The Thirty Nine Steps (DVD)

...of my favourite films! The Thirty Nine Steps is a classic everyday-hero-vs-spy race against time, set in the period of 1914 just before the outbreak of WW1. This is my favourite version on the film, which is based on a novel by John Buchan, and stars Robert Powell as the enigmatic Richard Hannay, the everyday hero.

The Plot.

Richard Hannay is a mining engineer who is spending a few weeks in his native Britain before ...
...assasinated himself and responsibility for the information he has compiled passes to Hannay. The police believe that Hannay is involved in Scudders' death and the chase is on to both outrun the police and get in the way of the spies before they can carry out their dastardly schemes. Think Bond in tweed.

The Performance.

Everything in the film is authentically 1914, including the costume, the language, the manners, the ... more

One of my favourite films! The Thirty Nine Steps is a classic everyday-hero-vs-spy race against time, set in the period of 1914 just before the outbreak of WW1. This is my favourite version on the film, which is based on a novel by John Buchan, and stars Robert Powell as the enigmatic Richard Hannay, the everyday hero.

Richard Hannay is a mining engineer who is spending a few weeks in his native Britain before returning to South Africa. One day he is called upon unexpectedly by one of his neighbours, one Colonel Scudder, who has been compiling information about a group of spys who are intending to coordinate an assasination on British soil. Unfortunately Scudder is assasinated himself and responsibility for the information he has compiled passes to Hannay. The police believe that Hannay is involved in Scudders' death and the chase is on to both outrun the police and get in the way of the spies before they can carry out their dastardly schemes. Think Bond in tweed.

Everything in the film is authentically 1914, including the costume, the language, the manners, the vehicles and the scenery. Robert Powell (who my mum still fancies after 25 years) manages to be very reserved whilst also achieving the charm and poise that was expected of gentlemen of the age. We are led to believe that he is more comfortable in the country than in the town, and he certainly seems happier in the scenes pictured out in the open than when he is negotiating city streets. Hannay seems multi-skilled and very adaptable, as well as inventive while being on the run. Very entertaining stuff. He meets some rather starchy characters along the way but they turn into great allies and there are some touching and funny moments as he gets to know his new companions. The story develops at a great pace and there is a revelation or action sequence to enjoy at regular intervals. The final sequence is nail-biting and brilliantly choreographed. The soundtrack contains nothing memorable, bit does reflect the scene it accompanies well all through the film.

This film is not bloody or violent and does not use bad language, although there is a the scary undertone of clever maliciousness that followes the spies around. The plot twists and turns despite the low-speed setting of the era in which it is set. This is a much cleverer film than it appears at the outset and draws you in, touching on politics and historical events. There is very little in the way of special effects, but the elements that are there are actually very believeable in the context of the film. I wouldn't call this film challenging, or scary, but it does make you want to discover the next clue and you mentally urge Hannay to outwit the spies he has been pitted against.

Rating; PG
Released: 2003
Running time: 98 mins
Director: Don Sharp
Other Actors include: John Mills, Karen Dotrice, David Warner, Eric Porter.

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