Search - The 39 Steps [Special Edition] on DVD

Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1935 DVD Release: 07/24/1999 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Restored/Remastered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: Japanese, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 26 mins Studio: Delta Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Spy Film, Thriller, Chase Movie, Escape Film See Also: The 39 Steps [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection], The 39 Steps, The 39 Steps, 39 Steps, The 39 Steps, Essential Art House: The 39 Steps [Criterion Collection]

This classic British thriller was one of Alfred Hitchcock's first major international successes, and it introduced a number of the stylistic and thematic elements that became hallmarks of his later work. Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), a Canadian rancher on vacation in England, attends a music hall performance by "Mr. Memory" (Wylie Watson); in the midst of the show, shots ring out and Richard flees the theater. Moments later, a terrified woman (Lucie Mannheim) begs Richard to help her; back at his room, she tells him that she's a British spy whose life has been threatened by international agents waiting outside. Richard is certain that she's mad until she reappears at his door in the morning, near death with a knife in her back, a map in her hand, and muttering something about "39 Steps." Discovering that a group of thugs are indeed waiting outside, Richard slips away and takes the first train to the Scottish town on the dead woman's map. Richard learns that he's now wanted by the police for murder, and he must find a way to clear his name. He begins trying to do so with the help of a woman he meets en route, Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who serves as his unwitting assistant, even after she tries to turn him in. The 39 Steps was later remade in 1959 and 1978 -- both without Hitchcock's participation. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Robert Donat - Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll - Pamela
Godfrey Tearle - Prof. Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft - Margaret
Lucie Mannheim - Miss Smith/Annabella

Since many of Alfred Hitchcock's early British films no longer have copyright protection, a variety of budget home entertainment companies have released a number of them on DVD. While The Criterion Collection's excellent deluxe DVD edition of The 39 Steps is well worth its high list price, Laserlight does a fair job of reissuing the movie for the more budget-minded. The source print used for the transfer is in relatively good shape; likewise, the Dolby Digital 1.0 audio transfer is much cleaner than most of the other "budget" Hitchcock movies that are on the market. As on most Laserlight Hitchcock releases, the main DVD extra is actor Tony Curtis introducing the film. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide