The Lady Vanishes (1938)

“Hitchcock takes us on his ride with the teasing assurance that he can play us – for suckers first, and then smarties.” David Thomson, Have You Seen…? 2008 During a train journey through a fictional European country, young Brits Iris (Margaret Lockwood) and Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) are searching for a fellow passenger whose very existence everyone else denies. This is the simple set-up around which Alfred Hitchcock’s twenty-third feature is constructed – and it’s a gem. By this time Britain’s most accomplished popular director, Hitchcock marshalled his facilities for suspense, comedy and romance in perfect harmony. The plot maintains a terrific tension, balanced with deliciously grotesque supporting characterisation and the cheerful charms of his central couple – not to mention superb effects. The film also functions admirably as a satire of British insularity at a time of rising international tension. Its success spurred Hitchcock’s departure for Hollywood and even greater triumphs. A 1979 remake starred Cybill Shepherd and Elliot Gould. The missing-person-who-may-not-exist plot has been reworked for many thrillers, including So Long at the Fair (1950) and The Usual Suspects (1995).