The Lady Vanishes is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. Written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder based on the 1936 novel The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White, the film is about a beautiful English tourist travelling by train in continental Europe who discovers that her elderly travelling companion seems to have disappeared from the train. After her fellow passengers deny ever having seen the elderly lady, the young woman is helped by a young musicologist, the two proceeding to search the train for clues to the old lady's disappearance. The Lady Vanishes was filmed in the Gainsborough Studios at Islington, London. It was Hitchcock's last British film until the 1970s; he relocated to Hollywood soon after its release. Although the director's three previous efforts had done poorly at the box office, The Lady Vanishes was widely successful, and confirmed American producer David O. Selznick's belief that Hitchcock indeed had a future in Hollywood cinema. The British Film Institute ranked The Lady Vanishes the 35th best British film of the 20th century. In 2017 a poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers and critics for Time Out magazine saw it ranked the 31st best British film ever.
J**E
A Hitchcock Gem from the 30s filled with wonderful humor, mystery, suspense, and humanity
I don't want to be a snob, but, for me, just because a film is fun and very enjoyable to watch doesn't necessarily mean it is a great film. I reserve five stars for films that are very effective and well made but that also offer a significant amount of human compassion or understanding that would ultimately shed light on human survival. For example, a film that offers a critique of society or of humans in general, or that is about human limitations, or our potentials, or perhaps gives us a peak at a particular culture or walk of life, or that gives us an alternative look at our history or a peak at our possible future would all serve as an important human resource on the avoidance of killing each other or self-destruction. A great film can offer just about anything as long as it of compelling human interest, and this film definitely meets the criteria.The Lady Vanishes, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of the masters of suspense and mystery, is a film that I wish everyone in the western world, especially the younger generation in the U.S., can see, and the reason why I say that is because this movie is rather progressive in different ways, and for that reason, it is very relevant today. We are not in a world war like in WWII fighting a fascist regime, and I am not sure if one is creeping around the corner, but there are some scary things that are happening within our federal government and within society at large with respect to certain mega-power industries that are very quietly manipulating and controlling us to a certain extent at the cost of things like individual liberty, our human rights, etc. And so, the enemy that we face now is similar to the real enemy in the film -- it is the enemy from within.The real enemy in the film is not the Nazi regime and their european collaborators who are trying to block a secret code from getting to England, but it is our own human ignorance, our fears, and our selfishness that blinds us from seeing what only one or two can clearly see -- that something is terribly wrong and that the only thing that can save us is if we stand up and do something about it and try to convince others to do the same. In today's world, the answer would be the opening of our minds to structural change in society -- the kind of change that would ultimately lead to treating the individual not as a consumer or as a certain race, or as a certain type loaded with all kinds of misinformation and stereotypes but as an independent free-thinking human being who has the ability to create his or her own world when given the opportunity to do so. These fundamental changes would ultimately give the citizen the kind of democracy that they only thought they had, but we'll save that topic for the great film-makers of tomorrow.
C**L
Enjoyable
“The Lady Vanishes” is an interesting and fun movie. It is well paced and well-acted. To be sure it has the sometimes hammy acting we expect from the movies of the time, but that doesn’t imply bad acting. It is comic relief, I suppose. The movie shows its age but I’m sure the cinematography, settings, etc. were top shelf when the movie was made. I wondered when I saw the blurb when the movie was made; it couldn’t be Hitchcock in 2019, could it? No, it is a 1938 film. If you like old movies, if you like Hitchcock, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
R**F
Hitchcock's cameo appearance
No one mentioned Hitchcock's cameo signature just as the couple arrived. He was smoking a cigarette and appeared to nearly stumble in the brief second or so that he appeared at the station in the last few minutes of the film. He did have some hair then. He was the only director that could glue me to my seat.
A**A
Fabulous classic
What a pleasure to watch this black and whit. Great suspense and acting and loved the characters. A trip down memory lane as well, when movies had heros and heroines and the world comes right!
B**2
Need to pay attention
I started to watch this and fell asleep. Tried again, paying closer attention to the details, and it turns out to be a jolly good story with twists and turns, adultery, gunfights, humor, oddball characters and a nice ending.
J**N
Excellent classic movie but showing its age -- only a bit
For years, I've had this film to the top of my best-loved list but having seen remakes (not as good) there are elements that show its age. The story and interaction of the performers is still excellent as is the underlying humor. However, the fuzziness of the film and special effects (miniature village) detract from this quality film. I also thought that some of the logic, suspense, and supporting actors were better in at least one of the newer remakes if I compare them honestly. This film will always be an enjoyable, delightful watch for me but it may not attract very many fans with future generations of viewers. Eventually there may be a remake that can do it justice but I am doubtful that any other will be as good.
A**N
Great old-timer!
I just love these old movies, especially by Alfred Hitchcock. He really knew how to make them. He would pick the right people for the roles. Real actors. Plus put his signature techniques in them. Thank-you for serving them.
L**.
Pre-War, Pre-Hollywood Hitchcock
No matter how many times I see it, this movie always satisfies. Great suspense, with threads of humor woven throughout. Everyone secretly watching everyone else. No one is who they seem to be, starting with harmless Miss Froy. Wonderful acting, and a great black and white print!
E**E
Five Stars
brilliant really enjoyed it
J**Y
Agenten-Thriller-Komödie
Der Zug von Budapest nach Basel muss in einer fiktiven Diktatur auf dem Balkan wegen eines Lawinenabganges halten. Das örtliche Hotel ist räumlich und von der Verpfegung her überfordert.Iris (Margaret Lockwood) ist auf der Reise nach London zu ihrer Hochzeit, unter den Gästen auch die Musiklehrerin und Gouvernante Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty) und der Musikwissenschaftler Gilbert Redman (Michael Redgrave).Nach enem Unfall am Tage der Abreise hilft Miss Froy der benommenen Iris in den Zug und kümmert sich auch dort um sie, und als nach einem Aufenthalt im Speisewagen und Rückkehr ins Abteil Iris aus einem Schlummer erwacht, ist N Miss Froy verschwunden, und jetzt kommt eine Überraschung nach der anderen. Weder die m Mitreisenden im Abteil noch die Kellner noch 2 englische Gentlemen, die nur das Erreichen eines Krickettendspiels im Kopfe haben und die von Miss Troy um den Zucker gebeten worden waren, wollen sich erinnern.Gilbert, der sich in Iris verguckt hat, unterstützt sie, und als ein Müllhehälter aus einem Zugfenster entleert wird und etwas kurz an einer Scheibe haftet, iasst auch Gilbert überzeugt, dass die Dame im Zug sein muss, und eine abenteuerliche Suche, bei der auch ein Illusionist mit seinen Requisiten im Gepäckwagen und ein Arzt mit einem wegen Kopfbandage unkenntlichen Patienten eine Rolle spielen, wird klar, dass ein mörderisches Komplott zugange ist.Seine Spannung bezieht der Film aus der Tatsache, dass unverständlich erscheint, dass niemand Miss Froy gesehen haben will, wir wissen es ja besser. Auf der Suche geraten Iris und Gilbert in durchaus skur ile, aber auch gefährliche Situationen. Und mit einigen Protagonisten hält Hitchcock auch seinen Landsleuten liebevoll eine Spiegel vor, indem er ihre Eigenheiten übertreibt oder karrikiert.Kein Reißer oder Psychothriller, sondern mehr ein gelungener Film zum Schmunzeln.Doc Halliday
O**D
Hitchcocks Anfänge
Zum Film will ich nicht viel sagen, denn Zuneigung ist in der Regel subjektiv.Zur Verarbeitung der BluRay sei gesagt, dass sowohl Bild als auch Ton in sehr guter Qualität vorliegen. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund der Tatsache, dass der Film sehr alt ist und das Filmmaterial über die Jahrzehnte sehr gelitten hat.Wie bei jeder BluRay Veröffentlichung kann man auch hier sagen, dass man vielleicht hätte etwas gründlicher Arbeiten können, aber die Qualität ist völlig aussreichend. Es gibt leider immer Menschen für die gut nie gut genug ist und die an wirklich allem zu mäkeln haben.Erfreulich ist, dass die ursprüngliche Tonspur (Deutsch) beibehalten wurde und nicht neusynchronisiert, wie es bei vielen anderen Filmen aktuell der Fall ist.Für Fans ein Muss
A**E
Blu-ray Bewertung: Alfred Hitchcock: The Lady Vanishes (1938), Erscheinungstermin: 31. Oktober 2014
Bewerte NUR die Qualität von Bild und Ton der Blu-ray, Filme sind sowieso Geschmacksache!Bild: 1 von 5 Sternen (Teilweise 0, Teilweise 2)Ton: 3 von 5 Sternen____(1+3)/2 = 2,0 Sterne____Gesamt: 1 von 5 Sternen gewählt. Bild des Films hat Priorität _1_, Ton hat Priorität _2_
H**S
Kaufen.
Über den Film braucht man wohl nichts zu sagen. Das Bild flackert und ist grobkörnig bei der Blu Ray. Schärfe ist vorhanden. Im Vergleich zu dem Film , ich glaube ARTE , ist das doch ein Qualitätssprung. Ich bin sehr zufrieden!
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