Don't crowd the aisle! The Thirty-Nine Steps is a secret organisation, headed by Professor—, BIZ: PALLADIUM AUDIENCE AD LIBS CONFUSION. And you're manacled to a murderer who would stop at nothing to get you off his hands. Not having watched the previous versions, I didn't know what to expect and didn't have any expectations. His other handicap, acute asthma, did not deter him. 2ND SCOT: Here!

Just a moment for a suggestion to the women who begin, when winter comes, to be bothered by rough, chapped hands. HANNAY: Gentleman called "The Professor.". I'll buy some and tell Mother I'll Lux them for her, every time she wears them.

Oh, please, let me out of here!

HANNAY: I don't know. PAMELA: Oh, that's all right.

I don't like it. Of course you're as vain as a peacock and I couldn't stand you for any length of time, but - you're not so bad.

I have to admit that having watched this tonight on BBC1 as part of their Christmas line-up I was incredibly disappointed. PAMELA: I said, I don't see how you can sleep at a time like this.

Since here last, Robert Montgomery's been rushing back and forth between two lots.

HANNAY: The police station.

PAMELA: Well, what's the matter?

Gotta be that way.

1ST SCOT: (SLY) Well, it's the real head we're going to see.

BUTLER: The - the body, sir? SFX: CARRIAGE DOOR OPENS ... THEN SHUTS BEHIND HANNAY.

It scared me at first, but I soon got hardened to it. They're taking us to your old friend, the Professor. Is there anything wrong? I really don't understand why film makers feel the need to change the plot of books.

THE END.

PAMELA: Let go of me.

Supposing I left you alone with this? HANNAY: Good night, Annabella. (NO ANSWER) Good God.

And here beside me, our producer and your host, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Cecil B. DeMille! Watchable and enjoyable enough on its own terms, this version of THE 39 STEPS differs in all of its main details from the Alfred Hitchcock thriller about a man on the run from German spies.

ANNABELLA: Is there anything wrong with it?

And he remembers every one of them!

HANNAY: Don't you see? You know, rubbing stockings with a cake of soap is bad for them; and some soaps are strong — too harsh for delicate silk things. HANNAY: I'm sorry, I— Listen to me. To protect these beauty oils, simply change from your harsh soap to Lux Flakes. HANNAY: Er, Hawkinson. Over all I found this TV movie an enjoyable, fast paced, man on the run tale with plenty of suspense, mystery, intrigue, tragedy and an enjoyable love story. This was a really cute addition to "The 39 Steps" because of course "North by Northwest" has a similar plot; it is also a tale of a man being mixed up with/mistaken for a government agent and has numerous exciting pursuit sequences with incredible scenery. HANNAY: (CLOSE AGAIN) Well, I - I suppose I must.

King's Head Tavern it's called.

It doesn't make any sense. Begin tomorrow to keep your hands lovely by washing dishes with Lux Flakes. Keep down.

What's the matter with you anyway? His magnificent services were never announced until Washington himself made a special trip to Hackensack and publicly proclaimed him one of the greatest heroes of the American Revolution. HANNAY: I started by pilfering pennies out of other children's lockers at school.

They returned with the petticoat of this famous singer. I liked the notion that they were both prejudiced and opinionated (a nod to some of the now unacceptable, though of-their-time, opinions stated in Buchan's original) but that they came round to each other as they saw what the other was capable of.

ANNABELLA: (OVER THE NOISE) Let me out of here! side. Director James Hawes paces the film so that there is never a dull moment in this chase toward staving off Germany's entry into England in 1914. 1ST SCOT: Keep your mouth shut! What are the Thirty-Nine Steps?!

Besides, I have to stay by the fire and get dry. Your face looks familiar. Maybe that'll help. BIZ: PALLADIUM AUDIENCE APPLAUSE FOR STAGE ACT. BUTLER: Yes, sir. You know where the local police station is? Two of them. For good!

Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. HANNAY: (WRY) A lot of people had that idea. It's a horrible thought. Directed by James Hawes. Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Dundee!

