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      The 39 Steps

      Now Playing 1h 33m Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 68% Audience Score 500+ Ratings Richard Hannay (Kenneth More) arrives in London and saves a nanny from a hit-and-run driver before discovering that she's actually a spy trying to stop the theft of military secrets. After the woman is killed, Hannay goes to Scotland in an attempt to stop the plot's leader himself. Along the way he has several narrow escapes, dodging both the police and assassins, as well as getting handcuffed to a girls school instructor (Taina Elg) who doesn't believe his wild tale. Read More Read Less Now in Theaters Now Playing Buy Tickets

      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Director Ralph Thomas falls far short of the Hitchcock standard, but the new version deserves a "good" in the ratings. Nov 14, 2019 Full Review Isabel Quigly The Spectator A slicked-up version of the tale and only very vaguely connected with what I remember of Buchan's book or his hero. Jul 12, 2018 Full Review John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis It does a respectable job not only with the story's adventure but with its humor. Rated: 6/10 May 29, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      isla s I found this a fun and entertaining film. I hadn't watched the other (older, or more recent) versions of this film but I had certainly heard of the title before. It was interesting to me as I live in Scotland I enjoyed the landscapes shown at times, plus the action scenes set on (across?) the Forth Rail Bridge. There are some fun, quirky characters and the story was something I'm not sure I'd seen many examples of before. The only real downside I can think of to it was the fact that the end seemed to be a bit sudden and I was a bit confused as to what happened in relation to the criminal threat. I enjoyed it and thought it was a fun film overall though, so I'd still recommend it on that basis. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Its good but other than adding colour it adds nothing to the 1935 film adaptation which for me is the superior film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member This is the second version of the classic novel to be adapted for the screen, this time by Ralph Thomas. Kenneth More is on the run in Scotland, with just 48 hours to save Britain from an international plot. But first he must evade his pursuers and prove he's no traitor. Whilst More's performance is good, the movie suffers from the original by a lack of tension. There is tension in the movie, but not as much as the Alfred Hitchcock version, and this is where the movie is let down. One more theatrical version would be made 19 years later. This one is still watchable though and perhaps this version or the other version in 1978 because both of those were made in technicolour whereas Alfred Hitchcock's was done in black-and-white. If you are against black-and-movies, then perhaps this version is for you. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A remake of Hitchcock's classic, it offered the same material as the original film, though the original was better, the remake was able to stand on its own. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member WOW.....WOW....SUCH AN ENJOYABLE MOVIE 2 WATCH WITH SUCH A FANTASTIC CAST THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE IT IS SUCH A FANTASTIC MOVIE 2 WATCH WITH SUCH A BRILLIANT CAST THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE......WARNING THIS MOVIE CONTAINS STROBE LIGHTNING EFFECTS THROUGHOUT SOME SCENES THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE....... ITS GOT SUCH A FANTASTIC SOUNDTRACK THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE IT IS SUCH A BRILLIANT MOVIE 2 WATCH WITH A BRILLIANT CAST THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE........ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member I enjoyed this movie as I did the earlier Hitchcock version, however both took incredible liberties in regards to the Buchan book they claim to adapt. I remember picking up the Buchan book in university expecting to read an adventure novel along the lines of these two movies and was disappointed to discover that the book bore hardly any resemblance to the movies whatsoever. Perhaps the most faithful adaptation is the 1978 version starring Robert Powell. No matter, Kenneth More makes a very appealing Richard Hannay and is a much better actor than 1935's Donat and the color is well used to highlight some beautiful Scottish scenery. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The 39 Steps

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Richard Hannay (Kenneth More) arrives in London and saves a nanny from a hit-and-run driver before discovering that she's actually a spy trying to stop the theft of military secrets. After the woman is killed, Hannay goes to Scotland in an attempt to stop the plot's leader himself. Along the way he has several narrow escapes, dodging both the police and assassins, as well as getting handcuffed to a girls school instructor (Taina Elg) who doesn't believe his wild tale.
      Director
      Ralph Thomas
      Producer
      Earl St. John
      Screenwriter
      Frank Harvey, John Buchan
      Production Co
      Gaumont British Picture Corporation Ltd.
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English (United Kingdom)
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 17, 2011
      Runtime
      1h 33m