Stranded by an avalanche on the trip to Eastern Europe, a train full of European tourists and travelers seeks lodging in a small Alpine resort in the country of Bandrika. The next morning, the travelers begin boarding the train when a young socialite, Iris (Margaret Lockwood), is struck on the head by a falling planter. Dazed, Miss Froy (May Whitty), an old woman, helps Iris onto the train and promises to look after her until she feels better.
After a long conversation and a trip to the dining car, Iris eventually falls asleep. When she wakes up, Miss Froy is missing. Stranger still, no one seems to remember her. It is as if the woman has vanished. Unconvinced by what must be some strange conspiracy, Iris enlists the help of an unlikely ally, Gilbert (Michael Redgrave), a rude anthropologist who—despite disliking Iris—is the only person to believe her when she says Miss Froy is missing.
The Lady Vanishes was Hitchcock’s second-to-last British film and his last for Gainsborough Pictures. Like many of his European spy thrillers, this film features some excellent twists, some feats of athleticism, a daring chase, and a constructed language and country. These fake countries were used to depoliticize stories in the politically tumultuous interwar period. Watching The Lady Vanishes back-to-back with one of Hitchcock’s early American films—such as Foreign Correspondent—would be an excellent way to illustrate the differences between British and American censorship in the years leading up to World War II.
This film’s greatest strength is its complex and entrancing plotline. Iris and Gilbert stumble upon a powerful international conspiracy in searching for Miss Froy. Like all of Hitchcocks’ strongest thrillers, the protagonists are entirely amateur, making mistakes but eventually beating the odds. If you’re looking to expand your Hitchcock or classic film collections, The Lady Vanishes is a no-brainer: The film often appears on various ‘Best Film’ lists—for good reason—and has a Metacritic rating of 98 out of 100. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
The Lady Vanishes would fit best in the classic film, thriller, and Hitchcock collections.
What type of college instructor could use this film?
Those teaching film history and filmmaking would be most interested in using this film.