David AllsoppMemorable Movie MacGuffins - The 39 Steps
May 31st 2011 23:56
MacGuffin = a plot device that catches the viewers attention or drives the plot of a work of fiction. The MacGuffin must be of vital importance to the major players in the story, but its excact nature may be ambiguous, undefined, generic, left open to interpretation or otherwise ultimately unimportant to the true meaning of the story.
I can think of no better way to start this series on Memorable Movie MacGuffins than with the filmmaker who popularized both the term and the technique - Alfred Hitchcock. In fact, we could focus solely on Hitchcock’s films and have enough MacGuffins to last a year - but that would hardly be fair on all the other MacGuffins of the film-world. But don’t worry - we’ll check in with the Master of Suspense from time to time. His MacGuffins are too good to ignore.
The 39 Steps has been filmed a few times now, but Hitchcock’s version is head and shoulders above the others. It is one of his first classic films, with great performances, direction and pacing. It is as much fun now as it was then, and it you haven’t seen it you’re in for a real treat.
The Film: The 39 Steps (1935)
The Director: Alfred Hitchcock
The Writer: Charles Bennett, based on the novel by John Buchan
The Plot: Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) finds himself in the company of beautiful spy who is being chased by assassins. She has uncovered a plot to steal vital British military secrets, a plot involving the mysterious "39 steps". Before all can be explained to Hannay, the spy is killed and Hannay becomes the number one suspect in her murder. Chased by both the Police and a mysterious spy ring, Hannay escapes to Scotland find the truth and clear his name. Along the way he has a series of narrow escapes and becomes entangled with the lovely Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who doesn’t believe a word of his story.
The MacGuffin: Secret plans. In particular, these plans are the mechanical formula for the construction of a silent airplane engine, but it ultimately doesn’t matter what the plans are for. They exist solely to drive the plot and the mystery of what the “39 steps” are. The characters are willingly to do anything to either discover the secret plans or protect them, and that makes for a classic MacGuffin.
What makes it memorable: The fact that the evil spy ring have decided to use Music Hall performer Mr Memory’s brain to carry the plans out of the country instead of putting it down on paper. Sure, it’s an overly convoluted plan - but that’s the point. It’s a fun twist in a very fun film.
The 39 Steps has been filmed a few times now, but Hitchcock’s version is head and shoulders above the others. It is one of his first classic films, with great performances, direction and pacing. It is as much fun now as it was then, and it you haven’t seen it you’re in for a real treat.
The Film: The 39 Steps (1935)
The Director: Alfred Hitchcock
The Writer: Charles Bennett, based on the novel by John Buchan
The Plot: Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) finds himself in the company of beautiful spy who is being chased by assassins. She has uncovered a plot to steal vital British military secrets, a plot involving the mysterious "39 steps". Before all can be explained to Hannay, the spy is killed and Hannay becomes the number one suspect in her murder. Chased by both the Police and a mysterious spy ring, Hannay escapes to Scotland find the truth and clear his name. Along the way he has a series of narrow escapes and becomes entangled with the lovely Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who doesn’t believe a word of his story.
The MacGuffin: Secret plans. In particular, these plans are the mechanical formula for the construction of a silent airplane engine, but it ultimately doesn’t matter what the plans are for. They exist solely to drive the plot and the mystery of what the “39 steps” are. The characters are willingly to do anything to either discover the secret plans or protect them, and that makes for a classic MacGuffin.
What makes it memorable: The fact that the evil spy ring have decided to use Music Hall performer Mr Memory’s brain to carry the plans out of the country instead of putting it down on paper. Sure, it’s an overly convoluted plan - but that’s the point. It’s a fun twist in a very fun film.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The glowing briefcase in Alderich's 'Kiss me Deadly" is probably my favourite non-Hitch.