39 Steps

Starring:Alfred Hitchcock
Studio: Front Row Video, Inc
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

It's All in the Lighting
More Thrilling Than James Bond.
"The 39 steps" presents a classic 'Hitchcockian' situation...
The Magic Trick Explained
Classic Hitchcock/Classic Movie

The 39 Steps
Starring: Peggy Ashcroft , Ivor Barnard , Wilfrid Brambell , Madeleine Carroll , and Frank Cellier
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection
Foreign Correspondent
Notorious - Criterion Collection
Shadow of a Doubt
Strangers on a Train

ASIN: B00000CQJZ
Release Date: 1999-07-24

Amazon.com essential video

Hitchcock's first great romantic thriller is a prime example of the MacGuffin principle in action. Robert Donat is Richard Hannay, an affable Canadian tourist in London who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy when a mysterious spy winds up murdered in Hannay's rented flat--and both the police and a secret organization wind up hot on his trail. With only a seemingly meaningless phrase ("the 39 steps"), a small Scottish town circled on a map, and a criminal mastermind identified by a missing finger as clues, quick-witted Hannay eludes police and spies alike as he works his way across the countryside to reveal the mystery and clear his name. At one point he finds himself making his escape manacled to blonde beauty Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), whose initial antagonism is smoothed by Hannay's charm and the sheer rush of her thrilling chase. It's classic Hitchcock all the way, a seemingly effortless balance of romance and adventure set against a picturesque landscape populated by eccentrics and social-register smoothies, none of whom is what he or she appears to be. Hitchcock would play similar games of innocents plunged into deadly conspiracies, most delightfully in North by Northwest, but in this breezy 1935 classic, Hitch proves that, as in any quest, the object of the search isn't nearly as satisfying as the journey. --Sean Axmaker

Description

A prototype for what would follow in Hitchcock's American career, this film is for those who love a spy mystery and a harrowing portrait of man struggling to prove his innocence while the world turns against him.

Includes the trailer for Hitchcock's film "North By Northwest".

Menus: English • Spanish • Chinese • Japanese
Subtitles: Spanish • Chinese • Japanese

B&W/86 min.

Customer Reviews:

It's All in the Lighting.......2007-06-05

This film is one of my favorites, to my mind ranking just below "Vertigo" (which I consider Hitchcock's masterpiece) and above "North By Northwest", which although spellbinding at times doesn't sustain the unbroken suspense of this 1935 work. The faces of both the major and minor characters, from the cleaning woman who discovers a body in Richard Hannay's flat to the wary farmer and his pitying wife to the innocent, handcuffed blonde, are all perfect. But what makes this film soar is the impeccable use of light and shadows - on the moors, in the farmhouse, in the bedroom of the inn. "Vertigo" is Hitchcock's best psychological study; the original "39 Steps" his best action-suspense yarn. This early work by the Master is coming upon its 75th Anniversary and it holds up remarkably well - in plotline, in dialogue, in acting, but most of all in texture. It's can't-miss filmmaking at its finest.

More Thrilling Than James Bond........2007-04-24

While vacationing in London, Canadian Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) attends a theatre and watches the amazing memory man recollect extraordinary facts and pass on information on a wide and eclectic range of subjects. The performance is chaotically interrupted. Hannay makes the acquaintance of a beautiful woman named Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim). Smith accompanies Hannay to his current residence and reveals to him that she is a secret agent that is trying to escape from a band of foreign agents that want her dead. She tells Smith about a secret organization known as The 39 Steps, that she is traveling to Scotland, and to be on guard for a man who is missing half of one of his fingers. That night, Annabella is murdered. Hannay fears for his life and sets out on a journey to prove his innocence by discovering the secret of the 39 Steps and breaking up the spy ring. A random series of encounters brings Hannay in contact with a beautiful, young woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) who finds herself first unwittingly and then unwilling joining Hannay on his quest.

Albert Hitchcock was one of the greatest film directors of all time. His influence upon the medium is even greater than that of Orson Welles. Hitchcock started making films in the 1920s and a person can learn a great deal about the medium of film and how to tell a story by just studying his early pictures.

THE 39 STEPS isn't the best of Hitchcock's films, but it is a great example of how good a director he was. While watching the movie I was reminded of the pacing from an Agatha Christie story (though in fact, the movie is based on the novel by Scottish author John Buchan). The film is set in the era of Pre-WWI U.K., but other than the obvious changes in props and backgrounds could just as easily take place in the early 21st Century.

I really enjoyed THE 39 STEPS. The film is kind of an action-spy-thriller piece, but it's full of delightful humor (such as when Hannay and Pamela are handcuffed together). The movie is noted as being the film that got Robert Donat recognized as a serious actor by the Hollywood establishment. It's also known as a great example of Hitchcock's penchant for realism: Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll actually were handcuffed together for several hours because Hitchcock claimed to have lost the key (in actuality he had given it to a security guard for "safekeeping").

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys watching good spy films and for anyone who is a fan of Hitchcock. Also, if you're picking up this film to own, buy the Criterion Collection version. Other versions are much less expensive but Criterion has the best version of the movie available on DVD.

"The 39 steps" presents a classic 'Hitchcockian' situation..........2006-12-16

He is wanted simultaneously by the police, for a murder of a young woman he had befriended, and by the agents of an international espionage ring because the woman, a government agent, has told him about their activities...

