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The Lady Vanishes
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The Lady Vanishes (1938) More at IMDbPro »

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The Lady Vanishes (1938) -- While traveling in continental Europe, a rich young playgirl realizes that an elderly lady seems to have disappeared from the train.

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writers:
Ethel Lina White (story)
Sidney Gilliat (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Lady Vanishes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 November 1938 (USA) more
Tagline:
Spies! Playing the game of love - and sudden death!
Plot:
While traveling in continental Europe, a rich young playgirl realizes that an elderly lady seems to have disappeared from the train. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
From 1922-1979: Get Your Film School Starter Pack Now
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 23 November 2008, 10:07 PM, PST)

Alfred Hitchcock: A La Mode
 (From ioncinema. 11 December 2007)

User Comments:
One of Hitchcock's Best! more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
96 min
Country:
UK
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Full Range Recording System)
Certification:
Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-15 (2006) | USA:Approved (PCA #02144) | South Korea:15 (2003) | USA:Passed | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:A | Canada:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although he uses the fictitious Bandrikan language when speaking to his staff, at the end of the phone conversation in which he conveys Iris's room service order for "champagne", Boris, the harassed hotel manager, exclaims, "Oy vey is mir", a Yiddish expression meaning "woe is me." more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In Europe, the hotel manager says it is "spring" when talking about the avalanches. However, the two English travelers are trying to get back to the Manchester cricket test in England. Cricket is played in the summer and all Manchester tests in the 1930s were played in July. more
Quotes:
Gilbert: Can I help?
Iris Henderson: Only by going away.
Gilbert: No, no, no, no. My father always taught me, never desert a lady in trouble. He even carried that as far as marrying Mother.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Night Train (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Colonel Bogey March more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "The Lady Vanishes" based on a book?
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11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful:-
One of Hitchcock's Best!, 30 December 2006
9/10
Author: (bsmith5552@rogers.com) from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

"The Lady Vanishes" is one of Director Alfred Hitchcock's best British made films, in fact I think it's one of his all time best.

Set in pre-WWII somewhere in Europe, A group of people board a train bound for England after having spent the previous night in an overcrowded hotel. Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) befriends a kindly old governess/teacher, Miss Froy (Dame May Witty). When Iris is struck by a falling flowerpot, Miss Froy promises to take care of her as they board the train.

After having tea together, the two women return to their compartment where Iris falls asleep. When she awakes, Miss Froy is gone, totally vanished. The people sharing the compartment, "The Baroness" (Mary Clare), Signor and Signora Doppo (Philip Leaver, Selma Van Dias) deny ever having seen Miss Froy. Doctor Hartz (Paul Lukas) comes to her aid and is convinced that the bump Iris received to her head may have caused a memory lapse.

Iris then meets Gilbert Redman (Michael Redgrave) whom she had met the previous evening at the hotel. He offers his help. Skeptical at first, he soon comes to believe Iris' story. Eric Todhunter (Cecil Parker) and "Mrs." Todhunter (Linden Travers) deny seeing Miss Froy because they are in the midst of an extra marital affair. Two British "gentlemen", Caldicott (Naughton Wayne) and Charters (Basil Radford) though having seen Miss Froy with Iris, don't wish to become involved.

When Dr. Hartz brings a patient aboard the train, Gilbert and Iris become suspicious and.......................................

As was his custom, Hitchcock pits his heroine against all odds in her quest to find Miss Froy. The suspense builds as the situation becomes more hopeless. This would be a theme that the master of suspense would use throughout his career. He also liked to work trains into many of his plots, including this film of which three quarters takes place on board a train.

The scene in the hotel showing Caldicott and Charters sharing a bed (and a pair of pajamas) never would have gotten by the American censors. The relationship between the Todhunters as well, was quite obvious and rare for the American cinema of the day.

This is one of Hitchcock's best films and hasn't suffered because of age. Highly recommended.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Other train movies? oana5874
Other Michael Redgrave movie recommendations? uncarsenal
I am still in shock - of how boring this movie is PiranianRose
Charters and Caldicott Films? fast_fierce_and_funny
Two twits in bed together jawebster2000
You know it's a British film... davegaramond
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