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The Lady Vanishes

Play trailer Poster for The Lady Vanishes 1938 1h 37m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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 (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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The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) An enjoyable mystery... Oct 10, 2022 Full Review John C. Mosher The New Yorker As full of surprises, horrors, thrills, even humor, as the other Hitchcock productions. Aug 11, 2022 Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee The movie remains marvelous, frothy and funny in a manner Hitchcock would not attempt again until 'North By Northwest.' Jul 26, 2025 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The Lady Vanishes vies with 1935’s The 39 Steps as the greatest picture from Hitchcock's early UK years. Rated: 4/4 Jul 17, 2025 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joni M. I enjoyed the two mains. The plots lame. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/19/25 Full Review Ken K 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. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review John G 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. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/01/25 Full Review Kim V Classic Hitchcock, this movie is a 'must see' for any Hitchcock fan or, anyone period. The humor, suspence and all out unsuspecting ignorance all combine to keep you on the edge of your seat and yelling at your TV. You'll want to watch it again and again. Lockwood, Redgrave and Dame May Whitty are of course, extraordinary. Charters and Caldicott, classic tongue in cheek characters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/27/25 Full Review Stephen C 1 hour and 38 minutes of successful mystery solving. In British English with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/02/25 Full Review Nettie P Amusing, interesting, entertaining. Especially wonderful if you like 30s trains Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Lady Vanishes

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Lady Vanishes

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Movie Info

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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