The Thirty Nine Steps (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1978, The Thirty Nine Steps is a thriller and mystery film directed by Don Sharp, running about 102 minutes. “Every second counts in the adventure of a lifetime!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The year is 1914 and Richard Hannay, Mining Engineer who is visiting Britain for a short time before returning to South Africa, is shocked when one of his neighbours, Colonel Scudder, bursts into his rooms one night and tells him a story that Prussian 'sleeper' agents are planning to pre-start World War I by murdering a visiting foreign minister. However, Scudder is murdered and Hannay is framed for the death by the 'sleepers'. Fleeing to Scotland Hannay attempts to clear his name and to stop the agents with the aid of Alex Mackenzie but not only is he is chased by Chief Supt Lomas for Scudder's death but by the agents who are headed by Appleton who has managed to hide himself in a high-placed position in the British Government...
Who’s in it. The Thirty Nine Steps stars Robert Powell as Richard Hannay, David Warner as Sir Edmund Appleton, John Mills as Scudder and Karen Dotrice as Alex Mackenzie, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, The Thirty Nine Steps has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Thirty Nine Steps page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Thirty Nine Steps tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)?
- In US, The Thirty Nine Steps is available to stream on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Thirty Nine Steps worth watching?
- The Thirty Nine Steps holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Thirty Nine Steps?
- The Thirty Nine Steps stars Robert Powell, David Warner, John Mills, Karen Dotrice and Eric Porter.
- When was The Thirty Nine Steps released?
- The Thirty Nine Steps was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.