Streaming Gems: The Lady Vanishes (1938)
Photo from MUBI
From Shane Conto
Why is Alfred Hitchcock considered one of the true great directors of cinema? He knew how to tell a story. He knew how to build suspense. He knew what the cinematic medium was and how to leverage it in ways that few could at the time. Technical prowess. Drive. Obsession. They all made a perfect storm of a cinematic creator who set a whole new expectation for what cinema could be. Some of the most iconic moments in film have happened thanks to Hitchcock and some of the most beloved films are his as well. Psycho. Vertigo. Rear Window. But there are some true classics from early in his career that are worth exploring as well.
Why is The Lady Vanishes one such gem? This is one heck of a story. Things seem so simple (like so many Hitchcock films to follow). A pair of friends navigating an inn as well as a young man and woman experiencing some tension that will soon blossom into something. There are some strong characters from the start and you are already invested. But that is just the beginning. There is so much more to this story. The budding connection between Iris (Margaret Lockwood) and Gilbert (Michael Redgrave) is engaging to watch. But they have something to bond over. A kind old woman suddenly vanishes from the train. The issue? No one will acknowledge her existence. This grand conspiracy is right up Hitchcock’s wheelhouse. Every conversation from that point on has added tension and suspense. What they will need to do to find her is some good old fashioned investigating. A great mystery can go a long way in crafting a lasting legacy and The Lady Vanishes certainly has one.
What is also a huge (yet obvious) selling point of the film? It is Hitchcock. If this legendary filmmaker made a film, then that is enough to at least check it out. You know there will be dynamic camerawork. There will be great detail in elements of the film. Hitchcock was a man of the details and it shows in his films. The Lady Vanishes is not different. The claustrophobic settings of an inn and a train are perfect places for Hitchcock to mount some rising suspense. The way we navigate this train is engaging and enthralling. This crisp and beautiful black-and-white film feels modern in the hands of such a master like Hitchcock. The lighting. The shadows. The framing and blocking. The reliance on intimate close-ups. We are stuck in this train and must confront everyone. No one can be trusted. That is top notch paranoia created by Hitchcock and few filmmakers can create that. This even has a big and intense climax that is full of danger and thrills. Hitchcock maximizes his work for sure with this setting.
What is the undersold element of this incredible film? This cast. There are no James Stewarts, Cary Grants, or Grace Kellys in this one but this cast is fantastic. Lockwood is a charming and spunky performer who certainly garners the audience’s attention on screen. Redgrave crafts a character you are not immediately sold on but his banter with Lockwood is what makes this connection so compelling. Their chemistry is rich and effective as we see them build a relationship over this mystery. For a titular lady, you need someone to make an immediate and lasting impact. That is May Whitty for sure. She is charming and making the audience build empathy so quickly (which is essential for her vanishing to have real impact). Paul Lukas makes for quite the mysterious figure in Dr. Egon Hartz. We don’t always trust him but Lukas charisma makes us question ourselves for sure. Linden Travers fills out the central cast as her presence is alluring and mysterious for sure. Intrigue is important and this cast charms and casts doubt perfectly as Hitchcock necessitates it.
You know Psycho. You know Vertigo. You know Rear Window. It is time you know The Lady Vanishes. This is a classic caper of cinema for sure and Hitchcock shows off some early inspiration and dynamic filmmaking. You will be shocked to find out that this is from 1938. That is how modern Hitchcock’s filmmaking was at this point. This is a hidden gem that shouldn't be so “hidden”. A strong (and lower profile) cast and Hitchcock crafting at his peak talents makes for an all time great mystery. There will be plenty of twists and turns waiting for you in this expertly crafted genre flick. The Lady Vanishes is streaming on MAX and MUBI, among other platforms.
