AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Movie Detail
Name Occurs Before Title Offscreen Credit Print Viewed By AFI
The 39 Steps
Director: Alfred Hitchcock (Dir)
Release Date:   1 Aug 1935
Premiere Information:   London opening: Jun 1935
Production Date:   at Shepherd's Bush, England
Duration (in mins):   81 or 87
Duration (in feet):   7,821
Print this page
Display Movie Summary


Cast:   Robert Donat (Richard Hannay)  
    Madeleine Carroll (Pamela)  
    Lucie Mannheim (Miss Smith)  
    Godfrey Tearle (Professor Jordan)  
    Peggy Ashcroft (Crofter's wife)  
    John Laurie (Crofter)  
    Helen Haye (Mrs. Jordon)  
    Frank Cellier (Sheriff)  
    Wylie Watson (Memory)  
    Gus McNaughton (Commercial traveller)  
    Jerry Verno (Commercial traveller)  
    Peggy Simpson (Maid)  
    Alfred Hitchcock (Man who litters in front of bus)  

Summary: On vacation in London, Canadian Richard Hannay becomes embroiled in a spy hunt when a German double-agent, Miss Smith, is murdered in his apartment. He is suspected of the murder, and in his search for the real murderer, he abducts an attractive blonde named Pamela. As the two travel through Britain, Pamela comes to trust Richard, and they slowly fall in love. In the end, Richard uncovers the spy ring and finally proves his innocence. 

Production Company: Gaumont-British Picture Corp.  
Distribution Company: Gaumont-British Picture Corp. of America  
Director: Alfred Hitchcock (Dir)
Writer: Charles Bennett (Adpt)
  Ian Hay (Dial)
  Alma Reville (Cont)
Photography: Bernard Knowles (Photog)
Art Direction: Oscar Werndorff (Art dir)
Film Editor: Derek Twist (Ed)
Costumes: Marianne (Ward)
  Joe Strassner (Dresses des)
Music: Louis Levy (Mus dir)
Sound: A. Birch (Rec)
Country: Great Britain and United States
Language: English

Source Text: Based on the novel The 39 Steps by John Buchan (London, 1915).
Authors: John Buchan

Copyright Claimant Copyright Date Copyright Number
Gaumont-British Picture Corp. of America 6/6/1935 dd/mm/yyyy LP5732

Physical Properties: Sd:
  b&w:

 
Genre: Comedy-drama
Sub-Genre: Espionage

Note: This film was reissued in the United States in July 1938. Modern sources include Prod Michael Balcon, Assoc prod Ivor Montagu and Des Albert Jullion in the production. 

Bibliographic Sources:   Date   Page
Film Daily   14 Sep 35   p. 7.
Hollywood Reporter   28 Jun 35   p. 7.
Motion Picture Herald   6 Jul 35   p. 75.
New York Times   14 Sep 35   p. 8.
Variety   19 Jun 35   p. 21.
Variety   18 Sep 35   p. 15.

Display Movie Summary
The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.
 
Advanced Search
AFI Membership
Support our efforts to preserve hisotory of film

© 2013 American Film Institute.
All rights reserved.
Terms of use.