The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 17, 2025

Anthony Page's "The Lady Vanishes" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with Elliott Gould; new program on the making of the film featuring crew members; archival program with Angela Lansbury; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

My mind isn't playing tricks on me. You have to believe me.

Of the many reliable ways to destroy a career in the film industry, regardless of whether one works before or behind the camera, agreeing to do a remake of a classic Alfred Hitchcock film is undoubtedly one of the very best. It is the cinematic equivalent of committing seppuku. It cuts deep, it instantly does serious damage, and its final act is pretty definitive.

But all of it can be even worse. In fact, if the remake is an ambitious one, it is essentially guaranteed that it will get worse. Indeed, after the final act, there will be countless experts theorizing how plenty and possibly everything that initiated the self-destruction could have been done better, or why attempting to remake a Hitchcock film was simply a terrible idea. Also, these experts can get far more persistent with their theorizing if they realize that someone has been taking them seriously. So, instead of instant damage, there will be many small cuts and prolonged misery, all once again preparing for the final act.

Anthony Page’s remake of The Lady Vanishes is one of only a few such films that spares the brave souls who agreed to do it. It is not because it does not have flaws. It is not because it does something special that allows it to survive, either. Page’s remake works because it demands not to be taken seriously, which is an old but very effective trick. In fact, it may very well be the last trick that still works.

The fun begins in a remote town in Bavaria, shortly before Nazi Germany invades Poland. Following a wild party that infuriates a small group of Brownshirts, several international characters board a train heading to England. Among them are American heiress Amanda Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) and Life reporter Bob Condon (Elliot Gould), British nanny Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury) and cricket enthusiasts Jeremy Charters (Arthur Lowe) and Caldicott (Ian Carmichael), and the Astro-Hungarian Dr. Egon Hartz (Herbert Lom). On the train, Kelly quickly befriends Froy, but after the former takes a quick nap, the latter disappears seemingly without a trace. Determined to prove that the nanny did get on the train, Kelly then engages Condon, who initially questions the validity of her recollections but then gradually begins to agree that something awful may have happened to her missing friend. While looking for Froy, Kelly and Condon then make an extraordinary discovery and, much to their surprise, begin falling in love.

Even though both work with the same original material from Ethel Lina White’s famous novel, Page and Hitchcock’s films are so different that a proper comparison between the two is essentially pointless. Indeed, Page’s film is simply a good old-fashioned action comedy of the kind that would have appealed to fans of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, not a legitimate remake that attempts to match or outdo Hitchcock’s film. Its cast is fully aware of this, too, which is why all of the silliness that flourishes in it and ultimately provides it with its identity becomes quite attractive.

Helping the silliness become enjoyable is the great chemistry between the leads. Because of it, there is lightness in the action and comedy that softens and even hides the various obvious flaws in the characterizations, which is where Page’s film is most vulnerable.

The action is very average-looking. However, many of the visuals from inside the train and the areas it passes through are surprisingly excellent. Page’s director of photography was Douglas Slocombe (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Lady Vanishes arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release is sourced from an exclusive 2K master, recently prepared by Imprint Films. It gives the entire film a healthy and wonderful, very stable organic appearance. To be honest, I do not think that there is any room for substantial improvements. There are a few places where it feels like, ideally, the dynamic range of the visuals could be slightly better, but even there, the quality of the presentation was great. Color reproduction and balance are terrific, too. All primaries and supporting nuances are properly set and appear healthy. In darker areas, I did not see distracting crushing, and in brighter areas, all highlights appeared convincing. Image stability is excellent. All in all, The Lady Vanishes looks very, very pleasing on Blu-ray. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

The lossless track is very healthy. Clarity, sharpness, and depth are not affected by anomalies that can be linked to aging. I think that dynamic intensity is good as well. During the action footage, the shootouts and the train movement sounded very nice on my system. Then again, The Lady Vanishes comes from the late 1970s and its sound design is not going to impress folks who appreciate the dynamic potency and variety of modern soundtracks. I did not like the size of the optional subtitles. They are too small.

The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Disappearing Act: Elliot Gould Finds the Vanished Lady - in this new program, Elliot Gould recalls how the opportunity to be part of a remake of The Lady Vanishes came to him and what it was like to work with other cast members during its production. Gould also recalls an interesting meeting with Alfred Hitchcock. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• The Last Hammer - in this new program, costume designer Emma Porteous, construction manager Tony Graysmark, stunt manager Paul Weston, and first assistant director Michael Dryhurst recall their work on The Lady Vanishes and discuss some specific challenges they faced. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• The End of the Line - this new program examines the conception and production of The Lady Vanishes. It features interviews with author Alan Barnes, film historian Sergio Angelini, and author Jonathan Rigby, among others. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Angela Lansbury - in this archival program, Angela Lansbury discusses the present and future of musical theater, several characters she played in different films, and her career and background. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Teaser Trailer - presented here is a remastered teaser trailer for The Lady Vanishes. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - presented here is a remastered theatrical trailer for The Lady Vanishes. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

The Lady Vanishes Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I do not have a good excuse for failing to see Anthony Page's The Lady Vanishes over the years. To be honest, I am a bit surprised that I did not already have a copy of it in my library because I like virtually everything Elliott Gould appeared in during the 1970s. I saw The Lady Vanishes for the first time a few nights ago and thought that it was wonderful. It is light, charming, and hilarious, the perfect old film to see after a long and exhausting day. Australian label Imprint Films has remastered it in 2K and made it look very good on Blu-ray, too. It is included in this two-disc box set, together with Don Sharp's The Thirty Nine Steps. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.