HANNAY: On the, er, on the left, I believe.

There's a hole in one side of it. I use the letters of the alphabet for a code.

ANNABELLA: He has a dozen names, and he can look like a hundred people.

PAMELA: (SCARED) Don't you strike me. MONTGOMERY: Well, if I knew, I'd be glad to.

Directed by (1) Writing credits (2) Cast (54) Produced by (2) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (1) Art Direction by (1) Costume Design by (1) Makeup Department (2) Production Management (1) Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (1) I could hardly wait to see it again, and when I did it had lost something for me. Well. For England. And what can I do for you and the lady? PAMELA: Oh, give yourself up to Scotland Yard. BIZ: PALLADIUM AUDIENCE APPLAUSE ... CONTINUES IN BG.

PAMELA: Yes, but you can't do that!

BETTY: Okay, I'll get some Lux Flakes right away.

I was so prepared to not enjoy this, that when it was automatically recorded by my TiVo as part of the "Mystery" series, I very nearly deleted it without watching. MFX: BRIEF BRISK BRIDGE ... CHANGES TO JAUNTY PALLADIUM ORCHESTRA, THEN IN BG. Rupes is a traditionally handsome hero. After all, in the original book, Hannay flees to Scotland to hide from the police and just happens to end up in a cottage belonging to one of the enemy. INNKEEPER: Aha, that I won't.

The story was changed dramatically from both the 1930s and the 1970s versions, the dynamic action that appeared in both previous well-known incarnations was lacking. But you can't go in now. ANNABELLA: There are— They'll get you - just - like - they did - me. DETECTIVE: You've nothing to worry about at all. Here, look at me.

Then you're—?

ANNABELLA: They - they came through the window.

There were many humorous touches to the film such as a nice nod to Hitchcock by paying homage to a famous scene from a different film, "North by Northwest", by including a chase scene featuring a bi-plane bearing down on our hero as he dashes about trying to dodge bullets from above. And Ida has been indulging in her favorite avocation, composing music.

Look. 1ST SCOT: Go on, go on! Young fellow? PAMELA: Did you think I was never coming? SFX: HANNAY AND PAMELA TRAMP HURRIEDLY THROUGH THE MOOR.

PAMELA: Oh, nothing that I know of. They'll never find us now.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Mr. DeMille.

You see that small man sitting in front?

We'll find out.

Then they ordered something to eat, and while they were eating, they talked a lot about, er— Oh, about the Thirty-Nine Steps. 1ST COCKNEY: Here, young fella, where you going? HANNAY: Oh, don't worry, I don't hold it against you really.

SFX: APPLAUSE CONTINUES, FILLING THE PAUSE ... THEN OUT, DEMILLE: We pause now between the scenes of "The 39 Steps." If you will look out of that window you will see two men standing across the street. Robert Montgomery and Ida Lupino will be back shortly, when we raise the curtain on Act III in this play about spies. I borrowed them from the innkeeper's wife.

I really liked Eddie Marson as the rent collector in the BBC's recent "Little Dorrit" dramatisation and so felt a little short-changed with his early demise.

I'll run and get you a ticket for Liverpool. Just dip them in Lux suds every day. We're going rather fast. (YAWNS) Ho ho, good night.

// ]]>, ANNOUNCER: From Hollywood, California, the Lux Radio Theatre presents Robert Montgomery and Ida Lupino in "The 39 Steps.".

HANNAY: Well, forget it. That car you said I imagined belonged to our pursuers. HANNAY: I suppose you're here to dig up some big state secret. HANNAY: (TO DETECTIVE) I'm going to prove to you that the man who shot Memory is the murderer of Annabella Smith. PAMELA: Wait a moment. Gentlemen, no fighting!

The manager appears on the stage to announce the featured act. Still, it follows the same formula and, since I never read the book, I can't tell whether it's a more faithful version of the novel or not. The Professor was anxious about Hannay.

If I weren't in this jam, I'd—. Watching this at face value as a Masterpiece production, it was quite enjoyable.