The 39 Steps: The British Film Guide 3

By: Mark Glancy

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Synopsis: Released in 1935, The 39 Steps is one of director Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces. It was among the few British films of the 1930s to achieve international success, and in both Britain and the United States it established Hitchcock's reputation as 'the master of suspense'. It is particularly notable today for combining suspense with humour, and many of Hitchcock's other trademarks were established in this classic film, which inspired two re-makes, in 1959 and again in 1978.Mark Glancy examines the influences that shaped The 39 Steps, including John Buchan's novel, the work of screenwriter Charles Bennett and precedents set in Hitchcock's earlier films. He views the intriguing circumstances of the film's production, with executive producer C.M. Woolf apparently blind to the commercial potential of Hitchcock's latest project. He presents an original and close analysis of the film, its narrative technique, style and the performances of the actors. The film's reception by the critics-in Britain and abroad- are explored as is the film's critical legacy, its standing within the Hitchcock canon, and the susequent films based on The 39 Steps. This revealing, readable account of landmark film internationally will appeal to film fans, scholars and students alike.*