The 39 Steps (1935)
1h 26m | PG-13
Richard Hanney has a rude awakening when a glamorous female spy falls into his bed - with a knife in her back. Having a bit of trouble explaining it all to Scotland Yard, he heads for the hills of Scotland to try to clear his name by locating the spy ring known as The 39 Steps.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Studio: Gaumont-British Picture Corporation
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Video: 720p
Cast
Robert Donat
as Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll
as Pamela
Lucie Mannheim
as Annabella Smith
Godfrey Tearle
as Professor Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft
as The Crofter's Wife Margaret
John Laurie
as John the Crofter
Reviews
A simply wonderful, sophisticated, adaptation of John Buchan's book of wartime espionage and murder. Robert Donat ("Hannay") goes to the theatre to see a man with an incredible memory; but instead becomes embroiled in a tale of cloak-and-dagger antics that see him accused of murder and forced to flee to the highlands of Scotland. It is here that he encounters a sceptical Madeleine Carroll and together they try to get to the bottom of this clever mystery. The dark and eerie Scottish scenery adds to the suspense and there are two good cameos from Peggy Ashcroft and John Laurie too. I found the ending let this down a little - but it is still a gripping hour and half to watch under the expert hand of Alfred Hitchcock.