The Lady Vanishes (1938)
91%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s last British films, this glamorous thriller provides an early glimpse of the director at his most stylishly entertaining.
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes is a classic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With a strong cast and expert direction, this film is a testament to Hitchcock’s mastery of suspense. It’s a witty and entertaining ride that will leave you guessing until the very end. Plus, who doesn’t love a good British tea time? Don’t miss out on this snappy and dryly funny gem from the master of suspense.
Production Company(ies)
Focus Features, Anonymous Content This Is That Productions,
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Gaumont British Distributors, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Longmoor Military Railway, Longmoor Military Camp, Hampshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1938
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English, German, French, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1938 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 25, 2000
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
Mystery, thriller, Alfred Hitchcock, Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Dame May Whitty, Paul Lukas, Googie Withers, Cecil Parker, Edward Black, Ethel Lina White, Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder, Criterion Collection, Gaumont British Distributors, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Mono, 35mm, British films, glamorous thriller, romantic sparks, espionage, treachery, disappearance, train, European country, avalanche, investigation, comedy-thriller, screwball, suspense, pacing, art direction, cinematography, charismatic performances, clever writing, thoughtful direction, entertainment value
Worldwide gross: $39,776
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,016,102
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,595
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 110,807
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Michael Redgrave – Gilbert Redman
Dame May Whitty – Miss Froy, Governess
Paul Lukas – Dr. Hartz of Prague
Googie Withers – Blanche
Cecil Parker – Eric Todhunter
Director(s)
Alfred Hitchcock
Writer(s)
Ethel Lina White, Sidney Gilliat, Frank Launder
Producer(s)
Edward Black
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (1)
The formula of an innocent thrust into a nightmare would fascinate Hitch for decades to come, but here he packs the tale with strong characters and important details.
March 27, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This film, minus the deft and artistic handling of the director, Alfred Hitchcock, despite its cast and photography, would not stand up for Grade A candidacy.
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
A pleasure.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Both a neat comment on Britain’s dilemma in the build-up to the impending war with Germany (to appease or not to appease?) and also a cracking piece of entertainment.
January 11, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
What separates Lady Vanishes
Plot
Passengers on a scheduled train out of the mountainous European country of Mandrika are delayed by a day due to an avalanche, and thus get up close and personal with each other out of necessity in the only and what becomes an overcrowded inn in the area. Once the train departs, the one person who it is uncertain is on the train is a middle aged English governess named Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty). Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood), who was vacationing in Mandrika with girlfriends before heading back to England to get married, is certain that Miss Froy was on the train as they were in the same compartment and they had tea together in the dining car, but all those people who can corroborate her story don’t seem to want to do so. Iris’ thoughts are easily dismissed as a possible concussion as Iris was hit over the head just before boarding the train. Iris will take anyone’s help in finding Miss Froy, even that of an Englishman named Gilbert (Sir Michael Redgrave), a musicologist with whom she had a not so pleasant encounter at the inn the evening before. As Iris and Gilbert go on their quest throughout the train, they believe there is a conspiracy amongst many of the passengers against the validity of there being a Miss Froy. But if there is a conspiracy, Iris and Gilbert still have to find Miss Froy and find out why anyone would want to kidnap a middle aged English governess.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Dame May Whitty, who plays the elderly Miss Froy, was actually 76 years old during filming and had to be carried up and down the train’s stairs due to her age and health.
Alfred-Hitchcock.jpg
