Overview
A man on the run must unravel a deadly conspiracy to prove his innocence.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- propulsive
- eerie
- classic cinema night
- hitchcock marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Hitchcock’s adaptation as a highly entertaining, sophisticated, and influential espionage thriller driven by its pace, suspense, and charm.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richard Hannay becomes a wanted man after Annabella Smith is murdered in his flat and must flee to expose the spy ring.
Hannay’s escape across London and Scotland combines cloak-and-dagger danger with brisk humor and romantic friction.
The story moves from a London music hall and domestic flat to Scotland’s highlands, where secret agents pursue Hannay.
A theatrical evening and an apparently ordinary encounter uncover an international spy ring operating behind everyday British life.
Films like The 39 Steps, and why
North by Northwest
shared falsely accused protagonist, espionage intrigue, brisk suspense, and comic thriller tone
The Lady Vanishes
shared Hitchcockian pursuit structure, mistaken identity, secret agents, and romantic tension
Sabotage
shared prewar espionage, fugitive protagonists, and suspenseful British thriller atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Release Date
- 1935-06-06
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (1095)
Cast
- Robert Donat
- Madeleine Carroll
- Lucie Mannheim
- Godfrey Tearle
- Peggy Ashcroft
- John Laurie
- Helen Haye
- Frank Cellier
- Wylie Watson
- Gus McNaughton
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Artiflix, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The 39 Steps about?
- A worldly visitor becomes a hunted fugitive after a murder and races across Britain to expose the espionage network behind it.
- What is The 39 Steps like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The 39 Steps as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The 39 Steps violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The 39 Steps as mild.
- What did critics think of The 39 Steps?
- Critics broadly regard Hitchcock’s adaptation as a highly entertaining, sophisticated, and influential espionage thriller driven by its pace, suspense, and charm.
- Which films are like The 39 Steps?
- Films with a similar feel include North by Northwest, The Lady Vanishes, and Sabotage.
- How long is The 39 Steps?
- The 39 Steps runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch The 39 Steps?
- In United States, The 39 Steps streams on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Artiflix, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
