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Hitchcock Chronology: The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Entries in the Hitchcock Chronology relating to The Lady Vanishes (1938)...

1937

October

  • The October issue of the World Film News journal carries a short news item stating that Hitchcock is working with Joan Harrison and Alma Reville to adapt a short story by French author Marcel Achard, with the intention of beginning production in November. At present, no decision has been made on casting. Newspaper reports from October confirm the title as False Witness. Instead, Hitchcock eventually takes over the existing Lost Lady project which becomes The Lady Vanishes (1938).

1938

April

  • 20th - Newspapers report that an electrician's strike has halted production of Hitchcock's latest film, The Lady Vanishes.[1]

December

  • The New York Film Critics name Hitchcock as "Best Director of 1938" for The Lady Vanishes in their annual poll. The news alarms Selznick, as his own vagueness about the actual start date for Rebecca could give Hitchcock the opportunity to make his debut US film for another studio. Selznick quickly renegotiates the contact and gives Hitchcock better terms whilst ensuring that he has the final say-so over any projects for other studios.[2]

1939

January

  • 8th - The New York Film Critics' award for Best Director of the Year goes to Hitchcock for The Lady Vanishes. Unable to attend in person, Hitchcock takes his family to BBC Broadcasting House where his acceptance speech is relayed to New York.[3]

1952

October

  • 20th - Actor Basil Radford, who memorably played the role of Charters in The Lady Vanishes, dies of a heart attack, aged 55.

1957

August

1960

July

1970

November

  • 17th - Actor Naunton Wayne, who memorably appeared alongside Basil Radford in The Lady Vanishes, dies aged 69.

1985

March

1990

July

1997

February

2001

October

  • 21st - Actress Linden Travers, who appeared in The Lady Vanishes, dies aged 88.

2010

October

  • 5th - Director Roy Ward Baker, who was the assistant director on The Lady Vanishes, dies aged 93.

2011

July

  • 15th - Actress Googie Withers, who appeared in The Lady Vanishes, dies aged 94.

References

  1. Aberdeen Journal (20/Apr/1938) - Work on New Film Held Up
  2. Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 230
  3. New York Times (09/Jan/1939) & (12/Feb/1939)