Creativity In Hitchcock's Film, The 39 Steps

Many tactics may be used to make a film successful. So much so, that films by certain directors can be identified by the usage of these tactics, or traits, that are found to be unique to the films they produce. One of the strategies that Alfred Hitchcock often employed would be to “Always make the audience suffer as much as possible.” The audience can suffer in many ways, such as when a film invokes a question to be asked, or emotion when they know something that the characters do not, which can add to the audience experience in a positive aspect. For a film to be successful, the filmmakers must try to meet or exceed the expectations of the majority. Often, expectations are not set in stone, which is why creativity is such a sought-after

For example, the viewer is left partially in the dark as to what exactly the “39 steps” are, until the near end of the film. Hitchcock was able to employ this technique, partially due to the nature of the plot. Since the 39 steps was a government secret that the protagonist was attempting to guard, the viewer may have been content with having the question looming overhead throughout the movie. An added benefit to this, is that the viewer is ensnared, trapped, until the question is answered. Although some questions take the whole movie to be answered, others allow for nearly instant gratification, although some are never answered. For instance, when Mrs. Smith goes home with Mr. Hannay, the spectators are momentarily left to question what her motives are to go home with a stranger, or why she is behaving oddly. This question is rapidly answered. Some questions are never answered, such as the events that create fallout from the farmers wife’s innocent interactions with Mr. Hannay. Even though the farmer’s wife is not a developed character, the viewer is able to connect, and sympathize with her circumstances. It seems that there must be a balance of the types of questions proposed in a film. If all the predicaments are met with a solution, he audience would feel spoon fed, whereas if the audience walks away feeling entirely unanswered, they would feel they have wasted their time. In The 39

Such as when the audience is given a viewpoint that is advantageous to that of the characters. Often, a stereotypical scene that involves this tactic, would be in a horror movie, where something is in the closet, and the viewer almost begs the main character to not open the door. In the case of The 39 Steps, the viewer is given several scenes where they want to urge the character to take a different course of action. When Mr. Hannay finds out that there is substantial evidence that he committed the murder of the spy in his apartment, he is about to turn himself in, or explain what happened, to the police at the train station. The viewer is indeed suffering, as they watch him waffle back and forth. We know he is innocent, and can feel the suspense building inside Mr. Hannay, hoping that he is not revealed. Watching the characters make mistakes, is another form of making the audience suffer as much as