Kilted characters in The Thirtynine Steps

[Troglodyte]

The John Buchan ripping-good chase thriller has been 'adapted' for the big screen at least four times, with Alfred Hitchcock's moody 1930s version being given something of approval by Buchan himself.

At least, the author admitted to being entertained when he saw what the 'master of suspense' had done with his book.

The 1959 remake was really just an up-dated version of the 1936 film, and used more or less the same script and screen-play, and we have to wait for the 1978 version for the story to be set at the time of Buchan's original story, and filmed in the part of Scotland that it was set.

The open moorland chases and the monoplane hunting is probably pretty close to what John Buchan envisaged, and the hero Richard Hannay character's costumes of old tweed suit and evening clothes are not far from authentic.

So why, when there is an abundance of historical illustrated reference to consult, did the wardrobe department not try as hard when it came to the kilted characters.

The kilt (after all, the story is set in the lowlands, even if it is the hilly country of southwest Scotland) is only seen fleetingly, but the piper character is wearing contemporary (for the 1970s) Prince Charlie coatee, while the factor's rig only marginly closer in style to the early-1914 setting.

But hey, they're nice to see whatever, so here they are for you enjoyment and scrutiny.

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