About The 39 Steps

"The 39 Steps" is a 1935 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan. The film set the template for Hitchcock's future films about innocent men on the run. The plot follows Richard Hannay, a Canadian visiting London who becomes embroiled in a spy ring's plot to steal British military secrets, and has mere days to clear his name of a murder he did not commit.

Making / Production

The film deviates significantly from Buchan's original novel, with Hitchcock and his screenwriters, primarily Charles Bennett, transforming the novel's action story into a tense film about mistaken identity and espionage. It was shot on location in Scotland, providing a grim realism to the narrative.

Actors

• Robert Donat as Richard Hannay - Donat gives a charismatic and charming performance as the innocent man on the run.
• Madeleine Carroll as Pamela - Carroll is excellent as the unwilling counterpart to Hannay's dangerous escapade.
• Godfrey Tearle as Professor Jordan - Tearle convincingly portrays the villainous professor who leads the spy ring.
• Peggy Ashcroft as Margaret - Ashcroft's character provides a poignant, brief interlude in Hannay's journey.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This film marked Madeleine Carroll's first significant lead role in a major film.
• The 39 Steps is considered one of Hitchcock's early masterpieces and showed many elements of what would become classic Hitchcock film traits.
• Peggy Ashcroft's character and subplot were created solely for the film and do not exist in Buchan's original novel.

Awards

Although the film won no awards at the time of its release, its status and acclaim have grown significantly with time. It's now considered one of the greatest British films of all time.

Quotes

• "I know what it is to feel lonely and helpless and to have the whole world against me, and those are things that no men or women ought to feel." - Richard Hannay
• "Am I right, sir?" - The Milkman
• "There are 20 million women in this island, and I've got to be chained to you." - Pamela to Hannay.

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for "The 39 Steps" was composed by Louis Levy, with additional music by Jack Beaver. Highlights include the tense, atmospheric score for the scenes on the Scottish moors.