Product Details

• Actors: Robert Donat, Madeliene Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Goodfrey Tearle
• Directors: Alfred Hitchcock
• Format: NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Miracle Pictures
• DVD Release Date: May 15, 2002
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000A1GXTQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,963 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to 1930's London. After a disturbance at a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith, who is on the run from foreign agents. They go back to his apartment, but they are followed, and later that night she is murdered. He goes on the run to break the spy ring and prove his innocence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The 39 Steps (1959) ... Kenneth More ... Ralph Thomas (Director) (2011)", May 24, 2011

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 39 Steps (DVD)

VCI Entertainment and J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors presents "THE 39 STEPS" (1959) (95 min/Color) -- Starring Kenneth More, Taina Elg, Brenda De Banzie, Barry Jones, Reginald Beckwith, Faith Brook & Michael Goodliffe

Directed by Ralph Thomas

Often criticized for being a shot-for-shot remake of the Hitchcock original, this film is in fact a perky little thriller which benefits from Kenneth More being a more sympathetic leading man than Robert Donat in the '39 version. However, the Kenneth More film is utterly enjoyable as a bit of light drama. Certainly the underlying plot is worthy and overall,

Kenneth More is really in fine form on this, and actually uses the dull background to great effect by allowing himself to become the focus of the film at all times.

Having seen the original version by Hitchcock, its the same story which was in black and white with an awful picture and sound quality. I have most of Hitchcock's films on DVD and there's no advantage to the Hitchcock film over this one - on the contrary this one is better.

In addition to that we have some humorous touches absent from the original one. So I for one would thoroughly recommend this one, even though I am a big HITCHCOCK FAN, just being honest.

BIOS:
1. Ralph Thomas (Director)
Date of Birth: 10 August 1915 - Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 17 March 2001 - London, England, UK

2. Kenneth More [aka: Kenneth Gilbert More]
Date of Birth: 20 September 1914 - Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 12 July 1982 - Fulham, London, England, UK

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 95 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (May 17, 2011)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable remake, April 16, 2011

By 

Brian (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 39 Steps (DVD)

Although one must ask, 'Why remake a nearly perfect Hitchcock masterpiece?' there's no getting around that this 1959 technicolor thriller is thoroughly likeable in itself. While lacking the original's taut pacing (and hence its sense of menace), snappy dialog and cutting-edge camerawork, the mostly UK cast here-- deftly led by the underappreciated Kenneth More-- makes this breezy update well worth watching. Recommended especially for fans of the post-WWII period in British film. 3 1/2 stars.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must See for Hitchcock Fans, January 26, 2008

By 

Todd W. Hemphill (St Petersburg, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alfred Hitchcock's 39 Steps (DVD)

This film lays out so many of the motifs that show up in one Hitchcock film after another that it is a "Must see" for all of his fans. It's all there; The blonde love interest, the innocent man drawn into intrique when a dead body falls into his lap, the suave criminal, the sexual overtones, the macabre humor. There's even a scene on a train in which a "McGuffin" is discussed. (Watch for the passenger who is played by Wilfrid Brambell, who went on to portray Paul's Grandfather in A Hard Day's Night)

Truly fine performances by Donat and Carroll make a somewhat dated film very watchable. Watching the seeds of such classics as North by Northwest and The Man Who Knew Too Much sprouting makes The 39 Steps fascinating viewing for any Hitchcock afficianado.