The 39 Steps

...with Robert Donat as a Canadian ex-pat living in London who gets accused of murder. He goes on the run, avoiding the authorities in hopes of clearing his name, with the trail leading to the Scottish countryside. He eventually ends up involving a reluctant Madeleine Carroll. With Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Helen Haye, Wylie Watson, John Laurie, and Peggy Ashcroft.

Highlights for me: the Scottish Highlands, Madeleine Carroll removing her stockings while handcuffed to Donat, and Peggy Ashcroft's brief turn as the unhappy wife of a country farmer. Donat's easy charm and affable demeanor foretell the similar performances by Stewart and Grant in Hitchcock's later thrillers. There are some glaring plot-holes (why don't the villains deal with Donat when they off the woman in his apartment at the film's start?), but they can be ignored thanks to the pace of the proceedings.

The Criterion DVD bonus features include commentary by Hitchcock expert Marian Keane; a "visual essay" by Hitchcock expert (how many are there?) Leonard Leff; Hitchcock: The Early Years (2000), a short British documentary; excerpts from a 1966 British TV interview; more audio-only excerpts of Truffaut's Hitchcock interviews; a booklet/essay from critic David Cairns; and the complete Lux Radio Theatre adaptation, with Ida Lupino and Robert Montgomery. Truly the best way to see it, and thus why I bring it up.

Nearly every era in Hitchcock's directing career has incredible strengths. When we view a later film like "North by Northwest" we are tempted to say that "The 39 Steps" is simply a training film for the bigger budget, star studded film that came later. This is not true. This movie stands on its own. With wonderful actors like Robert Donat and Madeline Carrol, we are led on an intense ride, culminating in a crowded theater. There are amazing shots of the characters weaving their way through crowds, close ups used strictly for the purpose of moving the plot. With Hitchcock there is no excess. He is a poet with a camera. As the tension mounts and Donat's character becomes swept away in its arms, we are taken with it. His wisecracking character is out of words and must act, just as Cary Grant did in the aforementioned film. There is something lurking and we have to find out who it is and why does he need to know what he knows? I've seen this many times and will see it again.

Richard Hannay is enjoying `crazy month' at his local music hall when shots ring out. He is approached by a young woman who asks can she shelter at his house. He takes her in and she tells him she must get to Scotland to try and contact a man about the 39 Steps in order to prevent vital information being smuggled out of the country. 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. The Hitchcock film steps away from the book somewhat and is more a fast moving story of one little jape after another. It has quite a short running time and is surprisingly light on it's feet as it quickly moves from one scene to another. It is hard for me to judge how tense or exciting it is, having seen it so many times, but it always keeps me engaged, whether it be the witty political speech or the climax in the music hall.

The direction feels old and worn now but is actually very sharp and well paced. The film stock is worn and patchy and one shot in particular appears to be running at the wrong speed but it does have a very good sense of place. The highlands (and internals) feel like the highlands and the music hall atmosphere is well captured and treated with affection. The mix of humour and drama is well done, with alternate scenes using one or the other while some scenes mix the two very well.

Donat is partly to thank for this as his performance keeps things light without ever going so far as to wink at the audience or make us think that he is playing it for laughs. His is a charming lead and he plays it well. Carroll is well used as the traditional blonde cast by Hitchcock, she is a little dappy but she is a match for Donat in early scenes. The chief villain is a dry sort and would have made a good Bond villain with his mix of menace and manners.

Overall this is a classic film and for good reason. It is dramatic, funny and enjoyably light footed and fun to watch. It has stood the test of time and can be enjoyed by a mix of tastes due to these qualities. A good old fashioned mystery adventure story with plenty of witty touches from Hitchcock.

Tight and delicious. Everything matters and nothing matters. An amazing commercial eye without detracting from the poetry. Poetry? Yes poetry. Robert Donat was one of the best actors of his generation - I wonder why he's not better known. Maybe he will be rediscovered. The 39 Steps, The Winslow Boy, Goodbye Mr Chips just to name 3 of his spectacular performances. Madeleine Carroll is perfect as an early, classy and icy Hitchcock blonde. The coupling of Donat and Carroll has all the signature traits of the Master and it's downright irresistible. Not to be missed.

Alfred Hitchcock directed this film in 1935. It's one of his greatest successes. The film is based on a novel by John Buchan, also known as Lord Tweedsmuir. The story has a Canadian mining engineer, Richard Hannay, unwillingly drawn into a spy chase when a woman unknown to him latches onto him as he's leaving a London theatre. She tells him she's a spy and that she needs his help. He's skeptical of her story, but he goes back to his London flat with her. Hannay is brilliantly played by actor Robert Donat. He turns out to be quite an interesting character, and a resourceful one at that. When the woman he returned home with turns up dead in his flat, Hannay flees London for Scotland, hoping to find a man he believes can clear him. The newspapers accuse Hannay of murder, so he knows he's a wanted man. During a chase through Scotland, Hannay finds he's not only pursued by the police for the murder he didn't commit, but by members of the spy ring the woman warned him about. Watch how he manages to deal with police, spies and a beautiful young woman played by Madeleine Carroll.