All the Hitchcock trademarks are present: suspense (will the hero find the head of the spy ring--an unknown villain with a missing finger--before he is himself apprehended?); romance (at one point the hero, Robert Donat, finds himself handcuffed to Madeline Carroll, one of those beautiful, cool blonds who appear so often in Hitchcock films); irony (the archfiend is a respectable British squire who entertains the local clergy on Sundays); humor (rushing into a Salvation Army meeting while eluding the police, the hero is mistaken for the awaited speaker and is forced to improvise an address); violence (a music-hall mentalist, the spy ring's conduit for smuggling military secrets, is shot during his act); and constant cinematic inventiveness...

The Magic Trick Explained.......2006-12-02

The film opens on a scene so perfect it must be a miniature setting. The inn manager says there is a delay of the train - an avalanche. The hotel is filled. Miss Froy, a governess, is leaving. The people there are always singing, "as happy as children". [Believable?] There are comic scenes created by an over-crowded hotel. A man is singing and playing a guitar, then a pair of hands grab his neck! The next morning a package falls from a window and hits a young woman, Iris Henderson, who was standing next to Miss Froy. On the train Iris sits across from Miss Froy, and sleeps. When she awakes she find that lady had vanished! There is no record now of Miss Froy, no one admits to seeing her. She has disappeared into thin air on a moving train. A friendly doctor says it was a delusion caused by that blow to the head.

The train stops so a patient and her nurse can get aboard. Then a woman is found in the train compartment - but its not Miss Froy! The doctor says its her subconscious. But a scrap of paper from Miss Froy's tea carton shows Iris was right. Iris and her friend search the baggage car and find something. They figure out how Miss Froy was made to vanish. Iris deduces the conspiracy, but they are served drinks that were doped. But there are surprises that foil the conspiracy and rescue Miss Froy. But the conspirators have another plan. Their car is uncoupled and sent off on a siding. The small group of Englishmen hold off the foreign foe with pistol fire.A lawyer can't help them here. Their luck lets them escape down the line to the next country, and they return safely to England. Miss Froy meets them at the FO, where she is playing a tune that conceals a secret code.

This film is a witness that travelers in Europe before WW II were often armed with pistols; they could not depend on the Government. This story was re-filmed in the 1970s without any political censorship. I think it was the better version. There is another importance to this film. Many have wondered how a body that had wounds from shots from the front in Dallas could become a body wounded by shots from the rear in Bethesda. Switching JFK's body with a sacrificed double would change the direction of the shots. It would be a small price to pay for a successful assassination and a change in power.

Classic Hitchcock/Classic Movie.......2006-05-15

Hitchcock's first great masterpiece, this suspense yarn contains many of the thematic features the brilliant director would utilize in many of his later films: the "innocent victim" who through his wits and perseverance alone can prevent a major calamity, usually of national importance; the unwitting partner of the opposite sex who is co-joined (often literally, as here, with the use of handcuffs) to the hero who refuses to believe him at first but soon is persuaded otherwise as they fall in love; the use of wild, unforbidding landscapes; the taut suspense that builds to a tremendous climax at the end. Robert Donat gets mixed up with a spy ring after a woman he's just met is murdered in his flat. Wanted as the murderer, Donat flees to Scotland to find the real murderers; while aboard the train taking him there he encounters Madeleine Carroll, who becomes his unwitting and disbelieving (at first) partner in the chase. Suspense builds as the two get closer to the truth - and closer to each other. Comedic relief was a great tool used by Hitchcock to keep the tension building. The final scene brings them back to London and the theatre where the movie began, and the mystery of the "39 steps" is revealed. It's a wonderful movie from beginning to end - one of Hitchcock's best and a true movie classic.

Average customer rating:

It's All in the Lighting
More Thrilling Than James Bond.
"The 39 steps" presents a classic 'Hitchcockian' situation...
The Magic Trick Explained
Classic Hitchcock/Classic Movie

The 39 Steps - Criterion Collection
Starring: Peggy Ashcroft , Ivor Barnard , Wilfrid Brambell , Madeleine Carroll , and Frank Cellier
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection
Foreign Correspondent
Notorious - Criterion Collection
Shadow of a Doubt
Strangers on a Train

ASIN: 0780021967
Release Date: 1999-11-02

Amazon.com essential video

Description

The best known of Hitchcock's British films, this civilized spy yarn follows the escapades of Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), who stumbles into a conspiracy that involves him in a hectic chase across the Scottish moors—a chase in which he is both the pursuer and the pursued. Adapted from John Buchan's novel, this classic Hitchcock "wrong man" thriller encapsulates themes that anticipate the director's biggest American films (especially North by Northwest), and is a standout among his early works.

