‘I know what it is to feel lonely and helpless…’
Up until recently I wasn’t really a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies. It was Rear Window that changed my mind. Since then, I’ve re-evaluated Vertigo and revisited Psycho, and it seems I was wrong about the Master of Suspense after all. People perhaps don’t realise just how prolific Hitchcock was. The British auteur directed over fifty films across six decades and while his later work is well documented, many of his earlier films have been largely forgotten. The 39 Steps is an exception to this, still held in high regard despite being released way back in 1935. And yes, this was another Hitchcock that I thoroughly enjoyed. On this occasion, it’s a pleasure to be wrong about something…
Hapless Canadian tourist Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) bumps into a mysterious stranger (Lucie Mannheim) at a London event and ends up accused of her murder. Whilst on the run from the police and a devious secret society (the 39 Steps from the title), Hannay holes up with various working class folks with outstanding provincial accents before becoming intrinsically linked to his reluctant saviour Pamela (Madeleine Carroll).
Despite being over 85 years old, Hitchcock’s use of suspense and tension ensures that The 39 Steps still has a lot to offer for a modern audience. The cast are truly tremendous with Donat (who I’d never previously heard of) delivering a spellbinding performance as the man on the run while Mannheim is suitably feisty playing opposite him. A further treat is the appearance of Frazer from Dad’s Army (John Laurie) as a misanthropic Scottish farmer. This character is typical of a film packed full of memorable and interesting roles and this contributes to the breathless pacing leading to a film that is gripping and compelling throughout.
So yes, as with so many things, I was wrong about Hitchcock. The 39 Steps is not quite on the same level as the master director’s very best work, but it still an essential film in its own right.