MovieChat Forums > The Lady Vanishes (1938) Discussion > I am still in shock - of how boring this...

I am still in shock - of how boring this movie is

posted 20 years ago by PiranianRose
110 replies | jump to latest

Alright folks. I am a great admirer of Hitch. I have seen quite a few of his classics and all but one have been at least satisfying (most of them were fantastic indeed). Most recently, I tried to watch "Lady Vanishes" because some hail it as his best from the British period, and the premise of a disappearing lady sounded promising. Unfortunately--and I really tried--I couldn't get past the first 30 minutes or so. I tried very hard to not turn it off, but it was impossible. What happened? nothing, absolutely nothing. The plot probably moved an inch forward. The only intriguing thing is that the musician on the street got murdered. Also, I had trouble understanding the English. I turned the volume as loud as my speakers had, but I still couldn't understand what they were saying, and the DVD apparently assumes just because there is English dialog, everyone that understands English should understand it. They forgot how different English from Britain can sound to a Midwestern American brought up in the Orient.

Anyway, I still don't want to completely disregard this film from one of my favorite auteurs. So I am asking you: if I absolutely hated the first 30 minutes of this movie, thinking it is boring as heck, does it get more interesting?

[–] LouisRenault 18 years ago

Some comments here prove me wrong, but I'd have thought if you didn't enjoy the first 30 minutes you needn't bother with the rest.

One of the very first things to happen is the announcement that the train will be delayed and passengers must arrange accommodation for the night. It is made first in German, then in French, and only then in English - whereupon Charters splutters "why didn't he say so in the first place?" This sets the tone for the humour of the film, the main reason for watching - surely not the action.

Incidentally I find the accents very intelligible and I only wish more people spoke like that in England today!

[–] piccolo_k 18 years ago

Just watched this. I didn't find it boring at all. The oly problem I had with it was not understanding everything they were saying. I'm from Romania, I am quite fluent in English but this was rather hard without any subtitles. At least I got the whole plot :P

[–] Greenteeth 18 years ago

Don't feel bad, Piccolo. English and Americans supposedly speak English, but often we don't understand each other.

[–] JacquesDemy 18 years ago

I think they used some idioms in the dialogue, especially in the first 20 minutes, such as "paint it red", "cool one's heels", "rub it in", etc.

[–] DBloodnok 18 years ago

Awfully sorry that some posters have problem understanding the English accents - I will support a dubbed version for Americans once 'The Alamo' is re-voiced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."

[–] PACman66 17 years ago

I will admit having to start & restart this film a few times, as I wasn't in "that" frame of mind. (You know Hitchcock movies, you REALLY have to pay attention)...
But once I got started, it was fantastic. First time I ever watched it was 11/8/07, so I know I'm late to the party... But better late then never...

As for the English accents, I grew up watching MTV in the '80's... If you could understand OZZY, or Robert Smith, you can understand ANY English!

P.

Trust me,
Swan

[–] joshthejedimaster 17 years ago

First 30 minutes (at the hotel) = boring. Bad development of characters. really only Iris, Mrs. Froy and the man who helps Iris on the train needed to be introduced, not everybody.

Second 30 minutes = good, the disappearance of Mrs. Froy and the search for her was done quite well for a 1930's film and was creative.

Last 30 - somewhat slow-paced and confusing, but not terrible.

Overall: Not a very good movie, imo, but not terrible, either.

[–] mjtsmm2027 17 years ago

Do persevere because when they get to the train the mystery starts and it does prove quite suspenseful. Of course it's a bit twee and you do watch it with a smile on your face but it is from 1938 and the mystery does hold up quite well. Infact Jodie Foster's Flightplan is almost a modern day remake.

[–] SweeneyNate 17 years ago

i didn't think this movie was boring at all. i loved every second of it. and i'm a teenager(which is kind of unusual.) all my friends think i'm wierd cause they all think that anything made before 1994 is not even worth watching cause it's 'boring' but i love classic films especially classic hitchcock and this is one of my fave hitchcock films.

AT LAST MY ARM IS COMPLETE AGAIN!
OFFICIAL BLEEDER

[–] simplemines 17 years ago

This movie is a great period piece. The intro is fascinating, to see what it was like to travel in Europe at that time. I envy those folks! How much of a better world it was then!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vanityfair_713 17 years ago

That's a pity--because the story really starts right after the first thirty minutes or so. Try watching it again.

He said it's all in your head, and I said, so's everything--
But he didnt get it.

[–] coolaree 16 years ago

Yes I found the first 20-30 mins kinda boring as well,
but Like everyone said you should have stuck with the film, it gets much better...

I was really annoyed by those two cricket mad Brits in the beginning.

[–] snsurone 16 years ago

Years ago, I took a film class at the New School in NYC which was hosted by historian William K. Everson. An Englishman, he probably saw to it that most of the films in this class were British.
From this experience, I can attest that British movies are VERY slow paced--a trait that continued into the 60's at least (cf. ALFIE and GEORGY GIRL)--and they took their sweet time on characterization before any kind of action took place. Moreover, in some of these films, the accents were so thick that I felt subtitles were needed!

So you just have to be patient with the early scenes of THE LADY VANISHES. Hitch was just being an "English" director at the time, LOL. His pace quickened when he came to America and directed REBECCA for Selznick.

BTW, that supper of chicken and champagne at the Bavarian inn sounded delicious!

[–] capricious_nature 16 years ago

Yes, it's called 'character development' and it takes more than a five second attention span to appreciate. Might I recommend that you avoid Kubrick, who will undoubtedly put you into a catatonic state.

~There's a man in my office holding a hatrack. I'll have to call you back~

[–] mam13143 16 years ago

I agree as everyone else has said -- and thankfully I read a good sampling of them too cause I couldn't believe the first 20 - 30 minutes and almost gave up. Not incredibly boring, but long "character development" for sure -- after they are on the train it picks up considerably. Movie kept reminding me of "The Man who knew too Much" (the latter one) for some reason; but it is enjoyable, and the acting is very good. Worth the initial slowness.

[–] rwsmith29456 16 years ago

I'd say that the part on the train where everybody denies seeing Ms. Froy goes on a little too long. We got the message but it still keeps showing shady faces, some many times.

[–] rowmorg 15 years ago

Since you admit that you switched the film off after about 30 minutes, I fail to see how you can assess it properly. The "action" does not properly start until about 35 minutes into the picture, when Miss Froy vanishes. As for the English, I hesitate to mention it, but English is the language of the English. We invented it during the course of the 14th and 15th centuries, and how we speak it is obviously the way it is spoken.