Customer Reviews:

It's All in the Lighting.......2007-06-05

More Thrilling Than James Bond........2007-04-24

"The 39 steps" presents a classic 'Hitchcockian' situation..........2006-12-16

The Magic Trick Explained.......2006-12-02

Classic Hitchcock/Classic Movie.......2006-05-15

Alfred Hitchcock: The Lady Vanishes/The 39 Steps

Average customer rating:

Very nice!
Two Hitchcock classics at a great price

Alfred Hitchcock: The Lady Vanishes/The 39 Steps
Starring: Peggy Ashcroft , Ivor Barnard , Wilfrid Brambell , Madeleine Carroll , and Frank Cellier
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Shadow of a Doubt
Strangers on a Train
The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Psycho / Vertigo / Rear Window / The Birds / Shadow of a Doubt / Family Plot / Frenzy / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Marnie / Rope / Saboteur / Topaz / Torn Curtain / The Trouble with Harry)
Lifeboat (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00004YKR6
Release Date: 2004-07-23

Description

2 DVD SET INCLUDES:

-The Lady Vanishes
-The 39 Steps

B&W/180 min.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice!.......2007-02-27

If you're looking for a simple version of these two films, as I was, this set fits the bill. Sound and picture are good- of course, they're from the 1930's, so it won't be perfect- and what more do you need? (There are Criterion versions, which I suppose are better, but they cost much more.)

Two Hitchcock classics at a great price.......2001-05-12

These DVD's are a steal. ... you get two hitchcock classics wrapped up in a snappy box with hitch on the front, with a few extras:intro by tony curtis, trailers, and these dvd's are all regions. The picture quality is ok. overall, a good buy.

Average customer rating:

The Best of the 39 Steps
Enjoyable remake

The 39 Steps (1959 Remake)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

The 39 Steps - Criterion Collection
Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Psycho / Vertigo / Rear Window / The Birds / Shadow of a Doubt / Family Plot / Frenzy / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Marnie / Rope / Saboteur / Topaz / Torn Curtain / The Trouble with Harry)
The Heiress (Universal Cinema Classics)
Captain Horatio Hornblower
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)

ASIN: B000BGITOC

Product Description

REVIEW: Often criticised for being a shot-for-shot remake of the Hitchcock original, this film is in fact a perky little thriller which benefits from Kenneth More being a more sympathetic leading man than Robert Donat (he was somewhat aloof) in the '39 version. True, the film trades heavily off the script for the Hitchcock version, and true it does not go back to the original novel for context, spirit or historical setting in the way the '78 version does; but for me, the film is the jewel among the three. As well as a pacy and fun thriller, it catches the spirit of the England and Scotland of the time. It is also interesting to note the role of the two hit-men characters; they are shadowy background figures in the '39 version, but here they are more fully flushed out (and well played by Duncan Lamont and Michael Goodlife). In the '78 version (and the unofficial remake called North By Northwest) the role of the hit-men is further developed and the suspense increased as a result. [IMDB - Adam Jezard] ++++ DVD FEATURES: this officially licensed release from South Korea is All-Region NTSC Code 0 (playable worldwide) with 4:3 full screen, Dolby Digital Surround Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) English and Korean subtitles. Includes Interactive Menus, Synopsis, Cast & Crew Profile and Trailer Movies.

Customer Reviews:

The Best of the 39 Steps.......2007-07-06

What makes this the best of the 39 steps? Taina Elg, of course, both naieve and feminine and at the same time, a match for Kenneth More who, while expressionless at times, nevertheless plays a man of the world who refers to Taina Elg (Miss Fisher), his captive audience via handcuffs, as "Fisher". And when those stockings are removed in the guest house, it is sexual tension without crudeness at it's best. The picture also captures accurately the country side of England, Scotland and steam transport of the time, an innocent society of a world gone by. Made in 1959 and 48 years young. The see-sawing nature of their relationship works powerfully, dislike to respect,neutrality to love, and sets it apart from other productions of The 39 Steps. There is only one 39 Steps for me...... ah yes, Kenneth More and Taina Elg, a couple if ever there was one. Maybe Kenneth More can act after all.

Enjoyable remake.......2006-09-14

This 1959 remake of The 39 Steps does not really deserve the scorn poured on it by critics. Of course it's not Hitchcock, but Kenneth More makes a surprisingly charming hero, and the movie has the advantage of tons of gorgeous Scottish scenery.

Where it doesn't work is where it borrows directly from the 1935 film, but otherwise this is a fairly entertaining romp. Look out for several pleasing cameos from familiar British character actors, including Brenda de Banzie, Sid James, Joan Hickson and James Hayter, among others.

Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock's 39 Steps
Starring: Robert Donat; Madeliene Carroll; Lucie Mannheim; Goodfrey Tearle
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Miracle Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000A1GXTQ
Release Date: 2002-05-15

Product Description

Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to 1930's London. After a disturbance at a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith, who is on the run from foreign agents. They go back to his apartment, but they are followed, and later that night she is murdered. He goes on the run to break the spy ring and prove his innocence.

Average customer rating:

Spies and a Dash of Romance
STRONG HINT OF THINGS TO COME FROM HITCHCOCK
A Fun Late Night Movie
whadda ya want for 4 bucks?
cheap=poor quality

Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps
Starring: Peggy Ashcroft , Ivor Barnard , Wilfrid Brambell , Madeleine Carroll , and Frank Cellier
Manufacturer: Diamond Ent. Corp.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Lady Vanishes - Criterion Collection
Alfred Hitchcock Thrillers - The Man Who Knew Too Much/Secret Agent/The Lady Vanishes
Foreign Correspondent
Strangers on a Train
Rope

ASIN: B00005BI94
Release Date: 2003-01-01

Customer Reviews:

Spies and a Dash of Romance.......2007-03-19

This tremendously entertaining spy film from director Alfred Hitchcock's British period set the standard for all man-on-the-run films. Based on John Buchan's novel of an innocent Canadian tourist in Britain thrust unexpectedly into the world of spies, it's hard to find a better one than this.

