In the seventies I was offered a job in the Rank Films legal department,but luckily I turned it down,as their proposed programme of film production was short lived.After all you can only sustain production programme so long by making remakes.Whilst a competent film in itself it is not a patch on the Hitchcock classic.The Big Ben finale looks so phoney with the process workGive me Mr Memory anytime

Although it is not 100% faithful to the book, it is the most faithful in spirit of the four versions I've seen. Of the four though on its own, I do prefer Hitchcock's 1935 film, for how well made and directed it is and how suspenseful it is. This version is better however than the well done if slightly flat 1959 film and the awful 2008 TV adaptation. The pace sags in the middle perhaps, but this is a very well done film both as an adaptation and on its own merits. The locations look beautiful and are very atmospherically photographed, while the score adds much to the often thrilling and suspenseful tone. The script is intelligent and does feel as though it's flowing naturally, and the story is securely paced and the suspense is in equal measure with Hitchcock's like with Hannay's escape from the train. If there is one scene though that I prefer over the Hitchcock film, it's the climax, which I found thrilling and not as rushed. Robert Powell has both the bearing and charm for Richard Hannay, Karen Dotrice is a likable female interest and David Warner is an ever charismatic presence. The villains are suitably ruthless also. All in all, a very well done film, well made, engaging and mostly faithful. 8/10 Bethany Cox

It is said that it is hard for a remake to reach the level of its original counterpart, but this film is the rare exception. It reaches the level of the 1935 Hitchcock film and vastly surpasses it. Instead of the restricting in-studio black and white shots, this film offers the realm of colour and the expansive location shooting of the Scotland hills.Set in 1914 before World War 1, Thirty Nine Steps follows the story of Richard Hannay (Richard Powell) on the run from London after being framed for the murder of a spy (Sir John Mills), and being pursued across the Scottish landscape by both the police and the real murderers, led by the scheming villain, Edmund Appleton (David Warner).Appleton plans to assassinate someone of great importance at a certain time back in London,and it is up to Hannay to interpret the clues the murdered spy has left behind, evade his hunters, and return to England. This leads to one of the most fantastic climaxes the cinema has ever seen.

Much like "North by Northwest" but without a name star like Cary Grant attached to it. Great performances turned in by Robert Powell and, albeit briefly, Sir John Mills. David Warner gives a very good turn as the ringleader of a group of spies in 1914 Britain, before the start of WWI. Powell becomes the center of their attention when he comes to the aid of Colonel Scudder played by John Mills. Powell escapes from the spies clutches and the chase across England is on as Powell tries to decipher the mystery of the thirty-nine steps. Karen Dotrice turns up near the end to help our man Powell stop the spy ring. The only bad thing about this movie is the absence of any feel of the historic time period. While England's presumed entry into WWI is mentioned it isn't really relevant to the story. The same story could have been told using any time period.