Movies - The 39 Steps

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	Movies - The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps is a 1959 thriller directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Kenneth More and Tania Elg based on the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps
by John Buchan.

Introduction

This was the first colour version of the popular tale. It has much higher production values than the previous 1935 Hitchcock version, with several large setpieces such as Hannay's escape from the train on the Forth Rail Bridge and the music hall finale.

Plot

After assisting when a nanny is almost killed during a bungled hit and run assassination attempt, Richard Hannay is surprised to find that she did not have a baby in her pram. Curious, he meets her at the Palace music hall where she has come to see Mr Memory's show. Afterwards, she goes back to Hannay's flat where she reveals that she is a spy working for British Intelligence following a group called "Boomerang" and their elusive leader, who they only know has the top of a finger missing. She tells Hannay that she must leave for Scotland immediately. While Hannay is out of the room, she is assassinated by two hitmen. Fearing he will be accused of her murder, Hannay decides to continue her mission and catches a train to Scotland from King's Cross railway station, evading the hitmen outside his flat by adopting a cunning milkman disguise.

During the journey, he has a chance encounter with Miss Fisher, a netball coach at a girl's boarding school. He is forced to appear they are lovers to avoid the police detectives who boarded at Edinburgh. However, Miss Fisher gives him away and Hannay jumps from the train on the Forth Rail Bridge.

He then meets Percy Baker, a helpful ex-convict lorry driver played by Sid James who advises him to stop at "The Gallows", an inn owned by Nelly Lumsden, who was once accused of practising the occult. She helps him pass the border patrols by disguising him in a cycle party she is accommodating and creating a diversion with her husband.

Hannay eventually finds the house of the man he thinks he is looking for, Professor Logan, but finds out that it is a trick; the man is actually the spy ring's leader with the top of his finger missing. He escapes and informs the police, but is not believed and has to jump out of the police station window. Hannay escapes in the back of a passing sheep transporter. He then poses as a lecturer in a Highland girl's boarding school, coincidentally where Miss Fisher works, and ending up giving a bizarre lecture on the Woods and the Weyside in August. Miss Fisher recognises him and he is again given away, but this time to the two hitmen who are following him posing as detectives.

Hannay ends up handcuffed to Miss Fisher in a Ford Zephyr with the hitmen, who are taking them back to London. After getting a puncture, Hannay sees his chance to escape, but crashes the car forcing him to wander through the bleak Scottish Highlands handcuffed to Miss Fisher. Eventually they chance upon a bed and breakfast run by Mrs MacDougal. Hannay informs her that they are a runaway couple and they spend the night handcuffed together.

After Miss Fisher frees herself from the handcuffs, she overhears the hitmen inquiring about them and about the thirty-nine steps. She sees her error and goes back to help Hannay.

The finale is back in the Palace music hall where Hannay asks Mr Memory where the thirty nine steps are, just as the police are arresting him. Boomerang have been using his formidable memory to memorise the plans. However, before he can reveal the secret, Memory is shot by the spy leader and the secret of the actual thirty nine steps remains elusive, although the main conspirators are either dead or in custody.

Notability

It is particularly notable for being a fine snapshot of late 1950s Britain, particularly the fashion, transport and locations used, such as the A4 locomotive that Hannay travels to Scotland on. It is also memorable for its cinematic photography of Scotland by Ernest Steward and its fine score by Clifton Parker. It also features a number of cameo appearances from famous British actors, for instance Sid James as the lorry driver who helps Hannay.

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