Saturday, December 19, 2009

The 39 Steps - 1935

Director Cameo: [Alfred Hitchcock] about seven minutes in, tossing some litter as Richard and Annabella run from the music hall.

The 62 imported sheep, upon arriving at the sound stage, immediately went to work on the bracken and bushes that had been brought with them. The infuriated crew had to replace the real plants with ones hastily bought from a local nursery.

Director Trademark: [Alfred Hitchcock] [stairs] Pamela listening to a conversation from the top of a staircase.

Visa de censure en France (1951): #11533/D.
One day on the set Alfred Hitchcock handcuffed Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll together and pretended for several hours to have lost the key.
The music that the chorines dance to after Mr. Memory is shot is "Tinkle, Tinkle, Tinkle" written by Harry M. Woods.

Madeleine Carroll suffered at the hands of Alfred Hitchcock's quest for realism, right down to the real welts on her wrists from the long days of being handcuffed to Robert Donat.

According to one of his sons, John Buchan (upon whose 1915 novel the film was based) was impressed with the film, despite its departures from his original plot.

Cast of The 39 Steps

Robert Donat as Richard Hannay
Madeleine Carroll as Pamela
Lucie Mannheim as Annabella Smith
Godfrey Tearle as Professor Jordan
Peggy Ashcroft as Margaret, the crofter's wife
John Laurie as John, the crofter
Helen Haye as Mrs. Louisa Jordan, the professor's wife
Frank Cellier as Sheriff Watson
Wylie Watson as Mr. Memory

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