4. The 39 Steps (1935)
Alfred Hitchcocks 1935 movie adaptation of Scottish author John Buchans novel is one of his most celebrated films. Said to have been the movie that cemented Hitchcocks position as the era's most celebrated director, The 39 Steps is a thrilling and unpredictable film. Whilst it was released in 1935, the film is surprisingly modern. Set almost entirely in Scotland, the film's striking shots of the Highlands and infamous scene on the Forth Bridge earned it a spot on our list. Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) is the film's protagonist who meets a mysterious woman claiming an important military secret has been uncovered by spies. She mentions something incoherent about the thirty-nine steps and implies the roots to solving the problem lie in Scotland, but later that night she is brutally murdered. Hannay, wrongly framed for her death, decides he must attempt to prevent the secret being disclosed. Hannay boards a train to Scotland and after a series of events, finds himself handcuffed to a young woman, Pamela (Madeleine Carroll). Together, the two must attempt to solve the mystery and clear Hannay's name. Hitchcocks film expertly interweaves espionage, drama, comedy and romance, whilst it is the movies ability to build suspense that means it remains surprisingly undated. Scotland takes centre stage in the film and, unusually for the time, the movie was filmed on location. Hannay memorably escaping from a train by hanging from the iconic Forth Bridge, whilst in the scenes in the Highlands, Hitchcock effectively emphasises both the beauty and the eerie emptiness of the region. Although filmed in the 1930s, The 39 Steps remains as enjoyable today as an example of a great thriller and is definitely worth a watch, whilst the Scottish location perfectly suits the exhilarating tale.