The 39 Steps
by James Hawes
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Haig, Lydia Leonard, Patrick Kennedy, Patrick Malahide, Rupert Penry-JonesDirector: James Hawes
Brand: WHV
Cinematographer: James Aspinall
Producer: Hilary Salmon
Producer: John Yorke
Producer: Lynn Horsford
Producer: Peter Gallagher
Writer: John Buchan
Writer: Lizzie Mickery
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Stereo; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 85 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2010-03-02
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Movie Reviews of The 39 Steps
Movie Review: very pleasantly surprised
Summary: 5 Stars
Didn't know much about John Buchan, except that hewas a biographer of Elizabethan historicval figures, that he died in office while serving as the king's representative in Canada (i.e. he was the Governor General), and that he wrote the novel of the same name upon which this film was adatped. Read it YEARS ago and the (exact) storyline and plot twists have pretty much been lost to the sands of time, but I believe that this adaptation stays pretty true to the novel, CONSIDERINGthat it's only about 90minutes long.
*SPOILER ALERT*
The only substantive alteration to the original story, if I recaal correctly, is the inclusion of a female companion who turns out to be a governbment agent, which, in my opinion, was a nice touch that added (more) romance and some funny comedic scenes to the story. I also loved the cinematography - in particular, the choice of "film stock" and the way the costumes and environment/setting/physical backgound (I'm having writer's block here) were beautifully simiular or nicely contrasted, depending on the scene (for example, in the second scene, where the agent Scudder isrunning for his life through severral streets while Hannay is languidly walking back to his apartment, Scudder's grey attire almost blends into the similarly coloured building and streeet stones (and would have if not for the wonderful sense of movement that the director created) whereas Hanney's black tux pleasantly contrasts with the same background). The film aslohas a few nice homages to ohter films in it, which is another nice touch.
*FINIS*
About the only aspect of the film that I wasn't crazy about was the ennding, 'tho it would be okay in retrospect if the producers made a sequel to this fine film with the male and female leadsmeeting up again (I'm not sure, but I believe that Buchan wrote several adventure romances involvcing this film's protagonist).
As for thecriticism that this film doesn't hold upwell to the Hitchcock version, I disagre. Yes, that 1935 version was VERY good, but it, too, veered from the original Buchan story in several respects and its ending wasn't all that greta either in that, after having Hannay running around for so long without a clue as to what to do, he is fortuitoustously informed as to where to go to get to the heart of the "39 Steps" mystery and, after he returns to England, the story wraps up quickly - TOO quickly, in my opinion, anyway. By comparison, this 2008 versions plot unfolds at a nice pace and we get a better idea about the 39 Steps, which, in Hitchcock's version, was not a physical thing/place (as it was in the novel and is in this adapttion), but the nameof the foreign spy ring. Although the two films are quite difeerent, both are entertaining and interresting in their own ways. However, if I HAD to choose, I'd go with this versoin because of its sexy female agent (and I would think that most female viewers would prefer this Hannay to Hitchcock's, in appearance AND character - incidentally, RupertPenry-Jones is just as enjoyable here as he was on SPOOKS/M-I5).
Definitely worth your money and your time.
Summary of The 39 Steps
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 03/02/10
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
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