Robert Donat is the Canadian, Richard Hanney, who gets more than he's bargained for when a woman named Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) in fear for her life is killed in his flat after revealing to Hanney that she is a Secret Agent protecting the secrets of her country from a dangerous network of spies known only as the 39 Steps.

With a murder charge hanging over his head he must heed her words and make his way to Scotland and get to the bottom of the 39 Steps in order to clear his name. But when a misguided guess leads him right into the hands of the dangerous head of the network, Professor Gordon (Godfrey Tearle), the hunter now becomes the hunted.

He is helped along the way by a few kind souls who believe in his innocence. Peggy Ashcroft is memorable as a lonely farmer's wife who risks everything to help him escape. A kiss given by Hanney for her kindness is a poignant moment in a film both enjoyable and exciting. When he and a much more reluctant young woman named Pamela (Madeleine Carroll) are hancuffed together there is a shift in the film's tone as romance enters into the story.

The classy Carroll was a perfect match for Donat and the back and forth between the two is still enjoyable today. Sneaking off into the night while he is sleeping she overhears the men after him and comes back to help him, finally believing his colorful story of murder and spies. A tune stuck in Hanney's head will finally lead him to the "Memory Man" and a grand finale.

This is most definitely a film classic. Another good screenplay from Charles Bennet and good work from photographer Bernard Knowles, who always made the most of the sometimes meager budgets given he and Hitchcock in Britain, enhance a story with both tension and a dash of romance. A must see film.

STRONG HINT OF THINGS TO COME FROM HITCHCOCK.......2006-03-26

-----*- PROBABLY THE ZENITH OF HITCHCOCK'S BRITISH PRODUCTIONS -----*-

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Don't be put off by the first five minutes!

This is one sneaky thriller. At first it seems so slow and trite, almost ancient in its context, until suddenly, the momentum and urgency really builds-up. We see the first brillant execution on film by Hitchcock of the wrong man, fugitive on the run with a bomb ticking in his pocket scenario, and it all works. We have the train, knife in back, police, escapes from police, female loyalty, the wrong man, irony, satire and, an abundance of English and Scottish countryside settings. A sort of English version of "North-by-Northwest" or "East-by-Northwest". However, "39 Steps" does give the appearance of a film made a long time ago, which is probably its biggest departure from "North-by-Northwest". Naturally, I could not imagine "39 Steps" filmed in color. As an oddity, there was an early prototype of a helicopter during the manhunt scene across the Scottish landscape and it was a surprise in this 1935 film - a big surprise. Checking it out again, I have concluded that the helicopter must have been a minature, though I am not absolutely positive.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: PACE - PLOT - TICKING TIME BOMB + ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE

Richard Hannay [Robert Donat] basically has a girl with a knife in her back after an evening of intrigue and paranoia. But, obviously this woman, Annabella really is in danger since after all she is now dying with a knife in her back. As a suspect, and fugitive, in the same spirit as Roger O. Thornhill [Carey Grant] from "North by Northwest", Richard Hannay takes to the rails and the countryside to a spot on the dead girl's map. He knows a little but there is too much he does not know, like who his potential enemies might be which of course could be fatal. Naturally, after avoiding the police and almost getting caught several times, Hannay, with the reluctant help of a radiant blond, Pamela [Madeleine Carroll] slowly gets to the bottom of this intrigue. There is intrigue, comedy, accidental romance and most of all suspense --- EVER GROWING SUSPENSE. The climax of the film is set essentially where it began in what is one neatly and tightly plotted thriller.

ABOUT THE ACTORS: Madeleine Carroll and Robert Donat

The two leads, Robert Donat as Richard Hannay, and Madeleine Carroll as Pamela are rather reminiscent both physically and as characters, to Cary Grant as Roger O. Thornhill and Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall. There is even one very provocative scene where Pamela, takes here stockings off to dry by the fire, while Richard's hand is still handcuffed to her's as she peels down her stockings. This was filmed very slowly and close-up, which by 1935 standards is rather risque, and which identifies her clearly as quite a romantic female lead. A little later, still handcuffed, the pair are actually sleeping in the same bed, albeit not under the sheets or completely undressed. When Pamela does manage to get free of the handcuffs, she participates in a plot development which her regained freedom allows, and then returns to bed. Only this time, at the foot of the bed, since she is no longer forced by the handcuffs to be in the same bed as Richard. This plotting probably allowed them to get by the censors. Similarly, now no longer bound by cuffs, she replaces her stockings without the company of the camera, as if to again demonstrate the necessity for the provocative close-up shown earlier.

"39 STEPS" -- AHEAD OF ITS TIME:

There are many modern devices used in this film with great effect. To name a few;

-- Extensive mixing and combining of matte backgrounds, minatures and the real thing, to increase realism and the illusion of a multitude of different exterior settings over a wide expanse. This includes waterfalls, sheep herds blocking traffic to allow hero and heroine to escape, varied scottish and english countrysides from trains, cars and on foot and numerous interior destinations from these hair-raising jaunts.

-- The idea that military secrets and Englands air defense in particular could be threatened and that the consequences implied were truly dire. This at a time when most air-forces including Englands and Germany's were comprised of short range, slow-moving bi-planes, with some monoplanes on the drawing boards.

