The 39 Steps
Tags: suspenseful, mystery, murder

Plot synopsis:
Canadian Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) is at a London music hall. While watching a demonstration of the fabulous powers of recall of "Mr. Memory" (Wylie Watson) shots are fired. In the ensuing panic, a frightened Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) holds on to Hannay and talks him into taking her back to his flat. After the bus ride there, she admits that she is a counterspy, and that she fired the shots to cause confusion because she is being chased by assassins, who are standing outside on the street. She claims to know of a plot to steal vital British military secrets, masterminded by a man with the top joint missing from his little finger. To stop the plot, she needs to go to Scotland to a large house in a small village. She mentions "thirty-nine steps", but does not explain their meaning.That night, Annabella is stabbed in the back with Hannay's knife, but manages to warn him to flee before dying. She is clutching in her hand a map of Scotland with a tiny village circled. To sneak out of the watched flat he borrows the uniform of a milkman and soon boards a train to Scotland. He sees police searching the train and learns from a newspaper that he is the target of a nationwide manhunt as a murder suspect. To throw police off his track, he enters a compartment and kisses the only occupant, Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), and the searchers skip the compartment. She however frees herself from his unwanted embrace and alerts the policemen. The train stops right at the Forth rail bridge from having the emergency brake triggered and Hannay jumps onto the bridge and escapes. The police mount a huge effort to find him, that include his being chased from an autogyro, a precursor of the helicopter.He stays the night with a poor crofter (farmer) (John Laurie) and his young wife (Peggy Ashcroft), who realizes Hannay is on the run, but keeps quiet. The next morning, the husband is about to turn him in to a search party but he leaves, aided the wife, wearing the farmer's Sunday coat. He arrives on foot at his target village and calls at a house Annabella had described. A large party is going on, he gives the name Annabella Smith to the maid, and the owner lies to the arriving police so he doesn't get arrested. When he tells his story to the seemingly respectable Professor Jordan (Godfrey Tearle), Jordan reveals that he is missing the top joint of a finger. Jordan shoots Hannay and leaves him for dead, but luckily, the bullet stopped in the farmer's hymnbook, left in a coat pocket.Hannay drives to the local police after stealing the professor's car, but they refuse to believe his story, since they know Jordan well. He is arrested for the London murder. Hannay breaks through a glass window and mingles with a passing parade. He opens a door, finds himself at a political meeting, and is mistaken for the introductory speaker arriving a bit late. Without knowing a thing about the candidate he is introducing he improvises a rousing speech that becomes truly moving oratory as it picks up momentum. Hannay talks about a world in which no one is unjustly accused, no one is hunted, no nation plots against nation,He is recognized by Pamela, who alerts police once again. He is handcuffed and taken away by "policemen" in a car. Hannay realizes they are spy agents when they drive past the police station. He proves his theory by looking for a reaction from his captors when he mentions the boss who has a missing joint from his finger. When a flock of sheep blocks the narrow road, one of the henchmen handcuffs him to Pamela, as the captors exit the car and attempt to move the sheep, but he escapes, dragging the unwilling woman along. Hannay and the attached Pamela evade the spies by hiding under a bridge covered with sheep at one point and behind a waterfall at another, in a Chaplinesque sequence.They walk across the countryside and stay the night at an inn, Pamela is still skeptical about Hannay's story. The couple hide their handcuff problem by pretending to be unable to keep their hands off each other. The innkeeper's wife believes they are an illicit couple in love, and lies to protect them when there are inquiries as to who is staying at the inn. There are awkward moments when she takes off her wet stockings and they lie on the bed handcuffed. While he sleeps, she manages to slip out of her handcuff. On her way out, she hears one of the fake policemen on the telephone downstairs and the conversation confirms Hannay's story.She returns to the room and sleeps on a sofa. Next morning, she tells him what she heard, they return to London and she goes Scotland Yard with the tale of the spy plot. No secret documents have been reported missing however, so she is not believed. Instead, they follow her to find Hannay.She goes to meet Hannay at Mr. Memory's show at the London Palladium, finds him, and sits next to him. Hannay observes Professor Jordan in a box. As the performer is introduced, Hannay recognizes his theme music - it's an annoyingly catchy tune he hasn't been able to forget for days. Hannay puts two and two together and realizes that the spies are using Mr. Memory to smuggle the secrets out: he has them memorized so there are no paper documents. As the police take Hannay into custody, he shouts out a question: "What are the 39 Steps?" Mr. Memory compulsively begins to answer, "The Thirty-Nine Steps is an organization of spies, collecting information on behalf of the foreign office of ...." Jordan shoots him and tries to flee, but is apprehended. The dying Mr. Memory recites the information stored in his brain, formulas for the design for a silent aircraft engine.

