The 39 steps at BFI Southbank


Before being poached by Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock honed his suspense filled thrillers to perfection with Stints at the now defunct Denham and Gainsborough studios.These early black and white thrillers displayed all the evidence of a unique and canny intelligence at play. His 1935 adaptation of John Buchans ripping Yarn The 39 steps introduced moviegoers to the improbable adventures of one Richard Hannay. The script was written by long trusted collaborator Charles Bennett who delights in providing the unexpected and giving an audience just a little more than they could have hoped for. The BFI have a restored print of the film and are showing it as part of a season celebrating the work of British screen actor Robert Donat. An actor noted and regarded for his seemingly classless neutrality, portraying characters as neither posh fops nor common proles but as individual possessors of fine wit and dignity, swept up by peculiar circumstances beyond their control.