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What was this 60s film?amm

(31 Posts)
Whingey Sun 01-Sept-24 09:11:03

Man running away from another man up the stairs to Big Ben. Hides under the 🔔 just a minute before 12 o clock strikes 😨

Calendargirl Sat 07-Sept-24 14:27:38

Calendargirl

Without looking it up, I think the three versions starred Robert Donat, Kenneth More and Robert Powell.

Then there was another tv version with Rupert Penry Jones, (maybe spelled incorrectly).

These are the different versions.

JamesandJon33 Sat 07-Sept-24 14:25:53

Good grief how many films were there, and all not like the book

Calendargirl Sat 07-Sept-24 14:23:40

JamesandJon33

Calendargirl In the Kenneth More film the 39 steps lead up the Big Ben tower

No, they never went to Big Ben.

That was the Robert Powell version.

In the Kenneth More one, he and the girl (Miss Fisher) went to the Palace Theatre to see Mr Memory perform, as he had all the information in his head.

They never went up any steps that I could make out.

Nannarose Sat 07-Sept-24 14:16:22

Just an example of completely changing the book! In the days before google, I had such an argument with someone about this - but I knew I was right as I'd read the book and not seen any film version!

JamesandJon33 Sat 07-Sept-24 13:12:11

Calendargirl In the Kenneth More film the 39 steps lead up the Big Ben tower

Calendargirl Sat 07-Sept-24 10:59:55

Re my previous post about the Kenneth More version.

Where exactly did ‘The 39 Steps’ come into the story? 🤷‍♀️

I missed it somehow.

Calendargirl Fri 06-Sept-24 20:57:52

Just been watching the Kenneth More version on Talking Pictures.

Oh, what innocent times!

JamesandJon33 Tue 03-Sept-24 04:31:17

So the ending of the film was not true to the book ? Well I never knew that.

welbeck Mon 02-Sept-24 12:41:43

thanks to Marydoll for the definitive explanation.

welbeck Mon 02-Sept-24 12:40:55

i preferred the robert donat one, with john laurie as the abusive crofter.

DanniRae Mon 02-Sept-24 07:50:36

I have always loved anything with Kenneth Moore in it!! grin

Marydoll Mon 02-Sept-24 07:34:04

The story then moves to London, and finally to the seaside town of Bradgate, which is modelled on Broadstairs in Kent where Buchan had spent a holiday in 1914. The 'steps' in the title of the novel are located in Broadstairs, leading down to Stone Bay.

kittylester Mon 02-Sept-24 07:13:59

So did I.

I loved the Kenneth Moore version.

JamesandJon33 Mon 02-Sept-24 05:24:30

I always thought the 39 steps were the steps leading to the bell tower at Big Ben. Where Hannay hangs off the minute arm of the clock.

welbeck Sun 01-Sept-24 23:20:48

Chocolatelovinggran

Trivia - I live near to the beach steps which inspired the name of the book.

is it near Wapping ?

AreWeThereYet Sun 01-Sept-24 14:39:37

One of MrA's favourite films. Think I must have seen it hundreds of times in different guises so it's no longer one of my favourites grin

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 01-Sept-24 13:02:16

Trivia - I live near to the beach steps which inspired the name of the book.

Witzend Sun 01-Sept-24 10:30:00

As a child I saw a very early version, I think with Robert Donat - my mother was keen on him.

We had no TV then and the cinema was a very rare event, so I was a bit freaked out by the scene in which the woman he’s brought home, is doing her face or hair in front of the mirror, then her eyes give a sudden start - to the reflection in the mirror of a hand taking an ornamental sword, one of a pair on the wall behind her…

Cut to Robert Donat coming back into the room to find her dead, with the sword in her back. 😱

Babs03 Sun 01-Sept-24 10:21:42

Have watched most versions of the 39 steps.
I think my favourite was with Kenneth Moore. A really good story with a plot that makes some offerings today seem lame x

Marydoll Sun 01-Sept-24 09:41:50

Fuzzy brain.

Thanks for pointing out my error! blush

tanith Sun 01-Sept-24 09:41:28

I also preferred the Kenneth More version didn't know there was a tvversion. Great film.

Calendargirl Sun 01-Sept-24 09:39:21

Marydoll

My favourite was the version with Robert More.

Now that’s a new one!

Marydoll Sun 01-Sept-24 09:31:59

My favourite was the version with Robert More.

Calendargirl Sun 01-Sept-24 09:30:40

Without looking it up, I think the three versions starred Robert Donat, Kenneth More and Robert Powell.

Then there was another tv version with Rupert Penry Jones, (maybe spelled incorrectly).

MiniMoon Sun 01-Sept-24 09:25:48

It's a great story. The 39 Steps.
It's been produced as a film 3 or maybe 4 times. I prefer the 1959 production starring Kenneth More.