One of director Alfred Hitchcock's earliest 'wrong man' thrillers that would inspire many of his future classics. While vacationing in London, Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) takes in a vaudeville act that soon draws him into a world of espionage and intrigue. He meets Annabella Smith (Lucie Mannheim) at the show and attempts to help her flee a foreign spy organization known as The 39 Steps. However, she is soon murdered and Hannay finds himself on the run from both the spies and the police who think he is the murderer. He links up with the beautiful blond Pamela (Madeleine Carroll), who is eventually convinced of his innocence and tries to help him clear his name.