Fresh
In Hitchcock's hands, however, this well-known espionage adventure provided the basis for a new sort of thriller and a new sort of comedy.
J. Hoberman, Village Voice
The 39 Steps
Handcuffed to the girl who double-crossed him
1935 · 1h 26m · Approved
Mystery, Thriller
Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock
Overview
Richard Hanney has a rude awakening when a glamorous female spy falls into his bed - with a knife in her back. Having a bit of trouble explaining it all to Scotland Yard, he heads for the hills of Scotland to try to clear his name by locating the spy ring known as The 39 Steps.
Director and cast
- Alfred Hitchcock Director
- Robert Donat as Richard Hannay
- Madeleine Carroll as Pamela
- Lucie Mannheim as Annabelle Smith
- Godfrey Tearle as Professor Jordan
- Helen Haye as Mrs. Louisa Jordan
- Peggy Ashcroft as Margaret, Crofter's Wife
- John Laurie Cast
- Frank Cellier Cast
- Wylie Watson Cast
- Peggy Simpson Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh
At 35, with more than a dozen features already under his belt, the director triumphed with this dazzling mixture of spycraft, banter, expository nonsense and manic chases along the Scottish Highlands.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
Fresh
It's melodrama and at times far-fetched and improbable, but the story twists and spins artfully from one high-powered sequence to another while the entertainment holds like steel cable from start to finish.
Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh
As an artist, Alfred Hitchcock surpassed this early achievement many times in his career, but for sheer entertainment value it still stands in the forefront of his work.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Great fun.
Geoff Brown, Time Out
More films
North by Northwest (1959)
Adventure · Thriller · Approved
Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast
- Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
IMDb
8.3
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
Metacritic
98
Comments
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