Orson Welles was not a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, but he had high praise for a lesser-known mysterious thriller directed by Hitchcock called «The 39 Steps.» Today, both Welles and Hitchcock are widely considered two of the best film directors of all time. Welles is known for directing «Citizen Kane,» often debated as the best movie ever made, as well as receiving critical acclaim for films like «Touch of Evil» and «The Stranger.» On the other hand, Hitchcock has a significantly higher number of classics attributed to him, including «Rear Window,» «Notorious,» «Psycho,» and «North by Northwest.»
In an interview, Welles expressed his admiration for «The 39 Steps,» calling it a «masterpiece.» The 1935 film currently holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, solidifying its status as a hidden gem in Hitchcock’s filmography. Starring Robert Donat, «The 39 Steps» is a British thriller that follows a man unknowingly caught up in a murder plot involving spies, making him a target for both enemies and law enforcement.
In addition to his film work, Welles also organized a radio drama program in 1938 called «The Mercury Theater in the Air,» which famously included the broadcast of «War of the Worlds.» One of the four radio dramas created for the program was an adaptation of «The Thirty-Nine Steps,» three years after the Hitchcock version. «The 39 Steps» was among the British films Hitchcock made before transitioning to Hollywood, where he achieved his greatest successes. Orson Welles believed that Hitchcock’s early films, despite their smaller budgets, were «better than American movies.»