Review: It is these couples, and the chemistry between them (or the lack thereof) that drive the entire film.Over a span of four days, the smart and unflappable protagonist, Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) is involved in a circular journey to prove his innocence and expose the hive of intrigue.
In such episodes as the murder of the woman in Hannay's apartment or when the vicious professor with the missing finger casually shoots Hannay, the action progresses almost nonchalantly leaving the viewers stunned.A great story, interesting and likeable characters, slyly incongruous wit, classic Hitchcockian motifs and a great MacGuffin are just a few things that make the The 39 Steps the quintessential Hitchcock..
If what you want from a thriller is in-yer-face mugging, special effects, noise, a booming soundtrack, gore, nudity and flashy editing, this one is not for you.However if you are a more discerning moviegoer who values a great script, exquisite understated acting, wit, humour and intelligence, and you are willing to overlook the technically rough bits (come on, this was 1935, you cannot measure it by 2005 standards !!) - then enjoy, because you are in for a treat.Robert Donat is one of the most charming heroes that ever graced the screen, and but for his frail health and loathing of the Hollywood pzazz (he later refused some great movie parts offered to him, which eventually went to the likes of Erroll Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks Jr) he might have become one of the greatest.
And finally, the impact which it creates on us through medium of various emotions of all the characters.Its a story about a Charming Young Man 'Mr. Richard hannay' played by Robert Dannat, who gets entangled in a spy chase when he tries to shelter a counter-espionage agent in his house.
In this plot-heavy film, Richard Hannay - a young bachelor - experiences a series of very improbable events, starting with the murder of a mystery woman in his apartment by what he believes to be foreign agents and a picture perfect frame-up.
Film history was made in 1935 when Alfred Hitchcock, who was at the time an active but little known and somewhat run of the mill film director, received a contract to create a low budget potboiler type spy thriller, and used the opportunity to provide his studio with a masterpiece which has never been forgotten.
Similarly, sequences from this film have also been imitated by many other directors - for example Richard Pearce, in the thriller "No Mercy" (1986), included sequences that imitated a famous sequence in Hitchcock's film where Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll were handcuffed together and on the run , by showing Richard Gere and Kim Basinger fleeing pursuers whilst handcuffed together.
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.
One of the most enjoyable Hitchcock thrillers.Still as good after repeated viewing.Robert Donat stars as the innocent man with a murder charge on his head and accidently mixed up in a spy story.Trying to expose a spy-ring and clear his name he flees to Scotland and encounters a lot of people who help and hinder him.Robert Donat gives one of his best performances of his career as the protagonist.The chemistry between him and Madeleine Carroll,and especially a young Peggy Ashcroft (A brilliant performance)is wonderful to behold.John Laurie must also be mentioned,as the sinister farmer.
After all, it was only recently that I really started enjoying movies from the 50's.But as I was adjusting to the classic black and white visuals and the abrupt editing, I began noticing the same Hitchcock themes and flourishes that I've seen in the later favorites like North by Northwest.
