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Robert
Donat stars as Richard Hannay, a man who attends a show at
a musical and ends up embroiled in a major spy scheme. Chased
by the police who think he has killed beautiful agent Annabella
Smith, and pursued by the spies because he knows too much,
Hannay ends up handcuffed to a young woman named Pamela (Madeleine
Carroll), who at first believes him to be a murderer and gradually
learns that he is telling the truth about his innocence.
The 39 Steps
is one of Hitchcock's earliest international successes, and
is positively astounding in its sophistication not only in
terms of its story (which contains some amazingly sexual scenes),
but also in terms of the camera work and editing. It's no
wonder that this film virtually cemented Hitchcock's reputation
as the director to keep an eye on: never before had the elements
of direction, camera, story and stars come together in such
perfection in a thriller before.
Video: How Does The Disc Look?
The film
has been digitally restored, and is the best it has ever looked,
although it is not as spectacular as Criterion's earlier Hitchcock
transfer of The Lady Vanishes, a film that appears to be in
much better condition even though it was made only three years
later (1938). Compared to "Lady," "Steps" appears rather soft,
but that is mainly due to age and condition of the original
source materials. This transfer is still amazingly clear and
free of marks (but there was a noticeable hairline vertical
scratch down the center of Donat's face during the famous
"town hall" sequence).
Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?
The sound
is where the real revelation lies in this transfer. Although
the music is a little fluttery during the opening scenes,
the dialogue is amazingly clear throughout. As with many Hitchcock
features the music, used sparingly here, is very important,
and I've never heard the music as beautifully as it is on
this disc, particularly in the chase across the moors, and
the later scene where Pamela learns that Hannay has been telling
her the truth. It still shows its age, but you will not believe
how clear it is. Listening to this disc was like hearing the
soundtrack for the first time.
Supplements: What Goodies Are There? Criterion
has done an absolutely outstanding job with the supplements
on The 39 Steps. The disc includes a feature length commentary
by "Hitchcock scholar Marian Keane," and the half-hour "Vintage
Hitchcock" episode from Janus Films' documentary series "The
Art of Film," chronicling Hitchcock's British films.
Also included
are some of the original production design drawings, to which
the production remained amazingly true, and the entire original
1935 press book, with blow-ups of selected sections (and the
complete text of many of the articles). I spent over half
an hour going through this press book and barely made a dent
in it. It's truly fascinating.
The most
incredible supplement is the complete full hour 1937 Lux Radio
Theatre adaptation of the story performed by Robert Montgomery
and Ida Lupino. Criterion has provided changing photos of
the principal players throughout as a boon.
Parting Thoughts
This disc is outstanding almost every way: the film itself, the
transfer, and the supplements. Fans of the film will be thrilled,
and those who are unfamiliar with it will be getting a first-rate
introduction to it. A must.
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