The 39 Steps

Part of the Avalon’s Hitchcock/Truffaut Film Festival, May 5-7

Thursday, May 5 at 5:30pm
Saturday, May 7 at 12:30pm

“It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that all contemporary escapist entertainment begins with The 39 Steps,” Robert Towne, the screenwriter of Chinatown, once said of Hitchcock’s thriller. The film’s story of an innocent man drawn into the shadowy world of espionage would be one he would revisit repeatedly in later films, and leading lady Madeleine Carroll was the first “Hitchcock blonde.” Hitchcock’s penchant for humor is also on full display in the film, particularly during the classic screwball scene where the two leads must unwillingly spend a night together while handcuffed.

While on vacation in London, Canadian Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) becomes embroiled in an international spy ring related to the mysterious “39 steps.” Then he meets agent Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim), who is soon killed in his apartment. He must elude the police, who are hunting him for murder, while he tries to stop Professor Jordan (Godfrey Tearle) from sending secrets out of the country. Hannay is assisted by Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), an unwilling accomplice who discovers the truth. 1935.

The Avalon is presenting film classics from directors Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut before the theater’s spring benefit event “The Genius of Hitchcock,” on Sunday, May 8. Learn more about the event & buy tickets.