The 39 Steps

Based on the book by John Buchan, The 39 Steps follows Robert Donat’s Richard Hannay as he agrees to help a spy (Lucie Mannheim’s Annabella Smith) hide out from pursuing assassins – with her subsequent death forcing Richard himself to go on the run. The bulk of the ensuing narrative details Richard’s ongoing efforts at evading his pursuers and clearing his name, with the character ultimately receiving reluctant help from Madeleine Carroll’s Pamela. There’s certainly plenty within The 39 Steps worth admiring and enjoying – eg Richard’s initial escape aboard a Scotland-bound train is quite exciting – and yet the movie never quite manages to amass any real momentum or tension, with filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock’s somewhat lackadaisical approach draining the proceedings of its suspense. It’s an underwhelming vibe that’s perpetuated by Donat’s less-than-frantic turn as the laid-back central character, with Richard’s consistently cavalier demeanor preventing the viewer from wholeheartedly working up any real interest in his perilous plight. The lack of chemistry between Donat and Carroll’s respective characters only compounds the hands-off feel, and it’s clear, too, that the abrupt and anticlimactic finale ensures that the whole thing ends on a decidedly forgettable note – which finally confirms The 39 Steps‘ place as a fairly palpable misfire from Hitchcock.

** out of ****