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From Amazon.co.uk
At first glance The Lady Vanishes appears to be a frothy, lightweight treat; a testament to Alfred Hitchcock's nimble touch. This snappy, sophisticated romantic thriller begins innocently enough, as a contingent of eccentric tourists spend the night in a picture-postcard village inn nestled in the Swiss Alps before setting off on the train the next morning. In a wonderfully Hitchcockian twist, on meeting, cute, attractive young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) clashes with brash music student Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) when his nocturnal concerts give her no peace. She gets him kicked out of his room, so he barges in on hers. True love is inevitable, but not before they are both plunged into an international conspiracy. The next day on the train, kindly old Mrs Froy (Dame May Whitty) vanishes from her train car without a trace and the once quarrelsome couple unite to search the train and uncover a dastardly plot. No one is as he or she seems, but sorting out the villains from the merely mysterious is a challenge in itself, as our innocents abroad face resistance from the entire passenger list.
Hitchcock effortlessly navigates this vivid thriller from light comedy to high tension and back again, creating one of his most enchanting and entertaining mysteries. Though this wasn't his final British film before departing for Hollywood (that honour goes to Jamaica Inn), many critics prefer to think of this as his fond farewell to the British Film Industry. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description
Spies! Playing the game of love – and sudden death! Along with The 39 Steps (1935), The Lady Vanishes is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous British-produced films. During a journey aboard a Trans-Continental Express train from Europe to England, young socialite Iris (Margaret Lockwood) strikes up an acquaintance with a middle-aged English governess, Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty), who, during the journey mysteriously disappears from her compartment. Based on the story The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By IWFIcon
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Many films since have tried to make hay out of a similar concept, just how can a woman go missing from a moving train without anyone seemingly having seen her, but none have ever made for a movie quite as good as this genuine classic from 1938.
Of course the audience knows that Miss Foy, a delightful turn from Dame May Whitty, was on the train and we soon learn the reasons why the other passengers don't believe, or won't back up, Iris Henderson (another great turn from Margaret Lockwood) when she insists that the old woman has, well, vanished. Two bumbling Englishmen don't want to miss the test cricket, a lawyer doesn't get involved because he's in the middle of an illicit romantic affair.
When it was remade in 1979, badly, the action almost immediately cut to everyone meeting on the train; here almost 20 minutes elapses before we get to that point and the time invested at the beginning in this filling out of the story pays off superbly when the crunch comes further down the line giving the viewer a greater, and more logical, insight into the intimacy that has developed between the characters.
Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave share a flirtatious rapport and the humour in the film is charming in the extreme. Throw in a little pre-war propaganda (although on this note, its interesting to watch the bumbling Englishmen of Charters & Coldicutt) and you have an admittedly light concoction, but one that is perfectly assembled. And as numerous subsequent attempts along the same lines have proved, it's impossible to improve on perfection.
Of course the audience knows that Miss Foy, a delightful turn from Dame May Whitty, was on the train and we soon learn the reasons why the other passengers don't believe, or won't back up, Iris Henderson (another great turn from Margaret Lockwood) when she insists that the old woman has, well, vanished. Two bumbling Englishmen don't want to miss the test cricket, a lawyer doesn't get involved because he's in the middle of an illicit romantic affair.
When it was remade in 1979, badly, the action almost immediately cut to everyone meeting on the train; here almost 20 minutes elapses before we get to that point and the time invested at the beginning in this filling out of the story pays off superbly when the crunch comes further down the line giving the viewer a greater, and more logical, insight into the intimacy that has developed between the characters.
Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave share a flirtatious rapport and the humour in the film is charming in the extreme. Throw in a little pre-war propaganda (although on this note, its interesting to watch the bumbling Englishmen of Charters & Coldicutt) and you have an admittedly light concoction, but one that is perfectly assembled. And as numerous subsequent attempts along the same lines have proved, it's impossible to improve on perfection.
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This is one of the greatest comedy mysteries of all time and if you haven't seen it yet then your film education is sadly remiss. The script is witty and clever, the acting has just the right lightness of touch for this genre and Hitchcock's direction is as masterful as ever. And what's more - this time Carlton have produced a fantastic print of the film: it looks gorgeous!! And this gives really added value to what is already a smashing film. As I noted in a previous review, the old Cinema Classics DVD print was shameful - but I have to give credit here where it is due; this is excellent. Well done Carlton. Great film, beautifully reproduced. This is a perfect film for a cold winter's afternoon in front of the fire. Buy it now.
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This is one of the greatest comedy mysteries of all time and if you haven't seen it yet then your film education is sadly remiss. The script is witty and clever, the acting has just the right lightness of touch for this genre and Hitchcock's direction is as masterful as ever. However this Cinema Club DVD version is appalling: the sound is lousy and the print is a disgrace - there is even a dirty great scratch all the way down the right hand side of the print for all of the last reel! Why bother doing a DVD transfer when they are not prepared to do some work on the film to make it look and sound as good as possible? The publishers should hang their heads in shame. This is a 5 star film on a no star print. An insult.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great fun
This is a charming film but it doesn't feel at all dated. Both the leads are sparky and the conceit of the disappearance is clever and was not obvious (to me). Read more
Published 18 days ago by C. R. Long
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old Classic Brought Back to Life
I bought this DVD to compare Hitchcock's film with the recent TV version. The quality of the restored DVD was much better than I had expected and did full justice to Hitchcock's... Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. P. Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lady Vanishes original Hitchcock version
I have seen all three versions over the years but bought this after the awful recent TV drama adaptation of the book, just to restore mu faith in a good story, well directed.
Published 1 month ago by Maverick
3.0 out of 5 stars
the lady vanishes
we saw this old classic many years ago and wanted to show others as often referred to it, hitchcock was great
Published 3 months ago by rf hoppenbrouwers
5.0 out of 5 stars
the lady vanishes
The original version much better than the remakes I think it would be an excellent addition to anyones collection of DVD
Published 4 months ago by christine dale
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lady Vanishes
It is a fantastic film and didn't disappoint. Service was good and efficient. Recommended to anyone who wants to buy it
Published 4 months ago by L. Chapman
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I live abroad and bought this disc from the UK branch to be in the same blue-ray region.
It isn't and I can't play it. Read more
It isn't and I can't play it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by DJK
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Well I don't know how a thing like cricket can make you forget seeing...
The Lady Vanishes has an amazing story and screenplay and the casting is spot on. Mystery and comedy are in equal measure in this excellent early Hitchcock movie. Read more
Published 16 months ago by j.r
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE ITV STUDIOS RELEASE IS THE THE DVD TO BUY
Since Hitchcock's classic 1938 film is now in the public domain there are some dodgy DVD releases available - all of them on sale to unwary customers on Amazon. Read more
Published 16 months ago by N. Stinchcombe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Hitchcock
I was quite surprised just how much I enjoyed this film. It is pre-war, just, so I was prepared for some hammy acting and lack of pace. Not a bit of it. Read more
Published 20 months ago by R. Hughes
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