The 39 Steps, Hitchcock

A detailed Summary of The 39 Steps, Hitchcock

Throughout the film The Thirty-Nine Steps, there are many symbols and parallels between outside forces in the world. There were also many firsts for Hitchcock as a filmmaker which paved the way for his illustrious career. Among these symbols and themes are spies, marriage and religion. We see spies throughout the movie, very possibly symbolizing the growing power of Nazi Germany. We see the illness of an arranged marriage, and also a pretend marriage between the male and female stars. A man torn between religion and greed furthers Hitchcock's symbolism.

The Thirty-Nine Steps seems to have been heralded as Hitchcock's first real "masterpiece," bringing acclaim to Hitchcock for the first time from audiences in the United States. Robert Donat, our protagonist, appears as a man who cannot fully understand his position, yet is caught on the run for his life after being framed for murder with no eyewitness. He runs from citizens, police, and a group of spies, not knowing whom he can trust in any situation. Madeleine Carroll stars his opposite, who would prove to be the "first in a long succession of classic, cool and icy, intelligent blonde maidens (Dirks, 1)." Yet, this "cool" blonde is not introduced at the beginning

Overall, this film marked very strong symbolism within itself and in social contexts. In viewing this film it marks no surprise and gives substantial evidence towards Hitchcock being the outstanding maker of films filled with mystery and suspense. The Thirty-Nine Steps is a wonderful film that well marks its era and flows endlessly from start to finish. Being that Hitler had just come to power as a dictator, the Fuhrer of Germany, it is fitting that Hitchcock would use a spy that would seem to defect from Germany. This is well marked because of the time period in which people were starting to notice Hitler clashing with different states and the rest of the world. Hitchcock goes on to show prevalence in his protagonist against this foreign ring of spies. He must stand as victor because of the time it was filmed. It says much of marriage at the time, particularly relating to the arranged marriage which didn't seem to be working out for either John or Margaret, he having to deal with a wife who did not love him, she a husband she did not love, and a new life that took her away from all that she knew. Hitchcock used an outstanding shot to show the three characters imprisoned in free lives, through the use of the back of the chair as a symbolic cage. The Thirty-Nine Steps is an outstanding ride of suspense with few letdowns, foreshadowing an outstanding and unique career for the master, Alfred Hitchcock.

Not only is this social commentary about wartime, but one scene in particular, and even one camera shot in particular, symbolize the entrapments of women, religion, and the wrongly accused at the same time. After a struggle on the train to Scotland, Hannay escapes to the countryside and finds a cottage with an older man and his much younger wife whom Hannay at first mistakes for his daughter. He pays them to stay the night. The man, John, becomes convinced that his young wife Margaret and Hannay have romantic, sexual

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Approximate Word count = 1308
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Movies