Review of The Lady Vanishes (1938) by Matt D — 05 Apr 2013

I challenge anyone to watch the first 30 minutes of this film and guess even remotely close where they think the plot is going.

The way this film begins in such a madcap, comic series of hotel shenanigans you'd never guess that you're about to be launched into a pre-WWII espionage tale with old lady spies and gun battles from a diverted train.

Hitchcock has set up a film here with three very distinct acts: 1. the hotel comedy introducing everyone, 2. the psychological thriller when Mrs. Froy goes missing on the train, and then 3. the espionage-fueled race to the border.

This is a true tour-de-force of storytelling that could easily leave you scratching your head, but Hitchcock guides us through the twists and turns with relative ease. There are moments through where I thought he lost me but all in all good fun!