-- Very subtle, seemingly accidental sexuality and romance without the appearance of being nominal or gratuitous woven into the plot.

--Plus, unreliable narrators, improbable behavior, dumb-luck [good and bad] and the intervention of nice people, like the couple that ran the inn or the woman that gave Richard her husbands overcoat and an escape opportunity from the police.

All of the above transfers into 83 minutes of fast-paced drama and comedy, action, danger, romance and sexuality. And in the end, the film goes right back to where it began, which illustrates that nothing in this film is gratuitous or wasteful. Truly a 5-Star effort by Alfred Hitchcock, plus his find cast and production team.

-----CAST

Robert Donat - Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll - Pamela
Godfrey Tearle - Prof. Jordan
Lucie Mannheim - Miss Smith/Annabella
Wylie Watson - Mr. Memory

-----PRODUCTION CREW

Alfred Hitchcock - Director
Michael Balcon - Producer
Ivor Montagu - Producer
Charles Bennett - Screenwriter
John Buchan - Book Author
Ian Hay - Screenwriter
Alma Reville - Screenwriter
Bernard Knowles - Cinematographer
Louis Levy - Composer (Music Score)
Derek N. Twist - Editor

ABOUT THE VIDEO: Get the "Criterion" DVD release

The version I viewed was on video and it had many issues that detracted from the viewing experience such as, fuzzy images, blurry sound, artifacts and flutter in the picture, which did vary somewhat in intensity throughout the film. It seems like this film would be worth getting on DVD from "Criterion" despite the higher cost.

ALSO CONSIDER SEEING:

The 39 Steps (1959, Ralph Thomas)
North By Northwest (1959, Alfred Hitchcock)
Silver Streak (1976, Arthur Hiller)
The Fugitive (1993, Andrew Davis)

A Fun Late Night Movie.......2001-11-15

I saw this movie in film school, and loved the mix of romantic comedy and suspense. While not the most memorable Hitchcock movie in terms of cinematography, plot, or acting, taken as a whole I think it's one of his most charming and funny movies.

The young Robert Donat is fantastic as the accidental spychaser: as smooth and handsome as Cary Grant would be. Madeleine Carroll is fine, but lacks the appeal of other Hitchcock blondes. Lucie Mannheim as Annabella Smith is hilarious as the mystery woman.

The themes of paranoia, suspicion, and the relentlessness of human nature are common to Hitchcock, but here they are spun together with frothy, witty dialog and some memorable, finely acted scenes.

whadda ya want for 4 bucks?.......2001-08-17

It is about the same quality as a late night viewing on TV of the film; the disc is not at all DVD-level clear. But you can't quibble about the price: it is sub-VHS. And since tapes degrade and DVD does not, I'll live with the muddier picture on this one.

cheap=poor quality.......2001-07-11

Diamond Entertainment's DVD of 39 Steps is VHS (taped off a broadcast-TV late-late show in SLP mode) picture quality. Very soft. This is not what DVD is meant for. I can only comment on the Criterion Collection version for comparison. Criterion picture quality=9 out of 10, Diamond picture quality=3 out of 10 (10 being best). Save your money.

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices...
Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect
Early Hitchcock classics
Correction
IMMACULATE(AND STILL AVAILABLE)

Wrong Men & Notorious Women - Five Hitchcock Thrillers 1935-1946 (The 39 Steps / The Lady Vanishes / Rebecca / Spellbound / Notorious) - Criterion Collection
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Psycho / Vertigo / Rear Window / The Birds / Shadow of a Doubt / Family Plot / Frenzy / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Marnie / Rope / Saboteur / Topaz / Torn Curtain / The Trouble with Harry)
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
Lifeboat (Special Edition)
Under Capricorn

ASIN: B00008OM70
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Amazon.com

Wrong Men & Notorious Women is an irresistible set: five early Alfred Hitchcock thrillers--The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Spellbound, and Notorious--in sumptuous Criterion Collection editions that offer pristine transfers, commentary tracks by film scholars, and other bonus features such as screen tests, essays, rare photos, and radio broadcasts.

The 39 Steps (1935) is a prime example of the MacGuffin principle in action. Robert Donat is Richard Hannay, an affable Canadian tourist in London who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy when a mysterious spy winds up murdered in Hannay's rented flat--and both the police and a secret organization wind up hot on his trail. It's classic Hitchcock all the way, a seemingly effortless balance of romance and adventure set against a picturesque landscape populated by eccentrics and social-register smoothies, none of whom is what he or she appears to be.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) begins innocently enough, as a contingent of eccentric tourists spend the night in a picture-postcard village inn nestled in the Swiss Alps before setting off on the train the next morning. Attractive young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) clashes with brash music student Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) when his nocturnal concerts give her no peace. True love is inevitable, but not before they are both plunged into an international conspiracy. Hitchcock effortlessly navigates this vivid thriller from light comedy to high tension and back again, creating one of his most enchanting and entertaining mysteries.

Rebecca (1940) is an ageless, timeless adult movie about a woman who marries a widower but fears she lives in the shadow of her predecessor. This was Hitchcock's first American feature, and it garnered the Best Picture statuette at the 1941 Academy Awards. In today's films, most twists and surprises are ridiculous or just gratuitous, so it's sobering to look back on this film where every revelation not only shocks, but makes organic sense with the story line. Laurence Olivier is dashing and weak, fierce and cowed. Joan Fontaine is strong yet submissive, defiant yet accommodating. Brilliant stuff.

