r96 s
I had a fun time with this one!
'The Thirty Nine Steps' gave me a lot of entertainment. Robert Powell puts in a top performance, as does John Mills; the whole cast are good, in fairness. Pacing is on point and the music is stellar. There are some nice set pieces too, namely on the railway and at Big Ben. I also really enjoyed the adventure feel.
One of many adaptations of John Buchan's novel, I see. This is my first experience of it in any form, I evidently chose a good one to start with. I ought to check out the other three (!) pictures at some point, especially the first that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock; I am still yet watch a movie of his, poor from me!
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/13/24
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Matt R
Having seen all the film versions of this story and having read the John Buchan story twice over the years, like most, I am partial to the Hitchcock/Robert Donat film from 1935. Having said that this film rates very highly. It is certainly stronger and less derivative of Hitchcock than the 1959 version which, although fine as a film, has little reason to be watched if one has already seen the Hitchcock. This film features a strong lead in the Hannay role by Robert Powell, great colour captures of the British countryside (set in greater part in Scotland) and a wonderfully inventive new ending which on its own makes the film worth watching. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this film.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
12/03/23
Full Review
Audience Member
There are two previous film adaptations of the book and bother are superior to this version. It also has a strong "70s" vibe which dates it significantly. Avoid it and watch one of the other adaptations.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
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Audience Member
wow.....thrilling....brilliant....amazing....i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a great movie 2 watch, its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie.....i think that robert powell, david warner, eric porter (.R.I.P.), karen dotrice, john mills (.R.I.P.), play good roles/parts throughout this movie....i think that the director of this mystery/suspense/adventure/action movie had done a great job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....i think that this is such a thrilling movie 2 watch,
The film was popular at the box office.
Greg Smith said that John Buchan's son, Lord Tweedsmuir, was pleased the movie used more of his father's book, and that he thought his father would have liked the Big Ben ending
A soundtrack album was released on United Artists Records. In addition to cues from the film, Ed Welch composed The Thirty Nine Steps Concerto, an extended piece for piano and orchestra in a vein similar to Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto. Christopher Headington was the soloist, with the Rank Studio Orchestra conducted by the composer. It has not yet reappeared on CD.
Williams defended the idea of adapting a previously adapted novel:
The old films suffer technically against today's. The pace of modern films is much faster. The style of acting is different. Those old actors were marvelous, but if you consult the man in the street, he's more interested in seeing a current artist than someone who's been dead for years.
A replica of Big Ben was built on Pinewood Studios. The idea of Hannay dangling from the hands of Big Ben came in part from a stunt performed by Harold Lloyd in the silent comedy classic Safety Last (1923). The privately owned Severn Valley Railway Company leant the film a steam engine, together with authentic rolling stock and a section of track, for shooting
i think that this is such a really well written/acted/directed movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie....man this is such a fantastic thriller movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie....
the whole cast:::
Robert Powell as Richard Hannay
David Warner as Sir Edmund Appleton
Eric Porter as Chief Superintendent Lomas
Karen Dotrice as Alex Mackenzie
John Mills as Scudder
George Baker as Sir Walter Bullivant
Ronald Pickup as Bayliss
Donald Pickering as Marshall
Timothy West as Porton
Miles Anderson as David Hamilton
Andrew Keir as Lord R
Robert Flemyng as Magistrate
William Squire as Harkness
Paul McDowell as McLean
David Collings as Tillotson
man this is such a thrilling movie 2 watch, its got a great cast throughout this movie.....YOU HAVE GOT TO WATCH THE END OF THE CREDITS THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE AS SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CREDITS THROUGHOUT THIS MOVIE.....man this is such a thrilling movie 2 watch,
This version of Buchan's tale starred Robert Powell as Richard Hannay, Karen Dotrice as Alex, John Mills as Colonel Scudder, and a host of other well-known British actors in smaller parts. It is generally regarded as the closest to the novel, being set before World War I. The early events and overall feel of the film bear much resemblance to Buchan's original story, albeit with a few changes such as the re-casting of Scudder as a more immediately sympathetic character and the introduction of a love interest. It also introduces a different meaning for the "thirty-nine steps", although unlike its filmed predecessors it returns to Buchan's original notion of being an actual staircase. It is well remembered for the famous Big Ben end sequence, inspired by the 1943 film My Learned Friend, although this is its most fundamental deviation from Buchan's original story, which reaches its culmination in a coastal location in Kent.
Powell later reprised the role in the ITV series Hannay in 1988 (six episodes) and 1989 (seven episodes).
man this is such a thrilling movie 2 watch, with a great cast throughout this movie.....
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
an enjoyable romp but not as atmospheric as the original
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/15/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I actually enjoy more of this version of the Buchan novel than the Hitchcock version, possibly due to the set-pieces like the climax on Big Ben and the paralysis scene in the health spa. Powell is a very good Hannay and I'd be keen to see him as the same character in the TV series that followed. The direction isn't as flashy as the Hitchcock version and it's more like a TV movie than a big screen version but with a strong cast and some good sequences this is well worth checking out.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/09/23
Full Review
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