The 39 Steps [1978] [DVD]

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Production [ edit ] Hannay (Powell) hanging from Big Ben during the film's denouement. The scene was a departure from Buchan's novel, but was added because the Houses of Parliament represented the centre of British power in 1914.

So while another screen version might seem redundant, the 1978 film makes a good case for itself by hewing much more closely to John Buchan's novel and by turning the story into an eve-of-war period piece.

A colour film of 'The 39 steps' was released in 1959 starring Kenneth More and directed by Ralph Thomas. This was followed by another version starring Robert Powell in 1978. Both were filmed in Scottish locations. The film appears to have always been a vehicle for Kenneth More. More had carved himself a niche as a leading man of 1950s British cinema, having appeared in heroic roles in films such as Reach for the Sky and A Night to Remember. [4]

Laws, Roz (2 January 2009). "Christmas TV on the BBC was a treat but New Year's Eve was awful". Sunday Mercury . Retrieved 4 January 2009. Producer Greg Smith said he wanted to make the film because he had always been a fan of John Buchan's books and wanted to do a version of The Thirty-Nine Steps which was "true to the period in which the novel was set, just prior to the Great War, when Europe was one huge powderkeg and nobody knew what a world war was." [1] There are also some major new elements, not featured in either of the two previous films or in the book. David Warner's character disguises himself as establishment worthy Sir Walter Bullivant (George Baker) in two high level meetings and no one notices - thanks to the simple use of a false beard and glasses. This is a particularly improbable idea that should have been dropped.Passing the Torch: As he is dying from a stab wound at St. Pancreas Station, Scudder gives Hannay a vital clue as to where he has hidden the notebook that carries all the information he found on the assassins. The Thirty Nine Steps". scotlandthemovie.com. Scotland the Movie Location Guide . Retrieved 8 April 2012. The 39 Steps was the sixth most popular film at the British box office in 1959. [21] According to Kinematograph Weekly the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959. [22] Critical [ edit ]

Billings, Josh (17 December 1959). "Other better-than-average offerings". Kinematograph Weekly. p.7. Filming took place on location in Scotland. [2] Locations used included the area around West Register Street in Edinburgh for the London scenes at the start of the film, Bo'ness railway station, [9] Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for the interior scenes of St Pancras railway station, [10] Glasgow City Chambers, Culross, Stirling Castle, [11] Dumbarton Castle, [12] the highlands of Argyll and Loch Katrine, used for the finale. [7] [13] Filming [ edit ]

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Powell later reprised the role in the ITV series Hannay which ran for 13 episodes from 1988 to 1989. Gill, A. A. (4 January 2009). "Rupert Penry-Jones shines in The 39 Steps". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 4 January 2009. a b Johnson, Andrew (15 June 2008). "Thirty-nine steps to an unlikely theatrical triumph". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022 . Retrieved 1 May 2013. Davies, David Stuart, afterword to Buchan, John, The Thirty-Nine Steps (Collector's Library, 2008) ISBN 978-1-905716-44-9, p. 148