Released in 1935, The 39 Steps is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous masterpieces. Quickly becoming an international success, it established Hitchcock’s unshaken status as the cinematic ‘master of suspense’. This classic film is particularly notable today for combining suspense and humor, and many of Hitchcock’s other trademarks as it inspired many remakes and adaptations. The thriller starring Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll and Peggy Ashcroft is loosely based on the 1915 novel of the same title written by John Buchan. This quickly paced adaptation follows Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) as he goes through one dangerous adventure after another in the charming company of his romantic counterpart, Pamela, played by Madeleine Carroll.
The 39 Steps can be seen as a film of its time, with its most noteworthy moments being the sharp and humorous social observations punctuating the story. The ideas established in this funny and fresh thriller lead the viewers in two …show more content…
Memory” show in a music hall. The woman turns out to be Annabella Smith, a counter-espionage agent running away from enemy spies. Hannay first agrees to hide her in his apartment, but she is murdered during the night. As he stands to be accused of Annabella’s murder, and pursued by the enemy spy ring, Hannay flees London in direction of Scotland. He goes on the run with an attractive woman, Pamela, to prove his innocence, and takes over Annabella’s work in preventing an organization called the ‘39 Steps’ from stealing top-secret information. His adventure includes jumping off a moving train, spending a night in a crofter's cottage, giving an improvised speech supporting an unknown cause at a political meeting, getting shot, being handcuffed to a resentful heroine and posing as newlyweds for an night. Suitably, his convoluted trip ends where it started, in a music
The 39 Steps can be seen as a film of its time, with its most noteworthy moments being the sharp and humorous social observations punctuating the story. The ideas established in this funny and fresh thriller lead the viewers in two …show more content…
Memory” show in a music hall. The woman turns out to be Annabella Smith, a counter-espionage agent running away from enemy spies. Hannay first agrees to hide her in his apartment, but she is murdered during the night. As he stands to be accused of Annabella’s murder, and pursued by the enemy spy ring, Hannay flees London in direction of Scotland. He goes on the run with an attractive woman, Pamela, to prove his innocence, and takes over Annabella’s work in preventing an organization called the ‘39 Steps’ from stealing top-secret information. His adventure includes jumping off a moving train, spending a night in a crofter's cottage, giving an improvised speech supporting an unknown cause at a political meeting, getting shot, being handcuffed to a resentful heroine and posing as newlyweds for an night. Suitably, his convoluted trip ends where it started, in a music