Movies - The 39 Steps

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	Movies - The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps is a 1935 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on the adventure novel The Thirty-Nine Steps
by John Buchan.

Introduction

The film stars Robert Donat as Richard Hannay and Madeleine Carroll as the woman he meets on the train. There have been three major film versions of the book, however Hitchcock's original is regarded by many critics as the superior version.

Context

The 39 Steps is the first in a line of Hitchcock films based upon the idea of an "innocent man on the run," including Saboteur and North by Northwest
. Scholars of his movies regard this film as one of his best variations upon this particular theme.

Acclaim

In 1999 it came 4th in a BFI poll of British films, while in 2004 Total Film named it the 21st greatest British movie of all time.

Differences from the novel

The film departs substantially from Buchan's novel and introduces a love interest which was not in the original novel. In this film, the phrase refers to the clandestine organization itself, whereas in the book and in the other film versions, it refers to physical steps, albeit located in different places and with different significance to the plot.

Remakes

A significantly different colour remake starring Kenneth More, The 39 Steps
was made in 1959. Another remake considered to be more authentic to Buchan's novel was made in 1978 starring Robert Powell, who would later reprise the character for the television series Hannay. Another remake is planned for 2006.

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