I could not get out of my head the thought that Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) gained inspiration from "Mr Memory" when he played his fussy, boring, bureaucratic characters in the famous comedy series.With Hitchcock you get a first rate thriller coupled with sophisticated comedy - a very entertaining mix.For 1935 there is quite an erotic scene where Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll are handcuffed together while lying down on a double bed.I would be surprised if this scene got through the American film censors at the time, after all, "Extacy" (1932) starring Hedy Lamarr had been banned over there initially.I believe these two films were before the American "Hays Code" in Cinema had been been created.1940s censorship by contrast was far more draconian.My DVD shows the British Board of film censors certificate as an "A" which means for adults only.Even after 70 odd years the scene where Madeleine is pulling off (to dry) and putting on her stockings again is still quite erotic!I really liked the way Hitchcock gradually built up their initial hostile relationship into romance.He uses a similar device to "hook" the viewer in "The Lady Vanishes" (1938).Oh how I wish Hitchcock had filmed sequels to both these films as he left this viewer wanting to see more of their leading men and ladies playing their respective characters!!..
It's got a MacGuffin, sort of (or rather the title itself is something that doesn't even matter ultimately in what it *really* means), it's got a "wrong man" scenario where the lead character is chased as a suspect with spies and daring-do escapes, and the interaction between a classy leading man (here Robert Donat) and a leading lady (here, though for a shorter time, Madeline Carroll) up to par with him as a screen presence.True, it's also a little less 'polished', if you will, compared to Hitchcock's 50s and 60s work, but considering how so few years it came out after the advent of sound, many sequences are rather incredible, if only for what little is used.
Even the climax of the picture speaks to Hitchcock's unequivocal gifts at painting suspense but also throwing in a sliver of pathos; watch "Mr. Memory" in the final shot explaining about a formula or other and see how Hitchcock regards such silly things as "plot details", unless it's at the expense of something of a joke (i.e. on the train with the Hard Day's Night 'old man' and the other guy joking about the paper).What matters is that the story keeps moving and, under the circumstances, makes some sense.
Or even a lovely romantic piece that's like a slice of a silent film as Pamela almost escapes but decides to curl up on the couch instead.It's overall a beautiful, tense but very funny movie by a filmmaker who knows his stuff inside and out, and isn't worried about showing a good time in the midst of some unconventional technical choices..
After a panic scene into a music-hall where actuates Mr. Memory(Watson),Richard(Robert Donat)invites his house a foreign(Mannheim)whom pursues a espionage net called 39 steps.Later he goes to Scotland where is pursued at the same time by the police and the spies.Richard is handcuffed to a unknown beautiful blonde(Madeleine Carroll).They confront united several risks,odds and misfortunes.
Elegant and charming Robert Donat(1905-1958)submitted to continuous escapes is top-notch.Delightful Madeleine Carroll(recent her acting for John Ford) as distinguished and elegant blonde is marvellous .The support casting is frankly excellent,John Laurie,Helen Haye and famed theatre actress Peggy Ashcroft(born 1907) who win an Oscar(1985) by ¨Passage to India¨(David Lean).The film is a Gaumont British production by the great producer Michael Balcon.As almost always the screenwriter is Alma Reville,Hitchcock's wife.Besides his usual musical conductor Louis Levy and a dark black and white cinematography by his habitual cameraman Bernard Knowles.
In this case it's a Canadian named Hannay, who finds a murdered woman in his flat and is then pursued by the police, ending up in Scotland, where he runs into a pack of spies, who also begin chasing him,--he's now handcuffed to a beautiful woman--and the two flee to London, where the film concludes, as it began, in a music hall.
There's much humor in the man-woman situation, which, due to the strict censorship of the time, leaves much to the viewer's imagination, such as how they deal with matters pertaining to the bathroom.The script, co-authored by frequent Hitchcock collaborator Charles Bennett, has somewhat more serious situations than was typical of the director at this time, and there are certain scenes that seem almost to have been written by Hitchcock, such as the one in which the criminal chief shows Hannay the stump of his missing little finger.Robert Donat makes a dashing hero, though he can't conceal a certain dourness.
