In 7 words or less: Spies, Lies, Shots & and Scots
What's it all About? Nosey parker Richard Hanney (Moore) encounters a young lady who falls foul of a speeding car. Rather than hand in her possessions to the rozzers, he keeps them and embarks on a spot of sleuthing on the basis that he thinks something is amiss. Suffice to say, things aren't whet they seem and Hanney gets involved with counter-espionage, secret agents and threats to the known universe. Ooo err.
Best bits? The way the love interest is introduced is subtle, sly and developed at a lovely pace. This is slowly introduced during the train scene which turns into a tense action segment.
Did it make you think thoughts? Hitchcock sure does love his mistaken identity yarns. The thing is, he tells this type of tale better than pretty much anyone else. There's none of that annoying, 'Damn it, can't you just see what's in front of your faces you fools', that most films like this insist on. Well there is but it's done in a much more believable way....WAIT A MINUTE......this is no Hitchy film. I taped it becaue the Film4 information blurb said it was the 1935 Hitchcock version but in actual fact it's the 1959 remake by Ralph Thomas. Ha ha, stupid Film4. I thought I'd carry on anyway and I'm glad I did.
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| Interesting head gear Miss Fisher |
The film starts sharply with some zinging dialogue but unfortunately boggs down in the flabby middle section -much like my belly- but picks back up as the end draws near. The look. feel and script make this easily disguisable as an Alfred effort. No mean feat.
Would you watch it again? I'd probably give it another go.
Rating (out of 100%): This has Sunday afternoon material written all over it. A cup of tea, a jammy dodger, feet up and tv on. I give The 39 Steps a sometime cracking, sometime slacking 68%
