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

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84% liked it

17,782 ratings

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97% liked it

31 critics

PG, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: August 1, 1935

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DVD Release Date: July 20, 1999

 

Stats: 902 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (902)


  • August 24, 2009
    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!
  • March 16, 2009
    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.
  • November 11, 2008
    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.
  • October 3, 2008
    Not one of my favourites from Hitchcock, but watchable all the same.
  • June 29, 2008
    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...
  • October 12, 2009
    Very good early Hitchcock thriller. Probably one of his earliest recommendable films. thumbs up!
  • September 20, 2009
    Extremely well done suspense story. Perfect for being Hitchcock first true thriller.

    93/100
  • September 8, 2009
    Amusing. But slightly racist towards Scots. Contains the feeblest punch in cinema history
  • August 30, 2009
    Crisp insouciance
    Murder, mystery, woman,
    Needs brisk showmanship
  • August 29, 2009
    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.

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  • wikkedgal
    June 4, 2007
    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!

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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 »

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