While Hitchcock made other movies with more psychological depth and more fascinating characters, there is as much fast-paced suspense here as you will find in any of his later films, along with a good dose of humor and a wide variety of creative settings.This is one of several movies on Hitchcock's theme of the unjustly accused man.
In a nicely-crafted sequence at the beginning, Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), a Canadian visiting London, is caught up in a spy plot and suspected in a murder, and he spends the rest of the film trying to evade both the police and the actual killers.
When she is murdered in his flat, he finds himself framed and goes on the run  his only chance to clear his name being to continue her trail and expose the real killers and the spy ring itself.Having recently seen both the 1950's (poor) and 1970's (enjoyable) remakes, I decided to revisit the original film version of The 39 Steps.
He was always very good at making his films very suspenseful (even his silent romantic films had trace elements of suspense in them).The film is exactly as the plot reads - but so much better than described: Richard Hannay is a visitor to London and finds himself mixed up in a case of murder with secret agents on his tail and he is determined to break up this massive spy ring.If you like spies/secret agent films, a murder mystery, and/or Alfred Hitchcock then you might like this film - it's one of Hitchcock's best movies and worth watching.8/10.
Unjustly accused of murder after being told of the `thirty-nine steps' by a female spy who is assassinated inside his apartment, Hannay flees into the British landscape, taking along a beautiful hostage named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who is eager to escape, but soon falls for the Canadian and believes his self-proclaimed innocence to be the truth.What is the MacGuffin of the story?
While I'm not as enthusiastic about this Hitchcock film as some of the others here, I do appreciate the chemistry between ROBERT DONAT (as the man on the run) and his reluctant, but charming, partner who shares the handcuffs with rightful indignation, MADELEINE CARROLL.
Furthermore, my favorite man on the run stories were THIS GUN FOR HIRE (with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake) and MINISTRY OF FEAR (with Ray Milland on the run the moment he steps outside of an asylum into an even crazier world).Nevertheless, as the story progresses from an entertaining opening at a British Music Hall and the spy theme is quickly developed, which leads to the chase that occupies most of the film, it's clear that Hitchcock is in his element.
The biggest fault of the movie is that they only actually spend about 20 minutes of screen time together.Though 'The Lady Vanishes' is, in my mind, the best from Hitchcock's 'British Period', 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' is a great example of the director's emerging style and a thoroughly entertaining adventure romp in its own right..
Alfred Hitchcock made this film in Britain way back in 1935, five years before venturing over to this side of the Atlantic, and yet The 39 Steps is just as suspenseful, exciting, and fun as any of his best Hollywood movies.
After ten years working as a director and after string of mediocre films with couple of good to excellent ones between, in 1935 Alfred Hitchcock made his first MASTERPIECE - 'The 39 Steps'.
'The 39 Steps' included all the Hitchcock's traits we are now used to love - charming characters (protagonists and antagonists both), sharp and snappy dialogue, thrills, suspense, and masterful cinematography and editing.Although Alfred Hitchcock surpassed this early gem many times later in his career, 'The 39 Steps' still stands as an essential Hitchcock movie, and was definitely turning point in the career of the magnificent director..
After witnessing a strange incident in a music hall which leads to the murder of a mysterious woman, a man is wrongly accused of the crime and goes on the run to Scotland in an attempt to uncover the mystery of The 39 Steps.This was the British film that truly established Alfred Hitchcock's reputation internationally.
The Movie is Short but is not Short on Suspense and Our Heroes are Caught and Confronted or Nearly Caught and Confronted Many Times.It is not Without some Weakness, like in the Music Hall Beginning where the Audience Acts like Boobs, or in the Political Speech where Everyone is Overwhelmed by this New Politico and Storms the Stage, both of these are just too Silly and Over the Top and come off much worse when Viewed Today.Overall an Excellent Film that is a Landmark of Sorts and is Highly Entertaining, not a Perfect Movie or the Best of Hitchcock but is Nevertheless Fine Craftsmanship and in the Context of the Mid-Thirties, Quite an Accomplishment from a British Production..
