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Plot:
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 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:June 29, 2008Director:Alfred Hitchcok
Released: 1935
Stars: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim and Godfrey Tearle
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
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... -
MCT:June 17, 2008
Alfred Hitchcock Wins at 62nd Tonys
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Kevin Adams Winner The 39 Steps
Best Sound Design of a Play
Mic Pool Winner The 39 Steps -
MCT:June 3, 2008Hitchcock had a long and illustrious career full of masterpieces that have been hailed by critics for years now, and this is the movie that got it all started. It's a movie that clearly would influence him to make "North by Northwest" 24 years later, and given that that is my favorite movie, it'll be hard not to compare the two. The plot is very similar first and foremost: a man is unintentionally entangled with a woman while in London who is running from foreign agents. That night she is murdered and he is chased by both the police, who figures him to be the murderer, and the agents, who are highly suspicious of his role...of course, the whole time, he is actually an innocent man, and he thus goes out to prove his innocence and to snitch out the spies. It's all a great premise, but it plays out much more exciting in "North by Northwest". It isn't as grandiose and there are no scenes that can match the crop duster or Mt.Rushmore scenes. The whole thing just feels like a "lite" version of NxNW, as the characters aren't as charismatic or interesting either. Judging it individually now, there are some good things. As with any Hitchcock movie, there's some good suspense and cleverness, and the ending was original and unpredictable, giving this enough as a whole to leave a positive impression. It's not the brightest moment by Sir Alfred, but there's a definite hint of what was to come once he realized his full potential.
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MCT:June 1, 2008
This is Hitchcocks first big thriller, and what a great start.This is about a canadian tourist caught up in a devious plot to sabotage the british war effort during WW1, writen by john buchan, the film is so atmospheric particular when the hero Richard Hannay has to escape through the Scottish Highlands,persued by both the authorities and the mysterious spy network known as the the black stone, intent on destroying Britain, it is a well worked film, and it is easy to see that buchan was influenced by connan doyle, writer of Sherlock Holmes, and the film actually contains many of the plots,disguises,logical work familiar to fans of Holmes, it is classic Hitchcock and a great performance by one of Britains leading actors of the time Robert Donat make it an edge of your seat spy thriller. For fans of Hitchcock i would definatley recommend getting it out on DVD
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MCT:May 29, 2008Aside from discovering yet another smashingly dashing-yet-dead (or at least VERY old, I'm not sure) guy to oggle at, I didn't really get much out of this movie. But like with Donnie Darko, I don't think it's because this is bad, I just think the circumstances at the time I saw it were bad. Very late, very tired, bad audio, no subtitles, and a Hitchcock movie with guaranteed twists. Not a good combination. So needless to say, about 75% of the time, I wasn't sure what the heck was going on, and that includes the ending. So I can't say I liked it, but it merits another closer watch when I take the effort to pay VERY close attention. Besides, any American movie with a CANADIAN (OH YEAH!) hero always deserves a rewatch.
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MCT:May 15, 2008i loved this film and is my favorite Hitchcock thus far but i haven't seen them all (soon to change).
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MCT:May 8, 2008
Early Hitchcock thriller made when the future master was still honing his craft. I'm not sure that the unpolished feel of the film doesn't add to the overall ambiance. And besides, what Hitchcock calls a "learning experience" would be the crowning achievement of most other directorial careers. It's not Rear Window or Vertigo but it's exceptional nonetheless.
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MCT:April 12, 2008
John Buchan's popular novel, The 39 Steps, has been adapted for the big screen on three occasions, but Alfred Hitchcock's exquisite 1935 original is still comfortably the best.
Hitchcock took certain liberties with the source material, using it as a springboard for his own ideas, with the intention of creating suspense for the audience. However, John Buchan later admitted that he was very happy with Hitchcock's vision of his novel and it is easy to see why.
The outcome is a sensational, fast-paced adventure, brimming with exciting sequences, most notably the chase on the train that culminates on The Forth Rail Bridge.
It is also the first Hitchcock movie to explore a favoured theme that would become very prominent throughout his career; that of the innocent hero on the run from the law and/or the villains.