Hitchcock takes on Sigmund Freud in Spellbound (1945), in which psychologist Ingrid Bergman tries to solve a murder by unlocking the clues hidden in the mind of amnesiac suspect Gregory Peck. Among the highlights is a bizarre dream sequence seemingly designed by Salvador Dali--complete with huge eyeballs and pointy scissors. Spellbound is one of Hitchcock's strangest and most atmospheric films, providing the director with plenty of opportunities to explore what he called "pure cinema"--i.e., the power of pure visual associations.

Notorious (1946) features a cast to kill for: Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, and Claude Rains. Bergman plays the daughter of a disgraced father who is recruited by American agents to infiltrate a post-World War II spy ring in Brazil. Her control agent is Grant, who treats her with disdain while developing a deep romantic bond with her. Her assignment: to marry the suspected head of the ring (Rains) and get the goods on everyone involved. Danger, deceit, betrayal--and, yes, romance--all come together in a nearly perfect blend as the film builds to a terrific (and surprising) climax. Grant and Bergman rarely have been better.

Description

A supreme technician and innovative stylist, Alfred Hitchcock always left his indelible stamp on his productions. From the wit, romance, and fast-paced action of 1935's British-made The 39 Steps to the bittersweet blend of lush romance and spy- thriller in the 1946 Hollywood production Notorious, Hitchcock continually flaunted a peerless formal mastery as he capitalized on a wide variety of genres. In the 1940 Academy Award™ -winning Rebecca and 1945 psychoanalytic thriller Spellbound, Hitchcock also proved himself a keen surveyor of the human mind, incisively exploring the psychology of fear and sexual repression within the context of films that both entertained audiences of the day and ensured that his career would be one of the most illustrious in the history of cinema.

Starring Robert Donat, Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Claude Rains, and Cary Grant, these five acclaimed films bridge Hitchcock's early British masterworks with his triumphant American collaborations with producer David O. Selznick, and present the legendary director at his unparalleled best, creating films that are exemplars of suspense and cinematic virtuosity.

Oscar™ , Academy Award™ , and Academy Awards™ are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection, but don't pay these outrageous prices..........2007-03-09

MGM dvd is set to to release these same titles later sometime this year (2007). So be on the look out. I already own this Chriterion collection and it is great, but it lacks any documentaries on the films. I'm sure the new MGM dvd releases will more than likely put this on them and hopefully more features too, like Warner dvd did with the rights they own of Hitchcock now.

Fabulous Noir...Classic Films...One Short Of Perfect.......2006-05-13

Hitch, Cary, Ingrid, Olivier, Whitty, Du Maurier,Fontaine. The list goes on. All these great talents combined to make a great package for Hitch fans.A selection of fabulous noir, that is definitive of all things Hitch. The suspense, the shadows and light, the camera angles, the sly humor, his trademark sequences, all here, for one great Hitch film-fest. A mix of his vintage British films, and the great classics of Hollywood.
Here are the "wrong men" and "notorious women" that make up this great collection.

"The 39 Steps"
One of Hitch's masterpieces! From 1935.. "The Thirty Nine Steps" has Hitch's trademark style all through it. An innocent man gets involved with spies and counter spies. He is at the music hall, watching a "Memory Act"(which is quite a scene in itself),there's a gun shot, panic erupts and everyone runs out. A mysterious woman attaches herself to him and comes home with him. She reveals she is a spy and others are after her. She mentions the mysterious "Thirty Nine Steps", and the next morning he finds her dead. He goes on the run for fear he will be implicated in the murder and in order to prove his innocence he must uncover this spy ring on his own. His path is fraught with danger, suspense and of course a beautiful woman. It stars Robert Donat,Madeline Carroll(you know how Hitch loved those beautiful cool blondes!), and Lucie Mannheim(as Annabela the spy).Also look for his trademark staircase scene.

Looking for Hitch: Less than 10 minutes in, you'll spy him. What a litter bug!

"The Lady Vanishes"
Of all Hitch's early British made film's(mostly made during the late 1920's and 1930's), "The Lady Vanishes" is by far the most captivating one for me.
A train trip is the setting for this mystery. A woman's traveling companion has disappeared. Where could she be? The train is only so big. She tries desperately to find her friend, but is alone in her quest. No one seems to believe that she even had a companion to start with.All seem to have their own mysterious reasons for denying her any help.
Finally one man is convinced to help, and together they try to solve this possible crime. There are lots of tense sequences to keep you in suspense, and your heart pounding. Hitch mixes up the thrills with his marvelous sense of humor and his wonderful trademark style.Wonderful performances by the likes of Dame Mae Whitty, Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave add to the enjoyment of this one.

Looking for Hitch:....You must be patient. Check Victoria Station almost at the end of the film.

"Rebecca"
What do you get when you have a great work of literature by Daphne Du Maurier, combined with the cinematic skill of Director Alfred Hitchcock,combined with the extraordinary acting talents of Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Judith Anderson? You get pure perfection on film. Movie heaven!

