Hitchcock is credited with inventing the "MacGuffin" in film. He explains that the MacGuffin is "the device, the gimmick, if you will, or the papers the spies are after... The only thing that really matters is that in the picture the plans, documents, or secrets must seem to be of vital importance to the characters. To me, the narrator, they are of no importance whatsoever." In other words, the film is really about "something else" and the MacGuffin is just a sleight of hand to carry the audience along.
If in this film, the "39 steps" formula is merely a MacGuffin, then what is the film really about--in thematic or narrative terms.
Also, any requests for Hitchcock clips for Thursday's class?
Hello everyone! Carlos Martinez here.
ReplyDeleteNow, this is a tough one. It was hard for me to follow the general plot of the film, however, I did come up with a possible idea of what the film was really about. Yes, they DID put a lot of emphasis on the papers the spies were after. The truth is there was no specific piece of information that needed to be kept secret, but rather the organization itself that needed to be hidden from the public. Which is why they had to kill Mr. Memory, since he knew too much. In all honesty, that's how I interpreted the true meaning of the film. Enough said.
The constant search for the papers and finding out the meaning of the 39 steps was the driving force of the movie and in narrative terms, the film was pretty much all about suspense. Each plot twist kept us wondering what would happen next and kept us guessing over the main plot points of the missing documents and the 39 steps. In my opinion the film is really about just keeping the viewer entertained, in suspense over what is going to happen, which Hitchcock happens to be a genius at.
ReplyDeleteThomas Perry
ReplyDeleteAlthough the film's an adaptation, Hitchcock's plot and narrative slightly differs from the novel and is experimented with and manipulated. Hitchcock liked the idea of an innocent man being on the run, as we've see in "Saboteur", "North by Northwest", and also "The 39 Steps". Also, in "Dial M for Murder", an innocent female character is on death row for murder. Basically, Hitchcock frequently places ordinary people, in extraordinary situations. "The 39 Steps" was no different, Richard Hannay's on the run, the police are on a wild goose chase, and the "39 steps" aren't of the significance they're deemed to be.
Bring Dial M for Murder
I would say the film is about honesty, not giving up, and trust. We see all of this with our main couple. Being accused of murder is nothing to take lightly, our main character knows he must do everything he can to save the information from leaving the country, and make sure he does not go to jail for murder. He is honest with the female lead and she must me trustworthy towards him.
ReplyDeleteThe underlying theme in The 39 Steps is a never-ending search for the actual truth. The narrative follows Hannay as he is falsely accused of murder and therefore pursued constantly by officials. Though I wasn't the biggest fan of the film I can still appreciate the genius of Hitchcock. Hitchcock clearly is purposeful with every shot and location as he begins and ends the film in a theater. The MacGuffin is an all time great film device as it is intricately placed in Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, and my personal favorite, Pulp Fiction.
ReplyDeleteJoshua Carman
P.S. Clips of Lifeboat and of course Psycho!
I would say the film was about finding the truth about the 39 steps as well as the protagonist trying to prove he was innocent. We went on this quest with him as an audience searching for the truth; in my opinion, I did like the film and it had me in suspension of disbelief the whole time.
ReplyDeleteClips: psycho, frenzy or rebecca
The 39 steps main themes is about perseverance and how the ordinary man can be thrown into extraordinary circumstances which he himself does not fully understand. It shows how it is in human nature to fight for survival until the very end.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the narrative message of the film is the suspense that can be built around something that never has to be explained. Everything else is almost a distraction for the audience and the entire movie is really more of an experiment in how much the suspense genre can get away with simply because of its nature. The entire plot centers around something that is never explained in full, and I think that the movie's goal was to do just that. Have the suspense take the lead and become the narrative itself.
ReplyDeleteI think an important message presented in The 39 Steps is about truth. Hannay searches for the truth regarding the Macguffin in an attempt to not let the secret out of the country and to prove his innocence. These are the most obvious examples of the theme of truth in the film, but it arises elsewhere. In the beginning, Mr. Memory is quizzed by the audience on different truths. Hannay lies to the milkman, impersonates the opening speaker, pretends he has been killed, and pretends to be married. He lies in search of the truth. I feel like Hannay's manipulations and lies are supposed to be a reflection of Hitchcock's ways of controlling his audience. By controlling our emotions, Hitchcock ultimately provides us with a worthwhile and meaningful film.
ReplyDeleteI really do believe truth and innocence is where the film aims towards. Hitchcock has a great formula, and thats always taking an innocent person, and placing them in a situation where they must explore and seek truth. The MacGuffin is merely a tool used to create an exciting thriller. It allows Hitchcock the ability to establish the motivation behind the character and story, and then allow the film to focus on the protagonists goal. I would say that for many of Hitchcocks film's, North By Northwest among one example, a formula is definitely given, in this case its about seeking truth, and the MacGuffin is simply the catalyst for the entire story.
