Alfred Hitchcock made this film in Britain way back in 1935, five years before venturing over to this side of the Atlantic, and yet The 39 Steps is just as suspenseful, exciting, and fun as any of his best Hollywood movies. Amazing.
Fine performances from Robert Donat, (Mr. Chips he ain't here) Madeleine Carroll, and Lucie Mannheim as the woman who's murdered in the beginning. Even Peggy Ashcroft shows up as a Scottish farmer's wife who helps Donat, and she's good, too. Great atmosphere of intrigue, deception, and everything else you'd expect from Hitch, and indeed it is very fresh even today. There's even a clever little shot of a maid seeing the murdered Mannheim's body, as her scream dissolves into a train whistle blowing. And there are some great lines that are still funny. (Donat to milkman: "Are you married?" Milkman: "Yes, but don't rub it in.") The sound is a bit muddy, (Though not very bad) and there are some confusing points along the way, but all in all it's great, classic Hitchcock.
Fine performances from Robert Donat, (Mr. Chips he ain't here) Madeleine Carroll, and Lucie Mannheim as the woman who's murdered in the beginning. Even Peggy Ashcroft shows up as a Scottish farmer's wife who helps Donat, and she's good, too. Great atmosphere of intrigue, deception, and everything else you'd expect from Hitch, and indeed it is very fresh even today. There's even a clever little shot of a maid seeing the murdered Mannheim's body, as her scream dissolves into a train whistle blowing. And there are some great lines that are still funny. (Donat to milkman: "Are you married?" Milkman: "Yes, but don't rub it in.") The sound is a bit muddy, (Though not very bad) and there are some confusing points along the way, but all in all it's great, classic Hitchcock.