Prime Time: The 39 Steps (1935)

While I am no major expert on the filmography of Alfred Hitchcock, I have seen most of the well-known titles that make up the latter half of his extensive filmography. I haven’t seen much of his earlier work though, despite owning a fair few of them in a dvd boxset I picked up from a charity shop years ago at a bargain price. The 39 Steps is a film I always forgot about, however, and I am pretty sure that I didn’t even think of it as a Hitchcock film. But it certainly is, and here we are.

Robert Donat plays Richard Hannay, a man who finds himself on the run after being suspiciously present at the scene of a murder. The murder victim was a spy, and she manages to tell Hannay about “the 39 steps” before breathing her last breath. Armed with this phrase, as well as a map featuring some extra information about a possible location of interest, Hannay sets out to solve a mystery that he hopes will save the lives of others and prove his own innocence.

Full of familiar Hitchcockian moments, The 39 Steps is a rip-roaring thriller that races through some great locations and set-pieces en route to a tense and hugely satisfying finale. The script, by Charles Bennett and Ian Hay (adapted from the John Buchan novel), is fun and nicely plotted, maintaining a great sense of momentum while allowing the lead character to interact with a delightful assortment of supporting players.

Donat is a smooth and charming lead, his charisma very necessary for his various encounters with others as he tries to maintain his freedom. He carries the film on his shoulders, and makes it all seem quite effortless. There is, of course, an innocent woman (Pamela) who gets dragged into the whole debacle, believing Hannay to be a guilty man, and she is played by Madeleine Carroll. While viewers know that Pamela isn’t right in her opinion of our hero, her strength and determination are admirable as she attempts to ensure his arrest, and Carroll plays the part with great grace and a little sly humour. Godfrey Tearle plays a key role, and there are enjoyable moments for the likes of Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Haye, and Wylie Watson, as well as one or two others.

Although I wouldn’t put this at the top of any list, whether you’re ranking spy movies, man on the run movies, or just Hitchcock movies, it certainly deserves to be jostling around in the upper levels. There’s a slight coziness to many scenes that undercut the tension, which is an unexpected surprise when you think of the usual Hitchcock style, but that somehow just adds to the appeal here. This isn’t a bleak and cynical cavalcade of peril. It’s a dangerous and thrilling adventure yarn that wants to keep you entertained without making you feel too distressed. I loved it.

9/10

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