The Lady Vanishes

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The Lady Vanishes

1938

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

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 befriends elderly Miss Froy. 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 and, as the pair sleuth, romantic sparks fly.

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

12/26/2023

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.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

10/10/2022

An enjoyable mystery...

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John C. Mosher

The New Yorker

08/11/2022

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

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Jul 26

The movie remains marvelous, frothy and funny in a manner Hitchcock would not attempt again until 'North By Northwest.'

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 17

4/4

The Lady Vanishes vies with 1935’s The 39 Steps as the greatest picture from Hitchcock's early UK years.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

08/19/2023

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

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Ed B.

@EdLee Apr 12

The lady vanishes, one of Hitchcocks early ones. His masterful style of suspenseful storytelling is evident throughout this movie.

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Bill T.

@btreakle Feb 12

“The Lady Vanishes “ This movie takes place on a passenger train throughout most of the movie. And the premise of the story is there was a woman that is on the board the train And she has dinner with some other passengers. But then all of a sudden she’s not on the train anymore and that’s what this story is all about. However not everybody’s buying into the story of this young woman who befriends the lady that vanishes. Many people feel she’s just making it up. But I’ll let you decide as you watch this I think you will love the ending I’m not gonna spoil it. It ends in a not a typical Alfred Hitchcock way I will say that.

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Ted B.

@Movieaddicted Nov 10

3.0 stars; Early Hitchcock at the end of his British productions. This film reminded me somewhat of "39 Steps." Hitchcock had an obsession with stories of ordinary people caught up in a larger-than-life conspiracy, such as "North by Northwest." You had to listen closely to the dialogue due to the heavy British accent in some scenes. Nonetheless, I found the plot very compelling, along with its sense of humor.

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Joni M.

@dieteticjoni Oct 19

I enjoyed the two mains. The plots lame.

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Ken K

@RT63648969 Aug 24

How this movie got 98% is beyond me. I guess in 1938 plot coherence and some form of realism were not that abundant. "Stylish" for stylish sake can lead you into bizarre places.The first half sets up as an intriguing mystery and then it all falls apart. The denouement of the reveal is ridiculous as are the heroics of ordinary people. It all becomes a strange jumble stumbling to the finsh. And if Lockwood is supposed to be single, she wears an engagement ring the entire film. Vastly over rated.

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John G

@RT30749950 Aug 1

I assume that most of these enthusiastic reviews are some combination of British/Hitchcock fans. If you're not British, the first 50 minutes are barely understandable prattle. My wife finished the movie, but was shaking her head by the finish. Fortunately, this was his last British film. Hollywood turned out much better for him - and us.

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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

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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 befriends elderly Miss Froy. 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 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