The 39 Steps(1935) ✦ Tested & Best

Robert Donat as Richard Hannay and Madeleine Carroll as Pamela

This guide covers Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 classic The 39 Steps , a foundational spy thriller that defined many of the director's most famous tropes. Release Date: July 31, 1935 Director: Alfred Hitchcock

While visiting a London music hall, Canadian tourist Richard Hannay is approached by a mysterious woman named Annabella Smith, who claims she is a spy. After she is murdered in his flat, Hannay finds himself the prime suspect and flees to Scotland to clear his name and uncover a spy ring known as "The 39 Steps". The 39 Steps(1935)

Hannay is forced to flee while handcuffed to Pamela, a woman who initially believes he is a killer.

Hannay escapes across the moors, seeking refuge with a crofter and his young wife. Robert Donat as Richard Hannay and Madeleine Carroll

Loosely based on the 1915 novel by John Buchan Runtime: 1 hour and 26 minutes The Plot: A Race Against Time

The climax returns to the music hall, where the secret of "The 39 Steps" is finally explained. Essential Hitchcock Elements Hannay is forced to flee while handcuffed to

Hannay witnesses the incredible feats of "Mr. Memory" before a gunshot triggers the chase.