Many might see it as a prototype for his later thrillers like SABOTEUR and the classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST, but having seen it, it deserves to be seen in its own right.Robert Donat plays Richard Hannay, a typically pedestrian man who finds himself in a wave of conspiracy and murder when he meets and escorts a random woman (Lucie Mannheim) who is actually being pursued by enemy spies for a secret which she possesses.
Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), a Canadian visitor in London meets Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) at a music hall.She's running away from the secret agents and gets killed at his flat.Now he has to run for he becomes the prime suspect.At the side he has to break the spy ring.He takes a train to Scotland.On a train he gets to kiss a girl named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) in order to trick the cops.Later he's handcuffed to this unwilling woman.There's a little of this early Alfred Hitchcock classic The 39 Steps (1935).Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll make a brilliant couple in the lead.John Laurie makes a great Scottish crofter.Peggy Ashcroft is wonderful as his pretty wife Margaret who gets to help Richard.This movie is exciting, romantic and funny.The escape is most captivating to watch.And so is the young couple being handcuffed to each other.It's funny when Richard's mistaken for a politician and he gets to speak to the crowd.Hitchcock really was a master at these kind of movies..
"The 39 Steps" incorporates several elements which, over the next four decades, were to feature strongly in Alfred Hitchcock's films- a man wrongly accused of a crime, a glamorous blonde heroine, an espionage-related plot, a train journey, a mixture of suspense and humour and a cliffhanger scene at an iconic building or structure (in this case the Forth Railway Bridge near Edinburgh, one of Britain's best-known bridges).
Of course, no one believed him and he stayed just a half-step ahead of the law.The climax is a little contrived, but Robert Donat (Goodbye, Mr. Chips) made a dashing fugitive, and Madeleine Carroll as the typical Hitchcock blond added humor to the film.A good introduction to the master of suspense..
Robert Donat and Madeleine Caroll make the perfect match, and there are enough twists and turns in this film to keep you excited.The plot: Richard Hannay goes to a Music Hall one night for a bit of fun.
Indeed, many of the elements that have come to be associated with Hitchcock films are here: an innocent man (Richard Hannay, played by Robert Donat) caught up in circumstances beyond his control, a cool blonde (Pamela, played by Madeleine Carroll) for him to encounter, a "MacGuffin" that catalyzes an action-filled plot, etc.
They have a nice repartee.You'll see bits of Hitchcock's other films in this - there are strong reminders of "Sabotage" here as Hannay gets help along the way; he and Carroll are assumed to be a couple; Pamela wants to turn him over to the police; the honorable citizen is a traitor.The Macguffin here is the 39 steps.
The 39 Steps certainly isn't his best film, but it's a solid spy thriller, and one of the better movies of the mid '30's.Loosely based on a novel of the same name, The 39 Steps follows Canadian tourist Richard Hanney (Robert Donat, who winds up in a world of trouble when he meets a beautiful, mysterious woman.
We will find this theme in subsequent films such as "Young and Innocent" and "Saboteur", and it will find its apogee in "North by northwest".Robert Donat is so good in the part of Richard Hannay, since the first scenes, when he is attending the show in a theater of Mister Memory (Wylie Watson), a man who can remember everything he's asked by the public, even the most abstruse.
Richard Hannay (played by a charismatic Robert Donat) is a wrongfully accused man on the run (this would become a recurring theme in Hitchcock's films).
The 39 Steps of 1935 is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and stars such people as Robert Donat.
Now although I don't fully disagree, I think it is actually those like Robert Donat who make this enjoyable and the whole thrilling plot is based on a book, Hitch does do a fine job, just not as good as he would do one day.If your looking at this film as either a Hitchcock fan or want to see his movies, I wouldn't say don't watch but don't also think this will be a masterpiece, it isn't all perfect.