The 39 Steps reviews
Review by on 23 Sep 2009
Robert Donat stars as “wrong man” Hannay in this, the most popular of all adaptations of Buchan’s novel, which found favour with the author himself despite its many liberties. Mmm… Donat. His crisp, creamy performance is what makes this film. A Hollywood cynic, the self-effacing actor relaxes into this role with a great sense of possibly tipsy fun. But for his modesty and mistrust of Hollywood, the versatile Donat could have had Olivier watching out for his job. As Hannay he’s thrust onto the stage as the world’s first truthful politician, disguised as a suspiciously dapper milkman, and woos his women with fried haddock and an irresistibly dry wit.
Among the many deviations from its source material, THE 39 STEPS features 62 sheep. They ate the scenery – literally – the shrubbery had to be replaced with fake foliage. The steps themselves become a MacGuffin; the added conceit of the handcuffed odd couple is a centrepiece, inspiring one of Hitch’s more predictable on-set practical jokes – 'losing the key', naturally. John 'Dad’s Army' Laurie features as the bright eyed, doubting crofter whose wife’s Glaswegian accent is unconvincingly coherent. The couple exemplify the tale’s main themes of trust and betrayal, and host a brilliantly awkward supper for our hero. The action is as nonchalant and as determined as Hannay, the most perilous moments delivered with thrilling clarity. The biggest home cinema in the world is no substitute – see it on the silver screen (and spot Hitch as a litter lout, early on in the film).
ROSY HUNT
Robert Donat stars as “wrong man” Hannay in this, the most popular of all adaptations of Buchan’s novel, which found favour with the author himself despite its many liberties. Mmm… Donat. His crisp, creamy performance is what makes this film. A Hollywood cynic, the self-effacing actor relaxes into this role with a great sense of possibly tipsy fun. But for his modesty and mistrust of Hollywood, the versatile Donat could have had Olivier watching out for his job. As Hannay he’s thrust onto the stage as the world’s first truthful politician, disguised as a suspiciously dapper milkman, and woos his women with fried haddock and an irresistibly dry wit. Among the many deviations from its source material, THE 39 STEPS features 62 sheep. They ate the scenery – literally – the shrubbery had to be replaced with fake foliage. The steps themselves become a MacGuffin; the added conceit of the handcuffed odd couple is a centrepiece, inspiring one of Hitch’s more predictable on-set practical jokes – 'losing the key', naturally. John 'Dad’s Army' Laurie features as the bright eyed, doubting crofter whose wife’s Glaswegian accent is unconvincingly coherent. The couple exemplify the tale’s main themes of trust and betrayal, and host a brilliantly awkward supper for our hero. The action is as nonchalant and as determined as Hannay, the most perilous moments delivered with thrilling clarity. The biggest home cinema in the world is no substitute – see it on the silver screen (and spot Hitch as a litter lout, early on in the film).
ROSY HUNT
Review by on 21 Sep 2009
Sandwiched between opening and closing music hall acts, Hitchcock’s ripping yarn has it all. Robert Donat plays a Canadian, Richard Hannay, visiting London when he is caught up in a spy ring. The female mercenary who warns him is murdered leaving Hannay a wanted man. The key to proving his innocence is to track down the guilty party and he sets off to follow hints that the key lies in the Scottish highlands. On the way to unravelling the mystery, Hannay demonstrates the presence of mind and improvisation skills of a genuine agent. He has to escape from the police as well as the real spies, speak at a political meeting in favour of he knows not whom and spend time handcuffed to the lovely Madeleine Carroll. There’s never a dull moment with plenty of witty dialogue, cod Scotsmen and even a chase scene in the open country.
It’s hard to believe that so many brilliant ideas were brought together, edited so well and presented as early as 1935. No wonder then that I over-heard a group of youngsters after the show discussing whether the film really was made in the “olden days”. “Oh yes” advised one “it was from the 1960s”.
Sandwiched between opening and closing music hall acts, Hitchcock’s ripping yarn has it all. Robert Donat plays a Canadian, Richard Hannay, visiting London when he is caught up in a spy ring. The female mercenary who warns him is murdered leaving Hannay a wanted man. The key to proving his innocence is to track down the guilty party and he sets off to follow hints that the key lies in the Scottish highlands. On the way to unravelling the mystery, Hannay demonstrates the presence of mind and improvisation skills of a genuine agent. He has to escape from the police as well as the real spies, speak at a political meeting in favour of he knows not whom and spend time handcuffed to the lovely Madeleine Carroll. There’s never a dull moment with plenty of witty dialogue, cod Scotsmen and even a chase scene in the open country. It’s hard to believe that so many brilliant ideas were brought together, edited so well and presented as early as 1935. No wonder then that I over-heard a group of youngsters after the show discussing whether the film really was made in the “olden days”. “Oh yes” advised one “it was from the 1960s”.
Film details
The 39 Steps
THE SPYING GAME: BRITISH CINEMA AND THE SECRET STATE
Actor: Robert Donat
Actor: Madeleine Carroll
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Actor: Madeleine Carroll
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
United Kingdom, 1935.
86 mins.
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