39 Steps, The (1959)

The sole merit of this film is that is shows just how good the 1935 Hitchcock version is. Whilst preserving the plot of the original John Buchan novel it updates the story to a contemporary setting but trivializes it with the cheekily coy spin typical of pre-‘kitchen sink’ British film (any film with Sid James in it must have serious dramatic credibility problems). Kenneth More, a staple lightweight leading man of the period takes the Richard Hannay part opposite Taina Elg a Finnish actress who had a brief film career before returning to the theatre.

 

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