ReplyDeleteThe explanation of the MacGuffin was definitely one of the parts of the Hitchcock documentary that most stayed in my mind. After knowing this, all I could think of while watching the 39 steps is how empty and flimsy the premise of the mystery was and how expertly any explanation of it was avoided. In the end, I think the film might've actually been about search for truth, and what a man is capable of doing when placed in impossible circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would really, really like to see Rope.
ReplyDeleteFor me the film was really based around the idea of the innocent every man suddenly becoming a fugitive on the run. I think that this is really what makes the film a thriller. It is not about the exciting life of a professional spy, but rather the thrusting of an obscure man into that world. It creates an instant audience connection because they could easily be the average Joe in the movie being put through the ringer. The viewers see themselves in the main character and are then thrilled, frightened, and excited with him. Hitchcock crafts a plot that could involve you, because Hannay was just you in the beginning of the film, only changed by a chance event. This is way the film based around a MacGuffin is so compelling.
ReplyDeleteHitchcock knew that when man is pushed to his limit of danger and sanity extraordinary things can happen. Hitchcock is constantly watching the film to see when this innocent man will give up. Will the pressure of supposed guilt get to him to the point where he submits to false accusations or does he really have it in him to fight for truth. The amazing element of the 39 Steps is that Hitchcock makes the audience seek out the mystery to the MacGuffin but what this does is allow the audience to become familiar with the characters and their development. When you share a secret with someone you are able to feel more connected. This is the secret that is shared by the audience and the characters.
ReplyDeleteAs discussed in class the Macguffin is used as a device to drive the plot. It is information or a prop that is important to characters but not to us. The Macguffin pushes along the plot which deals with the questions of coupling as a major theme. The movie attempts to answer questions such as "what binds these characters together?" and "do the characters see when they look at other couples?". While the characters search for the Macguffin the audience is able to explore the feelings and minds of the people in the movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what has been said. By using a Macguffin, Hitchcock is able to create films that are both plot AND character driven. A lot of stories tend to focus heavily on one or the other but the 39 steps was able to do a little bit of both. The macguffin helped drive the plot, suspense, and intensity of the film, but it was also a tool to help display the character of Hannay, and show how different people react to different situations.
ReplyDeleteI think what Hitchcock wanted to explore in "39 Steps" was the nature of relationships between men and women. One example of this is seen through the interaction between Hannay, the older farmer, and the farmer's much younger wife. Hitchcock puts this theme to the ultimate test when he has Hannay and Pamela who start off not very fond of each other, literally handcuffed together. This film offers many perspectives on how men and women view relationships.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the class has mainly said, with the movie being about suspense and and an ordinary mans life turned upside-down. It was classic Hitchcock keeping the audience on the edge of its seat throughout the entire film.
ReplyDeleteI think apart from being about an ordinary guy in an extraordinary situation, the film is also about the search for truth. Throughout the film, the truth emerges as a redeeming force. When Pamela discovers Hannay has been telling the truth, she trusts him, sparking a more cooperative tone to their relationship. Eventually, Hannay saves himself from being convicted for murder or murdered by spies by uncovering the truth. In this moment, it saves his life by clearing his reputation, while also preventing the secret from escaping the country. Overall, the truth is essential to Hannay’s and his country’s survival.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie is about perseverance. The main character never gives up on seeking the truth throughout the movie. Even when he's caught by the police, he escapes from their grasps to find it himself, instead of waiting for a trial.
ReplyDeleteThe underlying theme is basically suggesting that there will be times in life where you are in a position you do not want to be...the question is how will you behave, what will you say, and who will you meet to help you get out of it. The plot doesn't create the character but rather the plot incites the character to react, which is the main appeal of storytelling when it involves interesting characters. Hitchcock isn't the first to use the story as a way to highlight the personality of the character, or the virtue of pursuing freedom, to subtly hint at the subtext...but he is one of the better ones.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the movie"The 39 Steps"'s main point is about man's real soul, which is fight to the end and never give up. One of the most attractive moment part is at the end, when the Hannay ask Mr.Memory what is the 39 steps? Mr. Memory choose to tell all the truth and die, because that is his principle
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what the class has said about the concept of the innocent man. On the topic of the macguffin, it is not the actual 39 steps that are important, but the fact that it is a mystery. Even in Hitchcock's time it was a difficult task to create a concept that is so enthralling that it is worth bearing the weight of a film's plot, so Hitchcock instead choses to focus on the characters and the human experiences they have on the journey to the concept. This is in essence the heart of the macguffin, because in actuality the audience is much more pulled in by experiences that are relatable than by groundbreaking secrets.
ReplyDeleteI feel the main theme of the film was to simply have an ordinary man experience an unbelievable adventure. And the story being so astonishing that even the local police in the film were not convinced. This is the same plot that is still used today in films such as Eagle eye,wanted, or Transformers just to name a few. It captures the audience, on the terms that the certain scenario that is taking place could essentially happen to them.
ReplyDeleteWhile the MacGuffin is the force that drives the characters over the course of the movie, the 39 Steps is about what happens when an ordinary man is forced into a world different from his own, that world being international espionage. The concept of the 39 steps takes the main character to and from all of the stops on his adventure, with his reactions serving to ground the film and relate to the audience.
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