The 39 Steps and- Just Watch The Play... It's way better.

Film: The 39 Steps
Year: 1935
Where I Saw It: Netflix

This week we have a film which is part film noir, part thriller and part romantic comedy.  It actually pulls off all these roles quite well.  There's just one problem.  The play is leaps and bounds way better.  I saw this show on Broadway and there were at least three times I couldn't stop laughing and I had tears running down my face.  The movie is funny, but since I saw the play first, it really fell flat.  It's hard to explain why the play is so much funnier without ruining the plot but I'll just say there is stuff the actors do on stage which would NEVER translate on film.

But back to focusing on the movie.  The chemistry between the two leads is wonderful and makes the romantic comedy parts of the film really enjoyable to watch.  There's nothing worse than watching a movie where the two romantic leads are supposed to be all lovey-dovey and it's clear the two actual actors can't stand each other (for the best example of this see Yes Man).

The film works as a thriller too.  It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock (which surprised the hell out of me) and although the movie is unlike any other film I've seen of his, he still adds elements of suspense which still proves that nobody does it better.  Whether it's the two leads handcuffed together escaping the police, or just wondering who's going to betray who next, the film really moves along.  It's one of those few films that when it's over, you're surprised to see how much time has passed.

One Last Point - If you're interested in seeing the play, it's running right now at The Gladstone.

Thanks for reading! - Scott Scene