The story begins in the South of France where a young, introverted woman(Joan Fontaine) meets wealthy widower Maxim de Winter(Olivier) His wife,Rebecca, had recently died in a drowning accident and often he seems to be pensive and far off. They fall in love, marry, and go back to his home, an estate called Manderly. She is overwhelmed by the palacial grandeur, the huge staff of servants but mainly by the very prim but chilling head housekeeper Mrs. Danvers(Judith Andersson). The first Mrs. De Winter still seems to have a presence in the household that Mrs. Danvers keeps alive.
To say anymore will be giving away too much of this hauntingly chilling love story/mystery.

Looking for Hitch: Nice day for a stroll...check the phone booth scene towards the end.

"Spellbound"
Here's a little of this riveting story.....
The beautiful Ingrid Bergman plays the distant psychiatrist Dr. Constance Petersen. She treats a number of troubled patients at the Green Manors Mental Asylum, but her toughest case is yet to come. With Dr. Murchison(Leo G Carroll) being forced into retirement a new chief of staff will be arriving. It is the esteemed Dr Edwards(Gregory Peck)who takes over. It is not long before Edwards and Constance find themselves attracted to one another, and it is not long before Constance figures out that Edwards is not really who he says he is. He displays signs of paranoia and amnesia and it is possible that he murdered the real Dr. Edwards.They are on the run to try to solve the case but as the original theatrical poster says,"Will he Kiss me or Kill me?"

You'll be awed Hitch's definitive style of camera angles, shadow and lights, romance and a unique dream sequence designed by Salavdor Dali. Not to mention all the wonderful talent that graces this film. Bergman and Peck make screen magic together, Carroll is a legend and this film shows us why.Also starring is Rhonda Flemming,Michael Chekhov, and Wallace Ford. The music by Miklos Rozsa also adds greatly to the building tension, and romantic scenes in the story.
So don't worry about trying to over anaylze this one....As Hitch himself said "It's just a movie." But a GREAT one!

Looking for Hitch: About :40 minutes in, you may see him if you're quick!

"Notorious"
The master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, gives us another edge of your seat thriller. He combines, mystery,romance, and the evil's of Nazism in this chilling story.It takes place shortly after WWII. Alicia(Ingrid Bergman) is a woman with a past. Her father has just been convicted of spying. American agent Devlin(Cary Grant), enlists Alicia to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring.After her father's conviction, Alicia can prove her own patriotism by cooperating in this manner. She finds herself right in the thick of things and her own life in danger after she goes as far as to marry Alex(Claude Rains), one of the very powerful, rich and dangerous ring leaders of the group. Alex is on to her and tries to methodically get rid of his beautiful wife.Can the handsome "Dev" rescue the woman he has come to love so much before tragedy strikes.?

You'll delight to find Hitch's trademarks all through the film. The camera angles are definitive,the trademark staircase scene, the passion between Grant and Bergman electrifying,Claude Rains is terrifying, and the story a rollercoaster of suspense filled moments. There isn't a more perfect film I can think of.

Looking for Hitch: A little over an hour in you can have a little drink with him.(Not too much though, the Champagne needs to last the night at this party).

Hitch was "notorious" for stories where the "wrong" guy was accused of the crime. There are others that could fit into this collection. But I truly think there is one glaring omission.Shouldn't "The Wrong Man" with Henry Fonda, be included in "Wrong Men and Notorious Women"?.It's a dark wonderful piece of filmmaking, based on a true story of a man who happened to look like the criminal.

One other note. I notice that Amazon is out of stock. The outside sellers seem to be taking advantage of that fact, and have raised the cost sky high. If this set is the absolute way you want to go, put it in your cart or wish list, and keep an eye out for a reasonably listed price. In the meantime, you may want to surf around and see what it would cost to buy these films separately. A couple of them are on the expensive side, but others are averaging the usual cost of a DVD. One more route, would be to go to you local video store, they may have it, or may even be able to order it for you at the suggested retail price.

Five 5 star films, but missing one to make the package perfect.
Enjoy....Laurie

Early Hitchcock classics.......2005-06-28

This impressive DVD box set showcases some of Alfred Hitchcock's earliest work in the 1930s and 40s, where the young director was not only breathing new life into Hollywood, but also displaying his enthusiasm for macabre tales of murder and mystery. By 1935 Hitch already had 19 films under his belt, however for the most part, his earlier work (The 1920s films THE LODGER, THE RING, BLACKMAIL and MURDER in 1930) was more experimentation that art, but THE 39 STEPS was the landmark film that put Hitch on the map. Watching it on TV late one night, I was enthralled at how expertly-crafted this little thriller was, and its great to see this classic on DVD. Boasting powerhouse performances form Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll and some fantastic cinematography, 39 STEPS says: "I respect you and here's a great movie worthy of your time". Made when movie studios like RKO, 20th Century Fox and Universal had uncertain futures, this was one of the movies that assured cinema-goers that this was not only worth money, but showcased some fantastic thrills, chills, and wonderful escapism. THE LADY VANISHES (1938) is not the directors' best film however, with a slow-paced first 20 minutes and the writing isn't as strongly composed as 39 STEPS. Some impressive action at the finale and a strident score almost make up for it's casual style.

