The Lady Vanishes (1938 Alfred Hitchcock)

Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Dame May Whitty, Radford / Wayne, Cecil Parker, Googie Withers, Paul Lukas, Philip Leaver (the magician), Catherine Lacey (nun)

Ph. Jack Cox

The writing's on the window

"It's not cricket". Basil Radford (right) and Naunton Wayne

Also noted on 5 February 2011. A messy and funny fight scene involving the magician is one of the scenes that demonstrates what I call Hitch's early "bounce".

No doubt the bounce is also partly attributable to the Gilliat / Launder script, from the story 'The Wheel Spins' by Ethel Lina White.

Never noticed, but right after this cheeky frame there looks like a tiny cut: maybe the censor objected to seeing too much of Margaret Lockwood's drawers.

I love the moment in the train seige when Mrs Froy says blithely "Well, I must be going".
And Cecil Parker in the same scene: "It's easier to protest from down here".

A recent TV remake lacked all the humour and vitality that makes this so damn enjoyable.