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A newly-restored print of arguably director Alfred Hitchcock's finest British film, which was originally released in 1935. Freely adapted from the John Buchan novel, The 39 Steps is a picaresque thriller in which an innocent man Hannay (Robert Donat) becomes caught up in an international spying conspiracy and is pursued by both foreign agents and the police. A significant precursor to the same film-maker's North by Northwest, it remains a supremely entertaining and accomplished work in its own right.
"What is drama, but life with the dull bits cut out?" Hitchcock once observed, and that's an apt description of the breathlessly paced The 39 Steps. It's justly famous for its series of action set-pieces, beginning with the shooting at the London music-hall and continuing via a Scottish HIghlands adventure to the finale at the Palladium.
"DONAT... A WONDERFUL ROMANTIC HERO"
Donat proves to be a wonderful romantic hero - suave, charming and commendably resourceful. And one of the most striking aspects to The 39 Steps, when viewed 70-plus years on, is how it uses its dynamic story to explore a series of sexual relationships. Initially Hannay is propositioned by a female agent Annabella, who works for "any country that pays me", and is assassinated in his flat. Later he is handcuffed by the villains to a mystery blonde, Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), with whom he shares a night and a bed in an inn, whilst they pretend to be an eloping couple. Hitchcock even takes the time to show us the deeply unhappy relationship between an elderly crofter (John Laurie) and his much younger wife Margaret (Peggy Aschcroft): it is this woman's kindness and generosity to Hannay which proves literally life-saving.
The 39 Steps is out in the UK on 11th April 2008.
Hitchcock was rarely this light with his directorial touch.
