nearly as satisfying as the journey. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

84% liked it

17,782 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

31 critics

PG, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: August 1, 1935

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 20, 1999

 

Stats: 902 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

The 39 Steps Madeleine Carroll and Robert Donat Hitch & Bondage Donat & Carroll The 39 Steps The 39 Steps The 39 Steps The 39 Steps The 39 Steps
Upload a Photo |

View All The 39 Steps Photos (9)

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (902)

  • moonrivers
    August 24, 2009
    moonrivers
    i was just thinking "what is this hitchcock thing everyone is always on about?" when a small independent local television station ran this beaut of a tongue-in-cheek chase (think "north by northwest", the biggest differences between the two not in plot but in location and culture...( read more): hitchcock is one mean casual observer) across england on morning programming. now i'll be talking like henry higgens for a week!
  • danperry17
    March 16, 2009
    danperry17
    Mixing the first signs of his coming mastery of suspense with comedy reminiscient of Keaton, Chaplin and Vaudeville, The 39 Steps is a - the? - classic romantic thriller. White-knuckled love not starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen? You've gotta love it - this is a ground-breaki...( read more)ng film that seems to have effectively invented a genre, and it's a staple in any Hitchcock diet.
  • sanjurosamurai
    November 11, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    featuring one of the great macguffin's of hitchcocks career, the 39 steps is a great 1930's thriller. aside from the silliness of the all too simple getaways of the main character, the film holds in suspense as we await the identity of the 39 steps. a classic.
  • 76Majikat
    October 3, 2008
    76Majikat
    Not one of my favourites from Hitchcock, but watchable all the same.
  • SarahG1988
    June 29, 2008
    SarahG1988
    Director:Alfred Hitchcok
    Released: 1935
    Stars: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim and Godfrey Tearle
    Genre: Mystery, Thriller
    Country: UK

    ...( read more)pg" target="_blank">Photobucket

    Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to London. At the end of "Mr Memory"'s show in a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith who is running away from secret agents. He accepts to hide her in his flat, but in the night she is murdered. Fearing he could be accused on the girl's murder, Hannay goes on the run to break the spy ring

    One of Hitchcock's very first masterpieces and one of the finest films of his that I've seen. Contains, which would later be, classic Hitchcok trademarks and brilliant cinematography which makes the film miles ahead of it's time. Brilliant...

    More to follow...
  • RThornhill
    October 12, 2009
    RThornhill
    Very good early Hitchcock thriller. Probably one of his earliest recommendable films. thumbs up!
  • ElCochran90
    September 20, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Extremely well done suspense story. Perfect for being Hitchcock first true thriller.

    93/100
  • peterrea1
    September 8, 2009
    peterrea1
    Amusing. But slightly racist towards Scots. Contains the feeblest punch in cinema history
  • vinnynasso
    August 30, 2009
    vinnynasso
    Crisp insouciance
    Murder, mystery, woman,
    Needs brisk showmanship
  • mitchamillion1
    August 29, 2009
    mitchamillion1
    its an entertaining movie. It reminds me of north by northwest except north by north west is a lot better. Its worth the watch but not incredible.

View All The 39 Steps Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

View more The 39 Steps reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • wikkedgal
    June 4, 2007
    wikkedgal
    Has anyone been to see the London theatre production? It is brilliant! absolutely hilarious! Winner of Best new comedy. i recomend it to anyone and everyone!
Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Unknown video type.
Official Trailer

View Larger The 39 Steps Trailer

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Man Who Knew Too Much
    The Man Who Knew Too Much (100%)
  • The Bourne Identity
    The Bourne Identity (67%)
  • The Lady Vanishes
    The Lady Vanishes (86%)
  • Hue and Cry
    Hue and Cry (50%)

More Movies like The 39 Steps

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The 39 Steps : Watch Free on TV

The 39 Steps Trivia

  • This early Hitchcock film set in Scotland features a villan with no pinky.  Answer »
  • Who carries the secret of The 39 Steps?  Answer »
  • What is the synopsis for 'The 39 Steps'?  Answer »
  • Which of the following Hitchcock films had the earliest release date?  Answer »
More The 39 Steps Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The 39 Steps Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The 39 Steps to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

littlecharmer1959 Skin by littlecharmer1959
13 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins