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The Thirty Nine Steps

  • 1978
  • PG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3K
YOUR RATING
David Warner, Karen Dotrice, John Mills, and Robert Powell in The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

In March 1914, a mining engineer named Richard Hannay tries to prevent Prussian Agents from executing a political assassination designed to trigger World War I.In March 1914, a mining engineer named Richard Hannay tries to prevent Prussian Agents from executing a political assassination designed to trigger World War I.In March 1914, a mining engineer named Richard Hannay tries to prevent Prussian Agents from executing a political assassination designed to trigger World War I.

  • Director
    • Don Sharp
  • Writers
    • Michael Robson
    • John Buchan
  • Stars
    • Robert Powell
    • David Warner
    • Eric Porter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Don Sharp
    • Writers
      • Michael Robson
      • John Buchan
    • Stars
      • Robert Powell
      • David Warner
      • Eric Porter
    • 58User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos176

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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Robert Powell
    Robert Powell
    • Hannay
    David Warner
    David Warner
    • Sir Edmund Appleton
    Eric Porter
    Eric Porter
    • Lomas
    Karen Dotrice
    Karen Dotrice
    • Alex
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Scudder
    George Baker
    George Baker
    • Sir Walter Bullivant
    Ronald Pickup
    Ronald Pickup
    • Bayliss
    Donald Pickering
    Donald Pickering
    • Marshall
    Timothy West
    Timothy West
    • Porton
    Miles Anderson
    Miles Anderson
    • David
    Andrew Keir
    Andrew Keir
    • Lord Rohan
    Robert Flemyng
    Robert Flemyng
    • Magistrate
    William Squire
    William Squire
    • Harkness
    Paul McDowell
    • McLean
    David Collings
    David Collings
    • Tillotson
    John Normington
    John Normington
    • Fletcher
    John Welsh
    John Welsh
    • Lord Belthane
    Edward de Souza
    Edward de Souza
    • Woodville
    • (as Edward De Souza)
    • Director
      • Don Sharp
    • Writers
      • Michael Robson
      • John Buchan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie is considered the most faithful of the three screen versions of John Buchan's source novel, despite the addition of the Big Ben clock-tower finale (which was borrowed from Will Hay's My Learned Friend (1943)), which was not in the book.
    • Goofs
      Whilst in Scotland, as a guest at the ancestral home and on the heaths, Hannay, wears Cherry Red Dr Marten Airwear boots (first invented in 1960). These are first seen under a chair whilst he is changing in the bedroom.
    • Quotes

      Hannay: I thought he was a harmless lunatic!

    • Crazy credits
      SPOILER: Closing credits epilogue: Edward Appleton was convicted of treason in May 1914.

      And thanks to Richard Hannay, Britain gained valuable time to prepare for The Great War.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)

    User reviews58

    Featured review
    7/10

    Not the story as written

    R Houghton's review claims that "...with this version, we finally get the story as it was written."

    This is a very long way from true. To note only three departures, the thirty-nine steps of the original text do not refer to the steps leading up to Beg Ben, but to a staircase leading from a house in Bradgate down to the sea; in the original text, Scudder is knifed in Hannay's flat; and the scene of Hannay clinging to the hands of the clock appears nowhere in Buchan's novel.

    But all that said, this production is a fine piece of work in its own right, having great pace, style and atmosphere, and with some first-class acting from Robert Powell.
    • hgregor-991-286108
    • Mar 1, 2011
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 2, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die 39 Stufen
    • Filming locations
      • Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK
    • Production company
      • Norfolk International Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • £1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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