Lady Vanishes

Pros: Story, Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Dame May Whitty
Cons: Slow moving story, implausible developments, fake looking special effects.

The Lady Vanishes (1938) This is an old one from Alfred Hitchcock that I always wanted to see and I finally had my chance. I'm glad I did because it is quite good and worth seeking out. Starting in the silent era, Alfred Hitchcock made ...

Pros: Sharp plot, brilliantly executed, comedy
Cons: Nothing

Released in 1938, The Lady Vanishes was a significant turning point for Alfred Hitchcock. It followed three box office mis-hits, but was so successful that he would only make one more British movie before embarking on a career in Hollywood. The movie ...

Pros: Hitchcock, supporting actors and stereotypical characters
Cons: Story, ending

To me, Alfred Hitchcock is probably the best director that ever lived. With classics such as Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho, he will forever be remembered for directing such classic thrillers that would set the mark for other...

Pros: Suspense, comedy, and romance; excellent cast; taut Hitchcockian script
Cons: A few glaring instances of low-budget limitations

Next on my review agenda will be another twenty films, or so, from merry ole England, all worthy films, though some worthier than others, naturally. They'll run a gamut from the thirties to the nineties. The present one brings back fond memories for ...

Pros: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, suspense,
Cons: some visual effects, anti-climatic ending

The Lady Vanishes marked a distinctive departure for director Alfred Hitchcock. His prestige limited mainly to the British Isles, the success of The 39 Steps as well as others that followed gave him the opportunity to branch out across the ...

Pros: A Classic, great cast, good characters, some suspense and some comedy.
Cons: Old Fashioned

The original Lady Vanishes was released in 1938 and directed by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock. The film is set in a fictional country just prior to the Second World War. This country has many similarities to Austria, Switzerland and Germany. The Lady ...

Pros: Redrave, Lockwood, Whitty, Lukas and HITCHCOCK
Cons: It's British. You may have to get a translator. (joke)

This movie was just released in the now reknowned Criterion Collection, on DVD, with a lengthy and very informative commentary by Bruce Eder, film historian. Once again, I found an old movie that could transport me to another time, another place, and the...

Pros: production values, cast
Cons: slow start, dubious and formulaic plot

Along with The 39 Steps (1935), The Lady Vanishes is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous British-produced films. Its commercial and critical success in the States helped convince producer David O. Selznick to import Hitchcock to America...

Pros: Suspenseful story, great performances.
Cons: Wacky ending.

Being a big Hitchcock fan, I've been looking forward to watching this film, since it's considered one of the best he made before moving to America. I was not disappointed. Though certainly not as polished as some of his later works – the town and train...

Pros: Among the most nearly perfect of Hitchcock's films, The Lady Vanishes is perfectly acted, well executed and never less then completely engrossing.
Cons: Hardly has any psychological ramifications, and dissapears from your mind almost as soon as it's over, but it's too charming a trifle to complain.

By Max Scheinin.

Easily the best of Alfred Hitchcock's British thrillers (other strong contenders include The 39 Steps and The Man Who Knew Too Much), The Lady Vanishes is a taut, exciting yarn about a young couple, a couple of sports-obsessed...

Pros: Cast, characters, mystery, humour
Cons: Slow pace

Margaret Lockwood meets a dotty old lady (Dame May Whitty) on a train and worries when the dear old ...

Pros: many maguffins for the wild imagination to run free on
Cons: the ending

Loose ends make me nervous to no end. When it comes to excellent plot driven movies with many red herrings, well placed, and resolutions and revelations put off until a finer, sweeter moment -- I'm the kind of fish that would sweat at a dangling worm....