The pace is surprisingly good.
This is like a premake (as opposed to a remake?) of the vastly superior North By Northwest. You can see Hitchcock gaining strength and flexing muscles here, and there are moments that work: the chase across the moors, the fancy party hosted by the genteel man missing a thumb, etc. But it's still early going for Hitch, and he hasn't quite figured out the editing that would come to mark his golden era movies. There are scenes that don't connect; little elisions that pile up and create confusion about character motivation or plot movement. Donat also lacks Grant's wry amusement and overall screen presence.
I felt like this movie could’ve been better had the plot focused more on the main character and love interest together. They don’t get handcuffed together until an hour in. I was also a bit bored by this movie surprisingly, although the very end of the film with the memory man really got me-excellent ending
The ending is underwhelming but I really enjoyed everything leading up to it.
Incredibly schlocky and stupid at times, but well made. A popcorn movie.
39 Steps has Hitchcock really starting to find his groove. Great blend of suspense and comedy, with the chemistry between Donat and Carroll standing out in particular. Cracking good fun, what!
A big disappointment! Only worth watching for Robert Donat’s charisma
We are disappointed, we are not convinced what counts, nor do we believe that end
A classic film. Definitely worth a watch.
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2013-11-23T12:15:13Z
A man is accused by murdering a woman, he is innocent but he ended up being involved in a spy story. Quite a simple story, another great Hitchcock film that I see!
The 39 Steps is a perfect blend of suspense and humour with great performances from Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll.