Originally Posted by AndrewLA

I know I'll be shot for this, but my wife and I just watched the Kenneth More version of THE 39 STEPS and damned if we didn't like it. ...

Originally Posted by samkydd

I heard they are going to remake it with Hugh Grant as Hannay, but the character’s name is to be changed to Henry English. The handcuffed femme fatale is going to be Sandra Bullock, and the main baddie to be played by Mickey Rourke. Instead of England it will be set in the USA and Grant is arrested after his Turkish cleaning woman is found dead in his Manhatten apartment.


Grant escapes from the police car handcuffed to wise cracking hooker Sandra Bullock, and on the run they encounter terrorist insurgents as well as hostile US henchmen trying to protect their bosses’ interests in keeping the demand for oil high. Grant has to convince Sandra Bullock of his innocence against a barrage of abuse and one-liners, and he also has to convince the FBI that a major terror attack is planned. The 39 Steps turns out to be a reference from The Koran from the 39th edition in chapter 39 line 39 alluding to 39 areas of vulnerability where the enemy of Islam can be hit hardest.


The climax of the film is a fight between Grant and Rourke on top of the new observation glass platform over The Grand Canyon, where Sandra Bullock is suspended hanging upside down after being kidnapped by Rourke. Whilst helicopters full of FBI circle the platform trying and shoot Grant to protect the respectable oil magnate Rourke, Rourke escapes. Grant rescues Bullock and the two head off across the desert to Las Vegas where Rourke’s headquarters are, and during a cabaret show where the top of the bill act is Russ Conway, a support act is an arab memory man Akmed The Retentive, played by Omid Djalihi, is challenged by Grant and Bullock and brain dumps the whole plot against the US in front of hundreds of witnesses, including a leading FBI agent played by Gene Hackman, James Caan or Tommy Lee Jones.

Rourke escapes and takes Bullock hostage again, and wounds Grant in the process. He runs through downtown Vegas en route to his private plane containing 39 vials of a deadly nerve gas which he intends to drop over 39 cities across the US. Grant and Hackman/Caan/or Lee-Jones pursue him and just as the aircraft is taxiing for take off Bullock attacks Rourke and buys enough time for Grant to get in the aircraft.


The aeroplane heads for LA with Grant and Bullock fighting Rourke at the controls. He aims the plane towards downtown LA and parachutes out leaving the hapless Henry helpless at the controls. Sandra Bullock takes over and flies the plane back to Vegas safely, explaining to a stunned Grant that before becoming a hooker she had been a commercial pilot but left the profession because it was a male dominated world and promotion was non-existent for female employees.

Originally Posted by samkydd

I heard they are going to remake it with Hugh Grant as Hannay, but the character’s name is to be changed to Henry English. The handcuffed femme fatale is going to be Sandra Bullock, and the main baddie to be played by Mickey Rourke. Instead of England it will be set in the USA and Grant is arrested after his Turkish cleaning woman is found dead in his Manhatten apartment.

...

Originally Posted by Merton Park

I happened to watch the Kenneth More version just a few weeks ago, again, for the umpteenth time, still a very watchable yarn. Supporting cast were excellent, especially Brenda De Banzie as always. Directed with a light touch, always on the move.

Whilst I am a great Hitchcock fan, 1930's British films , for me, are a little too stilted and jaded, generally lacking the American touch and pace. The exception to the norm is The 39 Steps. Exciting edge of the seat stuff, a real adventurous thriller with a cracking pace. Outstanding film with a great performance by Robert Donat . A true British classic.

Having lived in the Block of Flats that Hannay did during the 1970's, it's funny to see it circa 1936.

Originally Posted by batman

Isn't that the same place where Michael Caine had a fight in The Ipcress File?

Originally Posted by Alexis

Unusually I like all 3 film versions for different reasons, but I thought the book a real stinker - ridiculous plot contrivances and coincidences and unpleasantly anti-semitic in places.

Originally Posted by samkydd

I heard they are going to remake it with Hugh Grant as Hannay, but the character’s name is to be changed to Henry English. The handcuffed femme fatale is going to be Sandra Bullock, and the main baddie to be played by Mickey Rourke. Instead of England it will be set in the USA and Grant is arrested after his Turkish cleaning woman is found dead in his Manhatten apartment.


Grant escapes from the police car handcuffed to wise cracking hooker Sandra Bullock, and on the run they encounter terrorist insurgents as well as hostile US henchmen trying to protect their bosses’ interests in keeping the demand for oil high. Grant has to convince Sandra Bullock of his innocence against a barrage of abuse and one-liners, and he also has to convince the FBI that a major terror attack is planned. The 39 Steps turns out to be a reference from The Koran from the 39th edition in chapter 39 line 39 alluding to 39 areas of vulnerability where the enemy of Islam can be hit hardest.




The climax of the film is a fight between Grant and Rourke on top of the new observation glass platform over The Grand Canyon, where Sandra Bullock is suspended hanging upside down after being kidnapped by Rourke. Whilst helicopters full of FBI circle the platform trying and shoot Grant to protect the respectable oil magnate Rourke, Rourke escapes. Grant rescues Bullock and the two head off across the desert to Las Vegas where Rourke’s headquarters are, and during a cabaret show where the top of the bill act is Russ Conway, a support act is an arab memory man Akmed The Retentive, played by Omid Djalihi, is challenged by Grant and Bullock and brain dumps the whole plot against the US in front of hundreds of witnesses, including a leading FBI agent played by Gene Hackman, James Caan or Tommy Lee Jones.

Rourke escapes and takes Bullock hostage again, and wounds Grant in the process. He runs through downtown Vegas en route to his private plane containing 39 vials of a deadly nerve gas which he intends to drop over 39 cities across the US. Grant and Hackman/Caan/or Lee-Jones pursue him and just as the aircraft is taxiing for take off Bullock attacks Rourke and buys enough time for Grant to get in the aircraft.


The aeroplane heads for LA with Grant and Bullock fighting Rourke at the controls. He aims the plane towards downtown LA and parachutes out leaving the hapless Henry helpless at the controls. Sandra Bullock takes over and flies the plane back to Vegas safely, explaining to a stunned Grant that before becoming a hooker she had been a commercial pilot but left the profession because it was a male dominated world and promotion was non-existent for female employees.

Originally Posted by batman

i saw the world premiere of marber's play '39 steps' at southwold little theatre in the late 90s. my wife and i went expecting a straightforward thriller, we weren't expecting one of the most entertaining plays i have ever seen. absolutely fantastic .... whichever film version is your favourite do go and see this .... it's brilliant .... i am going to see it again very soon