Other English Hitchcocks may be more provocative, but few offer such a ripping good yarn.
The 39 Steps
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
United Kingdom · 1935
1h 26m
Director Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle
Genre Mystery, Thriller
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Richard, a regular Canadian vacationing in London, meets Annabella, a secret agent sent to take down an international spy ring intent on stealing British military secrets. After she is assassinated in his apartment, he flees, forced to complete Annabella’s mission in order to clear his name — with the help of a beautiful accomplice.
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What are critics saying?
Like Rear Window later on, this charming, masterfully made British spy adventure from 1935 is a sigh of doubt, perhaps even a cry of anguish, disguised as a slick pop bauble.
As an artist, Alfred Hitchcock surpassed this early achievement many times in his career, but for sheer entertainment value it still stands in the forefront of his work.
The movie with which Hitchcock became Hitchcock.
Hitchcock would make richer films in Hollywood, but The 39 Steps came off the line as the Model T of cinematic plot machines.
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