Review of The 39 Steps (1935) by John E — 31 May 2011
Another decent little early thriller from Hitchcock. It has some great ideas in it, but these move by so fast that they come at the cost of some rather hasty character changes or forged relationships. It's not a great movie, but there is a considerable dose of humor, and that nicely balances the serious espionage game we're served (complete with a Bond-like villain who boasts a sinister, yet sophisticated air and a physical defect) so that it never leans too heavily on suspense or humor.
This formula would only be improved with more experience and a bigger budget; think of this movie as a prototype North by Northwest.
This review of The 39 Steps (1935) was written by John E on 31 May 2011.
The 39 Steps has generally received very positive reviews.
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