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The 39 Steps (1935)

Unrated  |   |  Mystery, Thriller  |  1 August 1935 (USA)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 37,781 users  
Reviews: 208 user | 95 critic

A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent. But when the agent is killed and the man stands accused, he must go on the run to both save himself and also stop a spy ring which is trying to steal top secret information.

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(adapted from the novel by), (adaptation), 1 more credit »
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Title: The 39 Steps (1935)

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
Godfrey Tearle ...
...
...
Helen Haye ...
Mrs. Jordan
Frank Cellier ...
The Sheriff
...
Gus McNaughton ...
Commercial Traveller (as Gus Mac Naughton)
Jerry Verno ...
Commercial Traveller
Peggy Simpson ...
Maid
Edit

Storyline

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. Written by Claudio Sandrini <pulp99@geocities.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

His First Picture Since "Monte Cristo" ROBERT DONAT See more »

Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

Certificate:

Unrated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

1 August 1935 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Les 39 marches  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(British Acoustic Film Full Range Recording System: at Shepherd's Bush London)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The bridge on which the train stops to search for Hannay (25 minutes from the start of the film), is the famous railway bridge over the river Firth of Forth, build from 1884 till 1889. It was then one of the most complicated works of engineering craftsmanship. It spans 2,5 km. See more »

Goofs

During the scenes where Hannay and Pamela are hiding under the waterfall to escape the police, Hannay's free hand is in his pocket on the close ups, but against the rock behind him in the long shots. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Music hall announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, with your kind attention, and permission, I have the honor of presenting to you one of the most remarkable men in the world.
Heckler in Audience: How remarkable? He's sweating!
See more »

Connections

Spoofed in Fletch (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

Tinkle, Tinkle, Tinkle
(uncredited)
Written by Harry M. Woods
Played by Music Hall pit orchestra and
Danced by the chorus girls
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
One of the finest films ever released.
18 June 2003 | by (Todmorden, England) – See all my reviews

The Thirty Nine Steps is extraordinary in every conceivabe way. Anyone who doesn't mind slightly old, black-and-white movies will be enraptured by this Hitchcock classic, which was one of the first films to present sophisticated and witty banter between two ill-matched characters. What makes it even more extraordinary is that it virtually totally alters the source material (John Buchan's novel), yet still comes across as a work of ingenuity.

The story concerns Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) a handsome young man who owns a London flat. A mysterious woman comes to him for help, claiming that she is being hunted by some spies. Hannay helps her, but when she is murdered in his home it look like he is to blame, and he has to go on the run from the police (who obviously want him for the "crime") and the spies (who want him to find out how much he actually knows). En route, he has many adventures as he flees across the South Scotland landscapes, including being handcuffed to a woman (Madeline Carroll) who happens to think he is guilty of the murder.

This is splendid from the word "go". It has enough memorable set pieces for a dozen films, its pace is invigorating, the plot is constantly turning up new surprises, and the performances are just about perfect. Hitchcock spent his career narrating tale of innocent men on the run (indeed, many consider it to be his "favourite" theme) and this is one of the very finest examples of that. Anyone interested in Hitchcock or cinema of the '30s simply must, must, must see this film.


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