The Lady Vanishes

Alfred Hitchock’s movie thriller, The Lady Vanishes, was first released successfully in Britain in 1938, later to be released to equal critical acclaim in the United States. It tells the story of Iris Henderson, a young English woman traveling to England to be married, who while on the train makes the acquaintance of an elderly English woman named Mrs. Froy. After taking a nap in her car, she finds Mrs. Froy to be missing, and everyone else on the train denying that they have ever seen her. Throughout the movie, Iris, and her companion Gilbert, a musicologist attempt to find out what has happened to Mrs. Froy, and quickly discover a perplexing conspiracy involving a wicked brain surgeon, a knife wielding magician, and a nun who is not a nun. As the suspense builds, the entire mystery is revealed at the end of the film.

This movie represents one of Hitchcock’s greatest films, a perfect blend of comedy, drama, and suspense, all complemented by the convincing acting of its stars. The fact that viewers are able, from the information presented in the film, to deduce the nature of the mystery presents a fair challenge to any engaged movie watcher. Also, the cinematography beautifully enhances the suspense and mystery in the film, while the witty humor present throughout the film continues to delight the viewer. Combined, all of these factors create a film that is delightful and thrilling to watch.

Works Cited
Dr. Macro's High Quality Movie Scans. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Hitchcock,%20Alfred/Annex/Annex%20-%20Hitchcock,%20Alfred_05.jpg>.
"In Which I Explain Why The Lady Vanishes (1938) Is the Movie That Has It All." At the Lighthouse. N.p., 22 May 2010. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://atthelighthouse.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/the-lady-vanishes.png>.
"The Lady Vanishes." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1143771904/tt0030341?ref_=tt_ov_i>.

Screenwriters: Sydney Gilliat and Frank Launder

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Year: 1938

Actors: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas

Awards Recieved: New York Times' Best Picture Award 1938