therealfuster Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 I love this film! I like the musicology angle, what with Redgrave portraying a career onscreen, little heard of in films. It was adapted from a book by Ethel Line White called "The Wheel Spins" and was produced by Gainsborough Pictures in England. In a film of a similar bent called, "So Long at the Fair" from 1948, one sees the same theme, but Hitch's film is a lot more entertaining. And how could it not be, with the priceless Dame May Whitty being a participant? Lots of Macguffins abounding, and the train ambush reminds me of the one in the film, "My Little Chickadee" but the film never lets up and is entertaining throughout. I particularly like the evil looking Baroness, but I could do without Radford and Wayne. They do wear on one a bit, just like in "Dead of Night". Lensed in a little over a month in the Islington Studio, in 1937, Lockwood and Redgrave both later mentioned the laissez-faire attitude with which Hitchcock attended his acting troupe, getting from all some fine performances, by not directing but allowing things to roll at their own pace. This film deservedly won the New York Critics Award for Best Film of 1938. Like many a successful film, it was remade, but was a pale shadow of the original. Who watched this fine film on TCM? I missed "The 39 Steps" but have it on tape already... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
path40a Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 I really like this one too, it's definitely in my Hitchcock top 10. BTW, did you watch Number Seventeen which preceeded it. Really unusual. I should have a review for it (to go with the 29 others I've already got) posted on my site soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted December 7, 2004 Author Share Posted December 7, 2004 I did watch "Number Seventeen", and was enjoying the jump cuts, and odd shots and strange angles. I hate to admit this...but I fell asleep though and missed the end. I usually don't do that, but had done some power shopping earlier in the day, which wore me out. I was reminded of some odd shots I just saw in my newly purchased Pier Paulo Pasolini film, "Mamma Roma" with one of my favorite actresses, Anna Magnani, like when she threw her shoe at the pimp guy. I thought I had a giant fly on my tv, when the beginning credits rolled. Even Hitch had not thought of doing that.....it started reminding me of "The Ring" film and the interference on the dvd at the beginning. This is a topic for the site. Odd beginnings to films? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts