The Lady Vanishes (1938) Review

Title: The Lady Vanishes
Year: 1938
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Country: US
Language: English

I love the films of  "Master of Suspense" director Alfred Hitchcock. Vertigo (1958) is in my top ten films of all time. I frequently suggest The 39 Steps (1935) to friends as an introduction to classic film. The Lady Vanishes (1938)  is the rare Hitchcock that I had not seen. I've heard a tremendous amount about how good the film is, so I thought I'd finally watch it. 

While travelling in continental Europe, a rich young playgirl (Margaret Lockwood) realizes that an elderly lady (May Whitty) seems to have disappeared from the train.

One of the complaints I've heard about Hitchcock is that he can be too focused on the technical aspect of film (structure, layout cinematography) and it makes his films lack heart. The Lady Vanishes is full of heart. The film begins with establishing a whole host of characters and throughout the run-time we fin ourselves compelled to see them again. The Lady Vanishes works because we are so emotionally invested in the whereabouts of the old lady. 

French Director Francois Truffaut (400 Blows) declared that every time he tried to study the film's trick shots he became too emotionally invested in the plot. Hitchcock's style is present though; his expert pacing, inventive shots an attention to detail make Lady Vanishes an ideal picture to show in Introduction to Film classes.

The Lady Vanishes is a gripping thriller that has certainly impressed me. It is a remarkable film that needs to be studied for decades to come. This is an example of how to make great cinema.