The Pix, often shows vintage films, and the Hitchcock spy flick continues that tradition. Parallel to the Albany Civic Theater's run of the stage production of "The 39 Steps", the film version was the Sunday Matinee.
A few things come to mind in the opening moments of the 1935 film, and it is all Hitchcock. From the angles of the film, to the humor and wit, the realness of the scenes are captivating to the eye. There seems to never be wasted space or dialogue.
As the film begins, the lead, Richard Hannay(Donat) is attending a "spectacle", a live show of the phenomenal Mr. Memory, a man who remembers "...50 facts a day!", and never forgets a single one. Hitchcock's savvy understanding of snappy wit and human preoccupance of tabloid drama, translates into a hilarious scene that goes from the spectacle of phenomenon, into banter of memory questions for Mr. Memory, before ending with arguing, and then fighting, chaos and gunfire.
In the ensuing rush and commotion, Hannay meets the beautiful Annabelle Smith, played coyly by Lucie Mannheim. Annabelle is a spy, and she tells a tale of espionage, deceit, and a pending global secret. In the ensuing scenes she draws Hannay into the fray, by staying in Hannay's apartment, being found, and subsequently murdered.
In his getaway(of course he was the murder suspect), Hannay meets the gorgeous Pamela(Madeleine Carroll) and the course of the motion picture is set: A handsome innocent, a stunning leading lady, spies, and murder...classic film.
But Hitchcock does something more. He moves right along, leaving nothing out, but plenty to decipher and ponder. The scenes are alive and filled with drama, suspense, and laugh-out-loud wit. The theater crowd was in stitches at times.
The effect from how scenes are framed, is intriguing. The perfectly cropped film, and the subtle and often silent picturesque hints of the total scene, bring remarkable clarity to the movie's happenings. In a chase scene, the last thing Hitchcock shows, is the running feet and swaying slacks of the unknown spies that are slowing and then stopping. The chase is over, and the viewer is seeing this in its core essence. Not just bad guys chasing good guys, but the running is over, simplified in the empathy of the scene.
The suspense is constant, as Hannay ducks and dodges trouble, and the surroundings compliment the characters. In a footchase scene aboard a train, humor and suspense are intertwined but not distracting. One never loses the feeling of trying to get away, albeit with funny obstacles that are life-like and relatable. Hitchcock never loses that balance in the film.
The movie progresses freely throughout, moving through a few nicely placed supporting cast, and some wild and gripping suspense. More gunfire, funny speeches, handcuffs, a helpful innkeeper, and Mr. Memory(Wylie Watson) bring this movie to a dangerous, climactic end.
The script is well written and executed. The viewer feels every moment. It is not the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of suspense, instead a humorous and captivating hope, for both leading characters to overcome the spies and the set-up.
The beautiful scenes reach a cinema pinnacle in one of the chase scenes through mountainous terrain. Even in black & white, the vividness of the landscape, stands out and impresses the viewer. A beautiful use of a wide angle, and a mark of Hitchcock's vision in regard to cinema.
Hitchcock, the cinematography, the acting, and the plot- all make for an enjoyable and entertaining film. I would recommend "The 39 Steps" to all. The film is well worth seeing, and if the Pix Theater is showing it, you cannot beat the ambient, vintage atmosphere. It makes one feel as if they are in the era.
The 39 Steps, a film by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the book by John Buchan, and starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll. Co-starring Lucie Mannheim, Wylie Watson, John Laurie, Peggy Ashcroft, and Godfrey Tearle. Released in 1935 and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 4 out of 5 stars.
Can we use this in the paper? It looks good. Nora P.
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