Fresh
This film, minus the deft and artistic handling of the director, Alfred Hitchcock, despite its cast and photography, would not stand up for Grade A candidacy.
Variety Staff, Variety
The Lady Vanishes
Comedy! Chills! Chuckles! in a Mystery Express!
1938 · 1h 36m · Approved
Mystery, Thriller
Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
The Lady Vanishes
Overview
On a train headed for England a group of travelers is delayed by an avalanche. Holed up in a hotel in a fictional European country, young Iris befriends elderly Miss Froy. When the train resumes, Iris suffers a bout of unconsciousness and wakes to find the old woman has disappeared. The other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy ever existed, so Iris begins to investigate with another traveler and, as the pair sleuth, romantic sparks fly.
Director and cast
- Alfred Hitchcock Director
- Margaret Lockwood as Iris Matilda Henderson
- Michael Redgrave as Gilbert Redman
- Paul Lukas as Dr. Hartz of Prague
- May Whitty as Miss Froy, Governess
- Basil Radford as Charters
- Naunton Wayne as Caldicott
- Cecil Parker as Eric Todhunter
- Linden Travers as 'Mrs.' Margaret Todhunter
- Mary Clare Cast
- Emile Boreo Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
98%
Tomatometer
Fresh
This is vintage Hitchcock, with the pacing and superb editing that marked not only his 30s style but eventually every film that had any aspirations whatever to achieving suspense and rhythm.
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Very much of its time (in a good way), and very enjoyable.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Fresh
Just in under the wire to challenge for a place on the year's best ten is The Lady Vanishes, latest of the melodramatic classics made by England's greatest director, Alfred Hitchcock.
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times
Fresh
The Lady Vanishes exhibits Director Alfred Hitchcock, England's portly master of melodrama, at the top of his form.
TIME Magazine
More films
The Lady Vanishes (1979)
Comedy · Mystery · Romance · Thriller · PG
On the eve of World War II, zany heiress Amanda Kelly travels by train to Switzerland. While passing through Germany, she meets a sweet elderly lady, who suddenly vanishes. Distraught, she questions her fellow passengers who claim that the woman was never there. Unsure if it's all in her mind or if there's a more sinister plot afoot, A...
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Director
- Anthony Page
- Cast
- Cybill Shepherd, Elliott Gould, Angela Lansbury
IMDb
6.0
Rotten Tomatoes
33%
Metacritic
42
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Drama · Mystery · Thriller · PG
An American doctor and his wife, a former singing star, witness a murder while vacationing in Morocco, and are drawn into a twisting plot of international intrigue when their young son is kidnapped.
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast
- James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda De Banzie
IMDb
7.4
Rotten Tomatoes
89%
Metacritic
76
The List of Adrian Messenger (1963)
Mystery · Thriller · Not Rated
Adrian Messenger, a famous writer, asks his friend Anthony Gethryn, a former British agent, to help him investigate the whereabouts of the people who appear on a list, without asking him the reason why he should do so.
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Director
- John Huston
- Cast
- George C. Scott, Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas
IMDb
6.9
Rotten Tomatoes
67%
Murder at the Embassy (2025)
Action · Mystery · Thriller · R
Private detective Miranda Green investigates a murder perpetrated in the British Embassy in Cairo, where a top secret document was stolen, risking to jeopardize both Buckingham Palace and the peace of the world.
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Director
- Stephen Shimek
- Cast
- Mischa Barton, Richard Dillane, Mido Hamada
IMDb
5.1
Blacklight (2022)
Action · Adventure · Thriller · PG-13
Travis Block is a shadowy Government agent who specializes in removing operatives whose covers have been exposed. He then has to uncover a deadly conspiracy within his own ranks that reaches the highest echelons of power.
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Cast
- Liam Neeson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Taylor John Smith
IMDb
4.9
Rotten Tomatoes
12%
Metacritic
27
The Four Robinsons (1939)
Comedy · N/A
Four friends pretend a cruise to escape their wives and go clubbing, but they are forced to go through face-saving shipwreck, becoming castaways.
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Director
- Eduardo García Maroto
- Cast
- Antonio Vico, Mary Santpere, Fernando Rey
IMDb
5.8
La mantilla de Beatriz (1946)
Drama · Romance · N/A
In XVII century Portugal two friends change identities so one of them can escape an unwanted marriage to Beatriz.
- Runtime
- 1h 27m
- Director
- Eduardo García Maroto
- Cast
- Virgílio Teixeira, Margarita Andrey, María Isbert
Comments
Talk about the film with other members