Though the director had experienced some success with "The Lodger" and "Blackmail," "The 39 Steps" is the first real Hitchcock thriller and establishes the auteur's undeniable film presence, starting his prolific British work. All of the Hitchcock trademarks are established in this early “wrong man” narrative—the witty juxtaposition of visuals and sound (a woman's frightened face cut to a screaming train), the quick editing, and the early revelation to discredit surprise and heighten suspense. The film is wholly entertaining, upbeat, and maintains an impossible insouciance in the face of danger. The beauty of Hitchcock, the story line is both playful and profound; the characters light yet real; the imagery both beautiful and functional.
“39 Steps” walks the line between artful film making and carefree entertainment. Unlike his characters who learn that identity is often fleeting, Hitchcock (with the exception of the horrid “Jamaica Inn”) maintains this tightrope throughout his early British years—crafting a bullet-pace genre of cinema that would be imitated to no avail many times over. This is the closest to the original, uninhibited work of a genius as one may get; if you are unfamiliar with the director's work, “The 39 Steps” may be the place to start.