The 39 Steps is terrific fun and a sure sign of what was to come in later years from the master. -
MCT:March 16, 2008
When I first put this movie into the DVD player, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I watched was another amazing film by hitchcock. Though, personally, I think that the ending was a bit of a disappointment, The whole movie still had the plot twists that are found in many of hitchcock's films. Although this may not be the best of his work, it is still a must see.
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MCT:March 8, 2008
The opening wasn't that great, and neither was the ending. But it was the middle section and the climax that made this movie very good. One of Hitchcock's best.
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MCT:March 7, 2008
It has Hitchcock's great humor, great vision and great storytelling. Anything you would see in his American films. Absolutely fun to watch!
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MCT:March 1, 2008
Very good fun. Donat is great. Hitch's directions jaunts along nicely. Some very funny moments. Highly enjoyable.
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MCT:February 21, 2008
Donat & Carroll were great together... The spy was very mysterious... Favorite scenes are that of the farmer's wife helping Donat getaway & Carroll & Donat in the hotel room... Good Hitchcock movie...
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MCT:February 20, 2008
A must see for any Hitchcock devotee. Prototypical Hitchcock melange of elements prominently featured in later films, eg the mysterious blonde, the train ride, the wrongfully accused man, etc....
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MCT:January 7, 2008
not a bad suspense thriller for under an hour and a half. the beginning and end aren't that interesting, but the subtle wit of Donat, the arresting stubborn charm of Carroll and the brilliant story direction of Hitchcock made the meat of the film truly classic. North by Northwest is by far superior, but this early effort shows Hitchcock mastered the art of intrigue long before he hit Hollywood.
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MCT:December 26, 2007
the protype of hitchcockian action piece outsets since 39 steps with our debonair gorgeous robert donat as the wrongly accused innocent man who is forced to expose conspiracy to retrieve his integrity. it proves a theory of hitchcock's that the potentiality of a man could be enlightened under the enormous pressure, such as the scene donat is propelled to lecture a political speech then obtain the public affinity.
the first 20 mins is intriguing with the brief cameo of beautiful german spy called annabella smith who takes shelter in hanny's lodge(donat) that is arranged with taunting mystery. then annabella is assinated that drives hanny to clarify his murder charge. so he stumbles from place to place in various british and scottish landscapes. he hasn't made any concrete progress until he meets the combatively quarrelsome blonde pamela played by madelein carroll.
the best distinguished hitchcockian action pattern is the harmony of genders. lots of his action pieces have a pair of man and woman collaborated to confront mighty crisis, such as his rear window, north by northwest, the man who knew too much, the lady vanishes...etc. here he even wittily has the two leads tied in one handcuff as their feuds and concilliation. when man's being doubted, he remains in good humor of suave demeanor then he gains the confidance of the woman. it's so called hitchcockian symmetry of opposite sexes. none of his flicks are throughly testicular or estrogenic.
of course, the ingredient of hitchcokian mcguffin is firstly brought out here in 39 steps, the macguffin in this flick would be "mr. memory" in london musical hall. the thrill doesn't reply on the content of the macguffin but the speculating suspense upon it. such as you never knew what kind of big secret those agents are exploring in "notorious", either. but you enjoy the teasing process of its espials anyway.
madeleine carroll is the first hitchcockian icy blonde who matches adaptably with robert donat from their brawling discord under a handcuff to their deux of clasping hands at the last shot. -
MCT:November 10, 2007lame. it's amazing the play was actually good. everything alfred hitchcock makes seems to suck. i only saw it because my parents put it on for some strange reason and i was on my computer
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MCT:September 1, 2007
What many regard as the first quintessential Hitchcock film. Hugely infuential with a gripping storyline.
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MCT:August 30, 2007
1 of Hitch's best. This film has been made so many times, but Hitchcock's version stands out far ahead of the rest
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MCT:August 25, 2007
As far as Hitchcock's early films go, this is arguably the best of the bunch. Donat, as ever, is brilliant in the role of the innocent man on the run (a motif revisited several times by the auteur) and the plot moves along at a very good pace, never outstaying its 80-odd minutes. The touches of humour are most welcome to break up the dramatic tension, which is expertly created via a series of enjoyable set-pieces. The perfect 'oldie' to show the young'uns that not all B&Ws are 'dull, dull, dull'.
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wikkedgalposted 430 days ago
