The Lady Vanishes

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The Lady Vanishes

Released Nov 1, 1938

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

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50 Reviews

88%

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10,000+ Ratings

On a train headed for England a group of travelers is delayed by an avalanche. Holed up in a hotel in a fictional European country, young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris suffers a bout of unconsciousness and wakes to find the old woman has disappeared. The other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy ever existed, so Iris begins to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave) and, as the pair sleuth, romantic sparks fly.

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Critics Consensus

One of Alfred Hitchcock's last British films, this glamorous thriller provides an early glimpse of the director at his most stylishly entertaining.

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

More than any of the English-speaking film men, Hitchcock is a one-man show, getting every detail straight in his head and the way he wants it before the first camera starts rolling.

Dec 26, 2023

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

An enjoyable mystery...

Oct 10, 2022

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John C. Mosher

The New Yorker

As full of surprises, horrors, thrills, even humor, as the other Hitchcock productions.

Aug 11, 2022

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Hitchcock effortlessly navigates this vivid thriller from light comedy to high tension and back again, creating one of his most enchanting and entertaining mysteries.

Aug 19, 2023

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Kristin Battestella

InSession Film

Train whistles pepper the constant travel hum, rail montages, rear projection, and black and white photography – keeping the confined setting fittingly well paced with perilous comings and goings between cars.

Jul 25, 2023

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James T. Hamada

The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu)

A powerful story of espionage and treachery.

Apr 15, 2020

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Rare T

Suspenseful, humorous, and romantic; all-in-one. The plot thickens, and that’s all it ever does. The Lady Vanishes is sheer Hitchcock ingenuity.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/24

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Lars N

It takes its sweet ass time to get going. Why oh why do we need to be with two English men who haven't got any significant part to play? But once we're on the train, all the schemes and trickery from the great auther kicks in.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

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Micah H

An odd mix of comedy and suspense that doesn’t always work, but usually is very high quality and entertaining. Even in a “weaker” film, Hitchcock shows his mastery.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

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Steve D

Quickly vanishes from memory.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Tom F

Hitchcock was hitting his stride as a highly prolific director in 1938, and this is mostly interesting as part of his filmography. To modern eyes this seems like a frivolous mess, but it’s interesting to see how Hitchcock assembles the story and sets the stage.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

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Russ

The first act is pure balderdash but it "picks up steam" once Miss Froy "vanishes" - up to that point we don't know who the lady in question is. We have the usual "McGuffin" - a throw-away plot device meant to justify all the goings on. I give "props" to the model makers, set decorators, and special effects folks who did what they could given the technical limitations of the day and the budget. The opening shots of the miniature village are remarkably detailed, even if some suspension of disbelief is required. Overall it's another example of why Hollywood lured Sir Alfred away from our cousins across the Pond.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/24

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Margaret Lockwood

Iris Matilda Henderson

Michael Redgrave

Gilbert Redman

Dame May Whitty

Miss Froy, Governess

Paul Lukas

Dr. Hartz of Prague

Googie Withers

Blanche

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Synopsis

On a train headed for England a group of travelers is delayed by an avalanche. Holed up in a hotel in a fictional European country, young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris suffers a bout of unconsciousness and wakes to find the old woman has disappeared. The other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy ever existed, so Iris begins to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave) and, as the pair sleuth, romantic sparks fly.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Edward Black
Screenwriter: Ethel Lina White, Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder
Distributor: Criterion Collection, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Gaumont British Distributors
Production Co: Gainsborough Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1938, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 8, 2015
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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