Derived from Daphne Du Maurier's excellent novel by Philip MacDonald, REBECCA (1940) is possibly one of the most expertly crafted films ever made in the history of cinema, a rare perfect film that deserves 6 stars for its incredible style, music, and some gripping acting from veteran Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. SPELLBOUND and NOTORIOUS are equal in style and achievement, and the DVD extras are fantastic, including The Art of Film: Vintage Hitchcock, a Janus Films documentary, rare deleted scenes, restored image and sound, and some amazing screen, hair, makeup and costume tests with Vivien Leigh, Anne Baxter, Loretta Young and Joan Fontaine. Commentaries by film scholar Leonard J. Leff, author of Hitchcock and Selznick, Hitchcock on Rebecca, excerpts from his conversations with Francois Truffaut, phone interviews with Joan Fontaine and Judith Anderson from 1986 and exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of these classic masterpieces. If you don't have this already, buy it now and be thrilled by the master of suspense!

Correction.......2004-06-15

Amazon lists this as a five-disc set. Actually it includes six discs since Rebecca comes on two.

IMMACULATE(AND STILL AVAILABLE).......2004-04-28

When I read the reviews and saw that Amazon no longer carried this, I was disappointed. Only disappointed until I purchased this item new from a different vendor. I don't know why Amazon does not carry it.

Description

3 DVD SET INCLUDES:
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
The Man Who Knew Too Much

B&W/266 min.

Customer Reviews:

The 39 Steps.......2003-06-22

This is one of the best movies ever made. Do NOT get the later versions. The original Hitchcock film is great. It has Hitchcock's famous premise - the innocent man being chased by police and criminals alike. Robert Donat and Madeline Carroll are terrific together, and the political rally scene is one for the ages.

The original is best!.......2001-02-21

How can anyone say that the original 39 steps movie is not the best? If nothing else it was directed by the great man himself. I have seen 2 re-makes of this film, both poor relations of the first in my opinion. This film is a must see, and surely must be credited as being one of the films that started a revolution in suspence films. Buy this version you will not be disappointed

The 39 Steps.......2001-01-03

This take of the original novel is fairly decent, however there is much better version available. In 1979 a Brittish film company produced a color version of the original story, which I think is outstanding. Though extremely hard to find, spend the extra time to locate the '79 Brittish version of the 39 Steps. It is much more accurate and suspenseful, compared to the Hitchcock versions. Quite frankly, don't waste your time watching Hitchcock's movie.

Alfred Hitchcock - 4 Films on 1 DVD - Jamaica Inn; Sabotage; The 39 Steps; and Easy Virtue

Average customer rating:

Wow! 5 1/2 hours of Pure Suspense From the Master!

Alfred Hitchcock - 4 Films on 1 DVD - Jamaica Inn; Sabotage; The 39 Steps; and Easy Virtue
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Digiview Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
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Product Features:

The stories: Jamaica Inn, Sabotage, The 39 Steps and Easy Virtue
Standard full frame
Stereo sound
Interactive menus

ASIN: B000FNBHIQ

Product Description

Jamaica Inn: When her parents die, Mary is sent to Cornwall, Englandto live with her Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss. Uncle Joss is the owner and proprietor of the Jamaica Inn, a seemingly normal business. However, Mary soon discovers that all is not what it seems: her uncle is a leader of a gang of pirates who lure ships to their doom on a rocky coast. When Mary discovers the truth, though, she begins to fear for her life. This early classic from the master of suspense is adapted froma novel by Daphne Du Maurierand features screen legend Charles Laughton. Sabatage: Mr. Verloc leads an unassuming life as the manager of a small cinema. At least, thats what his wife and brother in law think. What they don't know is that Mr. Verloc is actually part of a gang of saboteurs. When Scotland Yard assigns a detective to work next door to the cinema, Mr. Verloc's life takes a dramatic turn in this tense, edge of your seat thriller. The 39 Steps: In the London music hall, Canadian tourists Richard Hannay is enjoying a production of Mr. Memory. Just before it ends, however, there is a disturbance in the hall and Richard;s life becomes intertwined with that of Annabella Smith, a woman on the run from a spy ring. He agrees to protect her, but later that night, she is murdered. Fearing he will be accused of the crime, Richard goes on the run to bring down the spy ring and prove his innocence. Along with 1934's The Man Who Knew Too Much, this is the film that made Hitchcock a household name. Easy Virtue: Larita Filton has just had her life turned upside down, a scndelous divorce case and subsequent suicide have left her with scourge of the community. She escapes to France where she meets John Whittaker and they fall in love. When John's family finds out her secret, though, Larita may be in for more than she'd ever bargained for.

Customer Reviews:

Wow! 5 1/2 hours of Pure Suspense From the Master!.......2006-06-06

4 complete films; 5 and a half hours! All decent transfers in glorious B+W for a truly bargain basement price! You can't go wrong with this Digiview 2006 release of Hitchcock's best classics from his early period.

Alfred Hitchcock Collector's Edition 2 DVD Set - Thirty Nine Steps / The Lady Vanishes / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Sabotage

Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock Collector's Edition 2 DVD Set - Thirty Nine Steps / The Lady Vanishes / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Sabotage
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Diamond Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000LGC5Y2

Product Description

The Alfred Hitchcock Collector's Edition contains four of his most celebrated motion pictures. Shot in the nineteen thirties, they are a great part of the famous British thriller series. In these films, his directorial greatness shines through, as audiences are kept in the dark and on the edge of their seats throughout. Contains: Thirty Nine Steps / The Lady Vanishes / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Sabotage

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