39 STEPS, THE - DVD review

Here is the second release of Alfred Hitchcock's celebrated 1935 spy thriller, "The 39 Steps." There is no question this classic adventure belongs in every serious film collector's library, but which one to buy? You see, the film was issued previously on the Delta LaserLight label at about the lowest asking price for any current DVD, and now it's available from the Criterion Collection at possibly the highest asking price around. Can Criterion's edition really be that much better?

First, though, a reminder about the story. The plot line, about an ordinary, innocent bystander getting caught up in extraordinarily harrowing circumstances, is standard Hitchcock territory, a theme the director pursued again and again. The bystander this time is a fellow named Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), a vacationer in London who picks up a woman in a music hall. She turns out to be a spy and winds up with a knife in her back and a map of Scotland in her hand. Naturally, Hannay is blamed for the murder. He knows that the only way he is going to exonerate himself is by finding the real murderer himself, so he sets off on a venture that has multiple twists and turns. He eventually meets a beautiful young lady (Madeleine Carroll), and together they attempt to unravel the mystery of the "thirty-nine steps."

The film was remade two more times, in 1959 and 1978, the latter fairly successfully, but neither remake would match Hitchcock's rendition for suspense or humor.

Now, back to our buying dilemma: "The 39 Steps" was issued on the Delta LaserLight budget label a few months prior to its release on Criterion. Drawing largely from films in the public domain, Delta's DVD products retail anywhere from $12-$15 apiece. On the other hand, Criterion's products are always meticulously transferred, and their releases usually offer a good deal of bonus material in order to justify their considerably higher asking price, around $39.95.

Video:
The Criterion edition is, indeed, superior to Delta's technically. The Criterion picture, completely remastered and restored, is more distinctly defined, the black and white contrasts more pronounced, the occasional age spots largely removed.

Audio:
The sound, too, is better, smoother, sweeter, clearer, with less background noise. On the other hand, the Delta release has over twice the chapter stops. In any case, for anyone but the connoisseur Criterion's improvements in picture and sound probably would not in themselves warrant the hefty price difference.

Extras:
It is in the extra items that the Criterion issue shows its worth. First, there is a full-feature audio essay by Marian Keane, Assistant Professor of Film Studies at the University of Colorado. Ms. Keane is somewhat overly serious throughout her commentary, too much the scholarly lecturer for my taste, but she provides a wealth of information and insight. Second, there is a complete 1937 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast of the story starring Robert Montgomery and Ida Lupino, based on the film and introduced by Cecil B. DeMille. Third, there is a half-hour documentary about Hitchcock's British years, made in 1978 and narrated by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Fourth, there are excerpts from the original 1935 press book for the film, filled with fascinating bits and pieces of trivia. Fifth, there are over a dozen original production design drawings. And, finally, there is a booklet insert containing further comments by Ms. Keane, plus a complete list of the cast and credits.

Parting Thoughts:
Anyone who loves Hitchcock, mystery, suspense, or good vintage films should check out Criterion's edition of "The 39 Steps." Even though the price is steep for picture and sound quality that continue to show their age despite extensive restoration, the film is a classic and the bonus items make the package more than worthwhile.